Larian knew all along there were significant differences but didn't announce that fact till after the they started shipping and people did their downloads.
That is factually incorrect. There was no intent to deceive anyone. The GOG page might not have been clear about multiplayer, but throughout the D:OS kickstarter, etc, Larian was clear that the online multiplayer function would use Steamworks.
The first example I found, from the
Reddit AMA;
If I get the GOG version of the game, and my friend gets the Steam version, can we still play together? If yes, how would this work?
Not via steamworks, no, but through direct IP yes!
You would have some points in your favour to argue incompetence, if you were so inclined, but not malice.
