DRM Archives

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

The Best Places to Buy and Rent PC Games Online in 2026

The digital landscape for purchasing PC games has evolved, offering various online stores for Linux, macOS, and Windows games, with some also featuring e-books, movies, and software. Notable platforms include Steam, Epic Games Store, Humble Bundle, and Xbox, each with diverse game libraries. Some publishers, like Blizzard and EA, initially required exclusive downloads but are now allowing games across multiple storefronts. Steam offers extensive titles and a Verified program for Steam Deck users, while GOG.com focuses on classic games and itch.io on indie titles. Consumers can purchase games from different platforms and use tools like CheapShark to compare prices and find deals.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

“I’m not interested in bypassing DRM” – Preservationist brings back physical PC games using discs and even mechanical HDD “cartridges”

Preservationists are finding innovative ways to keep physical media alive, including modern PC games. Archades Games, led by Ryan Enstrom, offers options to transfer new titles onto discs and cartridges. At the Utah Retro GameXpo, Enstrom showcased discs compatible with platforms like Steam, GOG, and the Xbox app. He uses GOG's DRM-free installers, emphasizing adherence to licensing agreements. Enstrom notes that most games released before 2020 can run from mechanical drives, and the Xbox app can dynamically detect drive changes, unlike Steam. He has developed a custom user interface for multi-carts and created custom Blu-rays for retro games. While these products are not for sale, there is potential for publishers to adopt this idea, promoting physical PC games. Archades Games provides video tutorials and resources for those interested in converting digital collections into physical formats.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

I checked GOG’s most popular games and found shocking gaps in updates, DLC, languages, soundtracks, and more — 1,140 games are affected with 1,531 issues

GOG has become a popular platform for PC gamers to purchase and manage game collections, emphasizing consumer rights and true game ownership. However, a user-maintained catalog titled "Games that treat GOG customers as 2nd Class," last updated on August 11, 2026, lists 1,140 games with a total of 1,531 reported issues, including missing updates (308), languages (100), free DLC (51), paid DLC (200), features (111), soundtracks (439), builds (278), and region locking (12). Developers and publishers are responsible for the content included in GOG submissions, with Devolver Digital and THQ Nordic GmbH noted for having 29 issues each. GOG's DRM-free requirement and smaller user base compared to Steam contribute to these challenges, leading to concerns about the value of purchasing games that may lack features available on other platforms.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Xodus Cracks Xbox Authentication and Game Package Decryption to Bring PC Game Pass to Linux

Developers of the Heroic Games Launcher have announced Xodus, an open-source project aimed at enabling access to PC Game Pass on Linux and macOS. Launched on August 10, 2026, Xodus has successfully addressed Xbox identity authentication and the decryption of MSIXVC packages, allowing local play of Game Pass titles for Linux and macOS users. Currently, the only way to access Game Pass on non-Windows devices is through Xbox Cloud Gaming, which requires a Game Pass Ultimate subscription and introduces latency. Xodus employs a layered architecture, including an Xbox Authentication Library (xal-rs) for managing Microsoft account sign-ins and license verification, and a reimplementation of the xgameruntime.dll for license checks and Xbox service access. The project can retrieve MSIXVC game packages using a valid Game Pass subscription and decrypt executables for local storage. However, it does not yet support UWP-based titles and lacks a user-friendly interface for general users. The project is under pressure due to Microsoft's upcoming transition to the MSIXVC2 package format, which Xodus does not currently support. Xodus is in early development with only a command-line interface available, and the team is working on emulating the GDK Gaming Services layer necessary for game initialization. The project is legal as it reimplements Xbox runtime behavior without enabling piracy, but it faces risks if Microsoft alters its authentication infrastructure.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Xbox PC and Game Pass titles are coming to Linux through ‘Xodus’ — Heroic Launcher devs embark on new open-source reverse-engineering project

Xbox PC games face challenges on Linux due to Microsoft's proprietary Game Development Kit (GDK), affecting performance and Game Pass functionality. An open-source initiative called "Xodus," developed by the creators of Heroic Launcher, aims to reverse engineer components for Xbox PC games to run on Linux, focusing on modern titles using GDK and MSIXVC packages, but not older UWP games. Microsoft has recently brought four original Xbox titles to PC and may release Xbox 360 titles next year with an emulator, though it is unclear if they will use the GDK framework.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

Weekend PC Game Deals: Witchfire, Avowed, Ninja Gaiden, Ready or Not, and more

The Epic Games Store is offering a giveaway of two titles, We Were Here Together and Beacon Pines, available until August 13. Steam is giving away the action RPG Moonlighter for free until August 9. The August Humble Choice includes eight games, such as Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge Ultimate Edition, available until September 1. Humble also has several bundles, including the Unhinged Indie Anthology collection and the In Your World VR collection. The GOG store features a variety of DRM-free titles. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Big Shooter Sale On GOG Includes Over 400 Cheap PC Games

Good Old Games (GOG) has launched the "Shooter Promo" sales event, running until August 15, featuring over 400 PC games focused on classic and contemporary shooters. Iconic titles such as Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Metro 2033, and Red Faction are available at significantly reduced prices. Highlights of the sale include: - Medal of Honor: Allied Assault War Chest - Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault - FEAR: Platinum - FEAR 2 - BioShock Remastered - BioShock 2 - RoboCop: Rogue City - Far Cry - Far Cry 2 - Stranglehold - Metro 2033 Redux - Metro Last Light - Metro Exodus - Clive Barker’s Undying - Call of Juarez: Gunslinger - Turok - Turok 2 - Sin Gold - Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood - Powerslave Exhumed - Painkiller Black Edition - Warhammer 40k: Fire Warrior - Red Faction - Warhammer 40k: Space Marine GOG promotes a DRM-free model, allowing players to enjoy these titles offline.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

Weekend PC Game Deals: Baldur’s Gate 3, Gears 5, Spider-Man, NFS and more

The Epic Games Store is offering two free games, OTXO and Sol Cesto, until August 6. OTXO is a top-down shooter with over 100 abilities and a bullet-dodging mechanic, while Sol Cesto features tactical gameplay in a randomly generated underground world. The Humble Store has launched the Rage Inducing Difficult Games collection, starting at a low tier, featuring titles like Getting Over It and Pogostuck. A complete bundle is also available for a higher price. Additionally, itch.io is offering over 100 DRM-free games to support the Game Industry Hardship Fund. The GOG store is celebrating Bethesda's 40th anniversary with discounts on classic titles and special bundles. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

Weekend PC Game Deals: Baldur’s Gate 3, Gears 5, Spider-Man, NFS and more

The Epic Games Store is offering two free games, OTXO and Sol Cesto, until August 6. OTXO is a top-down shooter with over 100 abilities and a bullet-dodging mechanic, while Sol Cesto is a tactical adventure set in a randomly generated underground realm. The Humble Store has launched the Rage Inducing Difficult Games bundle, featuring titles like Getting Over It and Pogostuck, available for nearly three weeks. itch.io is hosting over 100 DRM-free games for the Game Industry Hardship Fund, with a minimum contribution required. The GOG store is offering discounts on DRM-free titles, including sales for franchises like Need for Speed and Spider-Man, as well as blockbuster games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Split Fiction. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

GOG Is Permanently Removing 6 PC Games on July 31

GOG is removing six titles from its catalog on July 31. The titles being delisted are: 1. A Long Journey to an Uncertain End - A sci-fi adventure RPG released in 2023, with a 75% approval rating on Steam and a score of 2.3/5 on GOG, priced at .99. 2. Outerverse - A crafting automation adventure game released in 2022, with a 51% approval rating on Steam and a score of 2.3/5 on GOG, priced at .99. 3. PLAGUN – The Plague Goes On - A roguelike scroller shooter released in 2025, with an 81% rating on Steam and a score of 3.3/5 on GOG, priced at .99. 4. Clouzy - An adventure simulation game released in 2022, with a 53% approval rating on Steam and a score of 3.6/5 on GOG, priced at .99. 5. Tavernacle - A co-op tower defense game released in 2023, with a 60% rating on Steam and no user reviews on GOG, priced at .99. 6. Airborne Kingdom - A sky city builder released in 2022, with a 76 rating on Metacritic, an 87% rating on Steam, and a 4.3/5 rating on GOG, priced at .99.