Robocop for half off is a good deal. That game was fun as heck.
Noob question. Is it easy to play GOG games on Linux? Can you add them to steam?
If you need all the online features you can run gog galaxy through wine, however I just use heroic launcher instead. And you can add any executable to steam, if I’m not mistaken I think heroic has a setting to do it automatically
It’s pretty easy if you use a launcher that can manage Wine, DXVK, and the like. Lutris is good for that, and even has its own database of games with ready-made install scripts. I’m told Steam can register non-steam games and handle it, too.
One nice thing about GOG (in addition to being DRM-free) is that you can download games with a web browser. There’s no need to install their store app, ever.
I’ve heard that the Heroic launcher is good for this. I’ll try it out on my Steamdeck and report back.
Reporting back:
I tried installing The Witcher and Psychonaut. Both worked mostly seemlessly after prompting to install Wine-GE. The main issue I’m having is with controller support, but this may just be a result of trying much older games and mixing that with trying to use Steam Input through the Heroic launcher. I suspect this can be alleviated by using the “Automatically add games to Steam” option and launching the games through Steam, rather than Heroic. Alternatively, if you’re willing to map your bindings for each game, or you are on something other than a Steamdeck and use keyboard and mouse, you should be fine.
I recommend giving a game you already own on Gog a try and seeing how it works for you.
On all non-steam games added to my library, I always do a quick internet search for “+ steam deck control” to help with the layout. It’s not perfect, but I find a lot of useful info for starters.
The cool thing about the Deck is that you can push the Steam key and update those controller settings on the fly.
Kinda off topic, but since a lot of people are talking about gaming on linux: can you get DS4Windows to run on linux? Being able to utilise the touchpad of my DS5 controller as a mouse was a game-changer for me, and i dont want to give that up if I dont have to when i do the full switch to linux
DualShock 4 and DualSense controllers have official drivers built-in to the linux kernel, including support for the touchpad and motion controls. You probably don’t need something like DS4Windows.
And if you do run into any problems, the Steam overlay should solve any compatibility problems, if you’re OK with launching your games through Steam. I end up doing that with all of my games (including the ones I didn’t buy on Steam) since I think its controller mapping UI is the best.
Weirdly enough, I could never get my DS4/PS4 controller working on Linux, at least through Bluetooth. The device never shows up in the device list. My Xbox Series X and Xbox One X controllers work perfectly with Bluetooth thanks to xpadneo, and I can use my DS4/PS4 controller wired with or without ds4drv, but I just can’t get it to work wirelessly.
That is strange. It works great for me. All I had to do was pair it.
I have read that some computers have bluetooth modules that don’t play well with it, though. Maybe you have one of those, or an old kernel?
I’ve used both PS4 and Ps5 controllers. You don’t need to do anything except to plug it in.
I’ve only had issues in one game (Minishoot Adventures), where the solution was to disable controller support layer that steam comes with.
I haven’t tried Bluetooth, as I don’t mind the cable.
Oooh, finally a sale on the Shadow Gambit DLC. Time to get both, I heard a lot that while Yuki is of course the “cooler” DLC since well, it’s Yuki, the other one is mechanically smarter as the new unit is overpowered but also quite different.
On that note, cannot recommend Shadow Gambit enough. It’s the perfection of the Commandos / Shadow Tactics / Desperados formula.
I bought a bunch of indie games that looked cool: Alwa’s Legacy (I’m playing it right now, it’s pretty fun), Night in the woods and Phoenotopia: Awakening. I also bought Dishonored (which I played back in the days, but I’m eager to replay one of these days, alongside its DLCs).
Risky purchase of the week: King of Dragon Pass. Never heard of it, but the reviews were positive and the screens look interesting, so I decided, why not.
I also really, really wanted to buy I was a teenage exocolonist, because it’s one of my favourite games from 2022, but the GoG version still hasn’t been updated to the recent patch, and seems like it never will. Shame.
EDIT July 2024: I mailed the publisher to ask them if they were willing to update the GoG release of their game, and they immediately went and did it! You can add I was a teenage exocolonist to my GoG recommendation list. It’s a great game that really deserves your time.
