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GoG Galaxy integration

A topic by Dr-Flay created Feb 15, 2020 Views: 20,698 Replies: 7

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Note: This isn't amazingly useful, but helps with seeing an overview of all your games in 1 place, and you can compare how much time is spent playing games from each distributor.
Currently it has basic support, but there is an itch.io plugin for the GoG Galaxy desktop app.
https://github.com/Ertego/gog-galaxy-itch.io

The release ZIP is complete but the author has not put everything in the repo, so it does not install properly with the plugin updaters people have made for the Awesome Galaxy collection https://github.com/Mixaill/awesome-gog-galaxy
I used https://github.com/Slashbunny/gog-galaxy-plugin-downloader with a batch file where I added "itch".
This creates the unique folders the updater will use. Then unpack the contents of the ZIP to the correct Galaxy plugin folder.
You don't have to do this but it saves duplication if you then use the updater, because some of the files do actually get pulled but not all.
(C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\GOG.com\Galaxy\plugins\installed)
It is worth using the batch file with only the plugins you want, because by default that updater will grab all the plugins from the main "awesome" list.

I would rate this as a convenience and no more.
It cannot replace the itch desktop app and requires that you do actually have it installed, though you can launch games with it.
GoG Galaxy is a bloatfest, takes ages to load and depending on the accounts you connect will take ages to finish synchronising.

(Admin I understand you may have mixed feelings about this post due to GoG being a competitor of sorts, however it would seem that the owners of GoG are in the same position, but feel that making connections is worth the risk. Think of it as 2-way publicity or a banner exchange).

Theotokos Derzhavnaya Bless Putin4 years ago

I would advise against this. Not only is Galaxy bloatware, but since 2.0 also spyware. If you read through the EULA, you will find that it collects a lot of unnecessary data about your computer and your accounts with competitors, data with which GOG has proven they cannot be trusted.

Dr-Flay4 years ago

I am well aware of the story, as I reported on it on my radio show so had to go digging.
Yep it is bloatware, but it does need to collect system info for bug reports (other clients such as Steam, Epic and itch also do this), and game account info so it can use the various accounts as fully as possible (without this is serves no purpose).
To be able to work as a unified IM chat between as many services as possible, it will need access to your friends lists.
Some of the data is only needed locally, and some only collected and sent on-demand, but to work effectively across re-installs and multiple instances some data will have to be kept remotely in your account.

For comparison. I use Trillian instant messenger.
To operate as a unified multi-client effectively, so you can combine peoples IDs into single meta-contacts, and have it all reappear and sync when installed on another device.
All that info is kept in the cloud with my account, and as Cerulean studios are HIPPA compliant I am more than happy with their privacy statement.
Trillian was also subject to people freaking out over privacy concerns, due to sensitive data going being uploaded.
It seems whoever reported it had not read the info relating to enabling the debug mode.
If you switch on debug mode whatever text would be in your log file is sent for analysis.

As for "GOG has proven they cannot be trusted"
In what way ? Collecting info is very different from disseminating info.
If GoG have suffered with a data breach, or are selling collected data to 3rd parties, can you provide links so I can report it on next weeks show ?

Theotokos Derzhavnaya Bless Putin4 years ago

SELLING info to third parties, I don’t know about. But SHARING info in order to censor and harass people is something they do. I and several friends of mine have been harassed by staff of CD Projekt over multiple platforms (Steam, GOG, CDPR forums), for reporting on unethical behaviour within the company. This also included involving Steam staff to silence us repeatedly, and inciting stalkers and hate mobs of people supposedly not affiliated with the company.

graynk4 years ago

Got any proof of that? Not to be overly judgemental, but looking over your profile it seems you are quite an, shall we say, intense individual.

It seems even itch moderators remove your posts, filling you with righteous fury. So is everyone to get you, or maybe the problem is you? My guess is the latter

Theotokos Derzhavnaya Bless Putin4 years ago

This comment leads me to make some educated guess about yourself and your posthumous destinations if you don’t change tacks.

Dr-Flay4 years ago

If GoG are sharing data with 3rd parties about you in breach of their privacy agreement, then you can make a claim under GDPR regulations.
I encourage you to do so.

Theotokos Derzhavnaya Bless Putin4 years ago

Thanks, I know. My solicitor has already been looking into the options. The problem is that it would have to be taken to court in Poland, which has not been known for enforcing EU regulations well in recent years. Another problem is financing a series of suits against a corporation with practically unlimited resources, while not being allowed to bring a class-action suit. I’ll have to see what my possibilities are and whether is worth pursuing at the end of the day.