For enthusiasts of JRPGs who prefer a DRM-free experience, the arrival of select titles from the Star Ocean series on GOG is certainly noteworthy. As of today, players can acquire Star Ocean: The Divine Force and Star Ocean: The Second Story R from this popular DRM-free storefront. Notably, this marks a GOG premiere for these titles, which have been available on Steam for several years. The addition of these games to GOG allows players to enjoy a sense of ownership that DRM often complicates.
Preservation and Modern Compatibility
Both games have been swiftly inducted into the GOG Preservation Program, a commitment by the platform to ensure their compatibility with modern operating systems for the foreseeable future. While they may not have received the extensive updates seen with titles like Thief: The Dark Project, GOG has ensured that these games support modern controllers and function smoothly on contemporary systems.
In the realm of operating systems, Linux continues to gain traction, with a notable segment of gamers migrating from Windows to this free and open-source alternative. Back in April, the proportion of Steam users on Linux-based systems reached an impressive 5%, although it has since seen a slight decline. GOG has recognized this trend and is actively working on making the GOG Galaxy launcher compatible with Linux systems.
According to GOG, “We now have the specialist on board and are actively exploring the best way to approach Linux support for GOG Galaxy.” They acknowledge that this is a significant endeavor and, while specific plans and timelines are not yet available, the company is dedicated to investing time and resources into this initiative. The enthusiasm from the community regarding Linux support has not gone unnoticed, with GOG expressing appreciation for the passion and patience exhibited by users advocating for this development.
