GOG: Linux "the next major frontier" for gaming as it works on a native client
by franczesko on 1/30/2026, 8:09:41 AM
Comments
by: emsign
I'm very hopeful that Linux gaming will save the open PC desktop despite big tech is coming to destroy it. Or at least keep PCs alive for another decade. Gamers are still a huge factor as hardware customers.<p>GOG creating a Linux launcher and Steam Box with SteamOS coming out soon should benefit PC users in general not just gamers since Microslop sees Windows like a social experiment where they can test AI on unsuspecting lusers, as an ad platform and a store front now.
1/30/2026, 9:29:30 AM
by: EspadaV9
No. Please don't. Contribute to something like Heroic Launcher instead. Don't create something new just for GOG. Help make the existing tools better. It'll mean GOG has to do less work, and the programs people are already using will get better. Or even just sponsor Heroic so they can send more time we can working on it themselves.
1/30/2026, 9:12:45 AM
by: easyThrowaway
Hopefully they'll somehow support Proton and Valve devices. Trying to run older windows-only games bought on GOG with launchers like Heroic is a bit of a hit or miss, despite the Steam releases of the same games having somehow a bigger chance of working out of the box. I guess there are some weird differences between the default Proton Runtime and the proton-ge/wine-ge builds.
1/30/2026, 9:33:46 AM
by: alex_duf
A lot of hate in the comments, I think it's great that companies are in a position where they think it makes sense financially to support Linux as a target platform.
1/30/2026, 9:43:45 AM
by: everdrive
I'm very excited for this. GoG is a DRM-free platform (for the most part) and I see it as the only positive competition Steam has. Imagine how bad the gaming landscape would be if a company like Epic soundly defeated Valve. They would enshittify at record pace. GoG doing well would only put positive pressure on other players. Ideally, you want your opponents to be healthy and sane, in case they win. And sane opponents drive the market towards better outcomes. I'll definitely buy some classics from GoG with their Linux client.
1/30/2026, 11:24:12 AM
by: delaminator
I always make sure to not use the GoG downloader just download the game.<p>I don't need a client with your branding all over it, that has socials and my library and all engagement bait like that.<p>I figure it's one step away from putting the DRM back on so you have to use the launcher to get a game from GOG.<p>Just let me buy games and then shut up.
1/30/2026, 10:01:18 AM
by: Kim_Bruning
On the upside, this might mean I'll buy more stuff from GOG again. Steam+Proton is just so darn <i>convenient</i>.
1/30/2026, 10:05:56 AM
by: anthonj
That's very nice to hear. But diffuclt to beat valve here, they are actively contributing to drivers and wine. When you buy even just windows software from steam you are helping funding that.
1/30/2026, 9:12:48 AM
by: l0b0
"GOG GALAXY is a long-lived product with a large and complex C++ codebase." Also known as a shitshow. Hopefully the new engineer(s) will be encouraged to at least add some tests and refactor things to stay sane.<p>No mention of a license, though. I guess it'll stay closed source.
1/30/2026, 8:47:09 AM
by: indolering
Why is the launcher not at least public source? GOG's value add is the service it provides, not the specialness of its launcher.<p>Hopefully they will pursue a container/Flatpak native system but probably not!
1/30/2026, 10:03:36 AM
by: thrownawaysz
>Competitive Salary – We ensure fair and attractive compensation that reflects your skills and experience: 18 000 - 27 000 PLN/month<p>I know it's eastern Europe but that's $5000-7500 a month, barely $90k a year. It sounds like a solo job too so a lot of responsibility for this salary.
1/30/2026, 10:27:05 AM
by: kleiba
Geez, that headline was hard to parse.
1/30/2026, 10:51:08 AM
by: anthk
Tons of libre game engines will work with GOG data:<p><a href="https://osgameclones.com" rel="nofollow">https://osgameclones.com</a>
1/30/2026, 11:07:57 AM
by: nottorp
New owner means their disgust of Linux is fading.
1/30/2026, 9:20:29 AM
by: pjmlp
Thankfully it seems to be not yet another Electron crap shell.
1/30/2026, 8:59:20 AM