GOG vs. Steam

Attribute	GOG	Steam
Ownership	DRM-free	Requires Steam client
Library Size	Smaller selection	Larger selection
Sales	Frequent sales	Seasonal sales
Community Features	Forums, user reviews	Steam Workshop, user reviews
Refund Policy	30-day refund policy	2-hour playtime limit

Overview

GOG (Good Old Games) and Steam are two popular digital distribution platforms for video games. Both platforms offer a wide range of games for purchase and download, but they have some key differences in terms of features, pricing, and user experience.

Game Selection

One of the main differences between GOG and Steam is the type of games they offer. GOG focuses on older games, particularly classic titles that may not be available on other platforms. These games are often DRM-free, meaning that once you purchase them, you own them outright and can download and play them without any restrictions. On the other hand, Steam offers a larger selection of games, including many newer releases from major publishers. However, most games on Steam are protected by DRM, which can limit how you can use them.

Pricing

When it comes to pricing, GOG and Steam both offer regular sales and discounts on games. However, GOG tends to focus more on offering older games at discounted prices, while Steam often features sales on newer titles as well. GOG also has a unique pricing policy called "Fair Price Package," which adjusts the price of games based on the user's location to ensure fair pricing for all customers. Steam, on the other hand, has a more traditional pricing model with set prices for games across different regions.

Community Features

Steam is known for its robust community features, including forums, user reviews, and the ability to connect with friends and join groups. These features make it easy to discover new games, share recommendations, and connect with other gamers. GOG, on the other hand, has a smaller community but still offers forums and user reviews for each game. GOG also has a unique feature called "GOG Connect," which allows users to redeem select games from their Steam library on GOG for free.

DRM

As mentioned earlier, one of the key differences between GOG and Steam is their approach to DRM. GOG is known for its commitment to DRM-free games, which means that once you purchase a game on GOG, you own it outright and can download and play it without any restrictions. This is a major selling point for many gamers who value ownership and control over their games. Steam, on the other hand, uses DRM to protect most of its games, which can limit how you can use them and require you to be online to play certain titles.

Platform Support

Both GOG and Steam are available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, Steam has a larger presence on different operating systems and also offers a Steam Link app for streaming games to other devices. GOG, on the other hand, has a more limited selection of games available for macOS and Linux, but still offers a good selection of titles for these platforms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, GOG and Steam are both popular digital distribution platforms for video games, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. GOG is known for its focus on older games, DRM-free titles, and fair pricing policy, while Steam offers a larger selection of games, robust community features, and support for multiple platforms. Ultimately, the choice between GOG and Steam will depend on your preferences as a gamer and what features are most important to you.