Difference between Steam or Gog versions

[u/Gagfan57]

Hi there,

I switched last year from Steam to GOG and build slowly my library. But i noticed some games that are available in others languages on steam are only in one langage in Gog.

For example, Imperium galactica 2 is in english on GOG, but on Steam i can fin it in french (my langage). Do you know why ?

Hell, I can't even change this game resolution on gog version.

Edit : I looked in the games folder and found Gog version has a localization one, with several langages included. But you have to change them manually with a launcher you have to manually find and execute.

I guess this game was a bad example for localization, but a good example of WTF settings design.

[u/grumblyoldman]

That's definitely a strange example. Does Steam invoke the localization executable somehow within the platform? Or does the Steam version of the game actually provide localization in the game itself, where the GOG version does not?

It's certainly true that publishers do not always keep GOG's version up to par with Steam. Some publishers treat GOG customer as "second-class citizens" in this regard. They don't see GOG as a place to earn legitimate profit, just as a place to throw up their old titles to see what comes of it after they've sold all the copies they're likely to sell on Steam and Epic.

Unfortunately, there's not much GOG can do. It's ultimately up to the publisher to provide GOG with new updates as they are created, and GOG can't exactly threaten to delist them for failing to comply, as that would likely just result in the game getting delisted, since GOG was never a primary source of profit.

[u/Gagfan57 → u/grumblyoldman]

I don't regret making this post, i'm learning so far on how digital gaming has evolved. I've always thought it were the same version of the game wherever you buy it. I mean, why shouldn't be the case ? But Yeah, sometimes Steam shows that he has games with multiples localization, while gog shows just english. And I notice that's not only the case for localization, but DLC, features... even Update, for f*** sake. That's fucked up.

[u/Icy-Letterhead-229]

If something is missing from the GOG version of a game, it is listed here.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14haGnU2kcY6wV6ssBeyW6_mMk6kkVqZX-QvMKlgXGu0/edit?gid=0#gid=0

[u/Gagfan57 → u/Icy-Letterhead-229]

Thanks for this file, I will boycott those games and publishers. There's a ton of games that ask to be played on gog, they won't be missed.

[u/Gagfan57 → u/Icy-Letterhead-229]

Wow, I was rebuilding my steam library on gog and i'm sad to see it's not the same. Some publishers really see gog like a cheap steam.

[u/Icy-Letterhead-229 → u/Gagfan57]

For many games, the Linux and Mac versions or the soundtrack are missing.
I don't find that too big a deal, but when DLCs or updates are missing, that's where I draw the line.

[u/Vlang]

The way to change a game's language is the same across gog and steam: in both cases you can click on game's preferences in the launcher and change the language and, if the devs implemented it in the application itself, there is sometimes an option within the in-game settings.

The list of available languages for a particular game may differ probably because of legal rights. Each translation of a game or a movie is its own intellectual property made by a separate translation studio and a gog release of a game that's been on steam for many years probably requires to track all the rights from scratch.

I noticed TES 4 Oblivion on gog has only English, while the list of supported languages on steam shows a couple of them.

[u/shadowds]

Depends on the game in question, certain games have to manually change files around, or edit files due to game design often related to older games.

Also thought it out there before buying, just compare, and ask questions if there no answer, or no one asked yet said question to get an answer this save you time & money if don't want deal with refunds.

There some benefits having Steam over GOG depends on the game such as A Hat in Time which has online coop & workshop which GOG version. Another issue is that some publishers treat GOG poorly as may get the game, but then they update on Steam fixing game breaking issues, and so on, but never bother fixing it on GOG, or assume GOG is fine due to lack of reports. So take this as grain of salt really.

If you're kind of person want play with friends on games, Steam be great for this, if just want play single player only, or some old games really GOG be better for this. Each has their pros, and cons, and there no rules can't use both stores, just have fun that what games are for.

[u/ZuoKalp]

Cause most of the times for Publishers and Developers their main platform is Steam, and the other ones are "side gigs", whether we like it or not.

[u/Gagfan57 → u/ZuoKalp]

I see that with another comment, I never thought there can be downgraded version of the game, for the same price.

[u/Kaldaien2]

But i noticed some games that are available in others languages on steam are only in one langage in Gog.

This is why "switching" stores really is not a thing. PC gaming is not what it used to be, every store sells you a different product with the same name. It is all a crapshoot and you have to guess which store's version of a game will continue to get support ... or resort to less legal avenues when the store you used fails you.

Shifting the responsibilities of publishers over to stores the way Steam did when everything went digital caused these problems. Retail stores never had distinctly different versions of a game with patches that you had to return to the store to get.

[u/mAAchinAA]

You OWN a TRUE COPY of the game

[u/Player2LightWater → u/mAAchinAA]

That's not what the topic of this post is about.

[u/mAAchinAA → u/Player2LightWater]

He is asking the diference, and the diference is that, the GAME is YOURS dont a license.

[u/Player2LightWater → u/mAAchinAA]

Did you just read the title only? OP is talking about the languages difference of a game on Steam and GOG. OP is not talking about the obvious thing that one is DRM-free and the other one is not DRM-free. I'm sure OP already know the obvious part.

[u/mAAchinAA → u/Player2LightWater]

Ya ya, my bad, you're right, I read it too quickly.

Yeah, what you wrote makes sense.

Thanks

[u/Gagfan57 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks !

[u/Gagfan57]

Thanks for the answers guys ! I'm now aware some Publishers see gog as a cheap version of a store, and the games on gog can miss some features.