Why would I ever want that when I can download games just fine through the browser? I don’t like running Steam either despite having a bunch of games in my library (I use shortcuts to launch them directly).
These programs are just bloatware that reduce my battery life.
I think you’re missing the point. I don’t use GOG much at all, primarily because I’m lazy and just want all my games in the same place, but this is still fantastic news! It’s about legitimizing Linux gaming at large. It’s signaling to developers that the market share of users they cut off by explicitly excluding Linux (through kernel anti cheat or however else) is growing, and it’s signaling the public that Linux is a legitimate option. It’s one more nail in the coffin of Windows as the defacto gaming OS.
Having an official GOG client might also mean that developers producing games on GOG are incentivised to make them work (either natively or with Proton), and we could also get some sort of “works well on Linux” tag on the GOG store (like there is on Steam!)
The wine prefix thing is a legit use. There are other programs that do that for you though. They don’t even require the games to come from any particular source, they’ll work with any games you have (old games on disc, used etc).
Why would I ever want that when I can download games just fine through the browser? I don’t like running Steam either despite having a bunch of games in my library (I use shortcuts to launch them directly).
These programs are just bloatware that reduce my battery life.
I think you’re missing the point. I don’t use GOG much at all, primarily because I’m lazy and just want all my games in the same place, but this is still fantastic news! It’s about legitimizing Linux gaming at large. It’s signaling to developers that the market share of users they cut off by explicitly excluding Linux (through kernel anti cheat or however else) is growing, and it’s signaling the public that Linux is a legitimate option. It’s one more nail in the coffin of Windows as the defacto gaming OS.
Having an official GOG client might also mean that developers producing games on GOG are incentivised to make them work (either natively or with Proton), and we could also get some sort of “works well on Linux” tag on the GOG store (like there is on Steam!)
I’m still salty that I can’t get the Linux version of Baldur’s Gate 3 on GOG because It’S nOt A lInUx VeRsIoN, iT iS a StEaM dEcK vErSiOn.
If you play GOG games that update, I can see a benefit to having a software that automatically manages the updates for your games.
Because people other than you have other use cases and skill levels and wants and needs…
I use a desktop pc and it is power hungry even at idle so battery life isn’t an issue to me.
I would like to manage my library without needing to fiddle with Wine prefixes (which for most 2000s games I have to) or Lutris.
The wine prefix thing is a legit use. There are other programs that do that for you though. They don’t even require the games to come from any particular source, they’ll work with any games you have (old games on disc, used etc).