Larian Studios Forums Divinity - Original Sin Divinity - Original Sin - General Steam or DRM Free?

There used to be a sticky post listing the difference between the DRM free versions available from GOG and Larian Vault and Steam for Kickstarter backers. I backed on KS, so I can chose which service I want my KS game reward from, and I bought the CE, which includes two Steam keys and a DVD.

I posted this question a while back, but never received an answer. Does the DVD in the CE have a DRM free version of the game on it?

Since I'm getting two Steam keys with the CE, I'm considering choosing one of the DRM free options as my KS reward, you know, for the Steampocalypse. But I also remember in this post that Larian said the Steam version would not use DRM, so the game could be backed up and run without Steam after it was downloaded.

Search seems to be broken because doing a search for DRM returns 0 results.

The DVD in the CE is Steam, but Larian said they would do a second print run for kickstarter backers of the game with the day one patch included, for those who want a DRM free disk (kickstarter comment).

The forum search function skips 3 letter words or lower. You can use Google to search, though ( DRM site:larian.com ).

Thanks, that's what I needed to know. That was a bit depressing to read some of the posts on that page. It would be nice to have a DRM free version on disk, but it's not necessary to me since I backup my digital game purchases on external hard drives. If the Steam version doesn't use DRM, that's great since I will have a fully patched version backed up bi-weekly.

I think I will still redeem my Kickstarter copy on GOG or Larian since I'm getting Steam keys in the collectors edition because I don't need three Steam keys. I could give the extra keys away, but the friends I know that like games like D:OS already Kickstarted it or bought it on Steam Early Access. I don't like the idea of giving the extra keys away to random people, since that might take away a sale from Larian, or they just might not play it.

As for DRM Free from GOG vs. Larian Vault, that's a tougher decision. I love GOG and own lots of games there. Only a few of those are newer games, and GOG tends to be slow putting out patches. I assume the Larian Vault will probably get patches up about the same time as they're pushed out to Steam.

For Dragon Commander there was still a delay with the Larian Vault updates, since there was an extra step creating and testing the patch. GOG was slower, but may have improved since then. For D:OS Larian will be concentrating more on the GOG version for patching immediately after release, but I don't know what kind of a difference that might mean for the Larian Vault version.

I do not mean to hijack, but I have a similar question. I bought a two copy pack for my wife and I to play. I do not mind steam and she would not have a steam account. Can I get to on steam and one on gog and we will be able to play together? WIll Mac/PC be able to play together? Would it be better to just get both on gog to play together? Would it be better to get both on steam, set her up with steam to play together?

Yes, you'll be able to play together with a Steam and GOG version, as well as PC/Mac, through LAN or Direct IP (Larian is looking into GOG Galaxy, as well, but that may be awhile).

If you get the CE on Steam then the release will be DRM free, so if it wasn't for the PC/Mac difference you could install/update the game on your computer and copy it over to your wife's computer (you'd have 2 keys and 2 copies of the game).
GOG may have a CE version with a couple copies of the game, as well, but they have not announced any pre-orders, and at this point it seems it will just show up on release (or maybe pre-orders the weekend before).

You could create a Steam account for your wife and activate the second copy on her account. Another benefit is Steam's Family Sharing, so you can share your Steam library with her and she can play any game you have while you're not using your library.

As mentioned above, GOG tends to be slower putting out patches, so if you used a Steam copy and gave your wife the GOG copy, when Steam updated the game you won't be able to play for a bit until GOG gets the patch put out. If you both have Steam, you'll both get patches at the same time and not have to worry about different versions.

For Dragon Commander/Divinity Anthology I picked the Steam Vault but got the choice between a Gog/Steam key as well (iow I have those games both on Steam and the Vault), will this be the case for D:OS as well?

As for the Steam-free disc version, I understood from the mail we get a Steam key so we can play even before release, does that mean two Steam keys for the CE (I would expect so, but it's not explicitly stated so I'd rather be sure)?

I mean, I've had serious issues with Steam's offline mode in the past (and "just connecting" when you have no internet in a hotel is a non-option :P), so I try to get a DRM-free alternative whenever possible. Iow, I'd pick the Steam-free CE if I got 2 Steam keys as well (the convenience of Steam for MP is kinda hard to deny)

Speaking personally, I've had issues with having no internet for days or even weeks on end on occasion, and have had no issues using Steam or accessing any of my games during that time. I'm not discounting that others have experienced problems, but from my perspective, it works just fine. And you don't even have to run Steam in offline mode to use it offline, providing it's already running and had logged in when internet access was possible.

Yes, if you get D:OS on the Larian Vault it comes with a Steam key.

The mail was referring to the digital version of the game. All kickstarter tiers with a physical version also have a digital copy.

The game is DRM free, so if you can not connect for awhile it would just mean you could not get new updates. You would still be able to play the game.

If Steam decides it needs to update on next start and you then start it without an internet connection you're in trouble. Now this was quite a few years ago but it was horrendously annoying.



OK, I guess this also goes for any extra copies I might have added as addons? (I guess they can activate them on the Vault and then retrieve a Steam key if they so please?)



Maybe I should just pick Steam, it would certainly make figuring all this out easier :P