jonridan: Windows XP is still around? Daaaaaaaaaaaamn... I know some of it's users don't like Vista, or 7, or 8, and 10... But to still keep on using an OS from 2001? I understand if you need for a very specific piece of software, but that only goes so far. Is like running a business with no telephone number or email. If it's not for business' reasons, then there is no excuse to being so obsolete. Get a Windows XP like distro, get a Mac (older models are not that expensive and are more supported than Windows XP), or just get Windows 7 (the lesser evil of the MS OSs of today). Gaming is too related to technology going forward, you can keep your old PC for the specific games that don't run well today, but you can't expect companies to keep supporting Windows XP (yes, even GOG... the idea is to make games work in current OSs, not support old ones).

Just my two cents.

jonridan: Windows XP is still around? Daaaaaaaaaaaamn... I know some of it's users don't like Vista, or 7, or 8, and 10... But to still keep on using an OS from 2001? I understand if you need for a very specific piece of software, but that only goes so far. Is like running a business with no telephone number or email. If it's not for business' reasons, then there is no excuse to being so obsolete. Get a Windows XP like distro, get a Mac (older models are not that expensive and are more supported than Windows XP), or just get Windows 7 (the lesser evil of the MS OSs of today). Gaming is too related to technology going forward, you can keep your old PC for the specific games that don't run well today, but you can't expect companies to keep supporting Windows XP (yes, even GOG... the idea is to make games work in current OSs, not support old ones).

Just my two cents.

DosFreak: That's probably when Steam started requiring SSE2. IIRC it was broken after Aug 2016 and then I think fixed again in 2017....then probably broken again but I haven't verified.

viranimus: Not suggesting you are wrong, but there is some issue with some of your ideology. You seem to think that "business reasons" is the only reason to be so obsolete. That is very dangerous thinking.

Windows 7 is the final legitimate Windows OS. Why? Because Microsoft in its wisdom has decreed that they have the right to everything and you must abdicate your rights and access to Microsoft to use anything higher than Win 7.

That is wrong.

Microsoft has no business making such demands, regardless of how they rationalize it.

Consumers have an obligation and duty to defend themselves economically. To "vote with your wallet" on practices you support and deny access to your wallet for corporations pushing anti consumer practices you dont.

That is why the philosophy you were suggesting is for lack of a better term, toxic. It is the same philosophy that people use to justify steams anti consumer practices and holding your content hostage to demand voluntary compliance to basically unlawful set of T&C.

It presupposes that these corporations are entitled to do what they want and we have no recourse if we dissent. So we all just have to accept that things are the way they are. Nothing could possibly be further from the truth.

That kind of thinking is however what is at the root of what is wrong, not just in gaming, but with all forms of digital distribution of content. The continual willing erosion of consumer power and protection that not only effects the individual consumer proliferating it, but ALL consumers by weakening the ability to resist.

In a capitalist free market a corporation only truly has one obligation. To be profitable. As consumers, however, we have power in and the duty to Caveat emptor. What we see in the current world thanks to Digital distribution is gross dereliction of that duty.

I apologize to be rant-y. Those are just my 2cp. However given this is one of the last bastions of doing what is for the Good Of Gaming theres a strong likelihood that the opinion is understood here better than anywhere else out there.

jonridan: No offense taken. And I agree with you. Regarding the "business reasons" I meant it in a way that to keep on using an old OS is like refusing to have a telephone for your office and everyone must go in person because "protocols". That doesn't mean is better, or even fair, but it is what it is. Today you have pretty much everything through Facebook, even the electric companies can be reached with a complaint through that. If you do not have that option, you're alienating the "new wave" of consumers. The problem is when you leave the "old wave" behind, and that happens with everything. I can't just go to my bank and do X transaction now. I have to go through the telephone or the app for that. Is not THAT bad in this case. Still, 17 years to "translate" your production software from XP to at least 7, or to find a replacement seems pretty good. Otherwise, break free from MS and go with Linux (which for Bussinesses they also offer support for like 5 years, and then you have to switch OS too). Is anyone here still using Android Gingerbread? You could for a tablet only used lightly, but for something as serious as a bussiness I just don't see it.

Now, for preservation, that's a whole different matter. That's what GOG is supposed to be doing, making old games run in NEW OSs, not old ones. GOG dropped support for XP precisely for that reason. Now, if they intentionally go around breaking compatibility of the installers with older versions of Windows then THAT's a reason to complain (and they did actually). Otherwise, you need to keep the old version running, but no longer have support. Have you tried taking a 15 years old car to the dealership for "support"? I know is not fair, and I don't condone those practices, but that's the way it is. You can't realistically change that in a capitalist world. If (actually, more like WHEN) capitalism ever dies, then a new form of economy can change that, but today you can't run a business and provide unlimited support forever for every piece of software, product or service you have. That would imply too many costs, and those costs would be transferred to us the consumers, making us pay even more... There's a reason why somethings are waaaaaay cheaper today than they were 20 years ago (counting inflation, of course), and that's because they cut costs by not keeping old and insecure products in the wild.

And Microsoft has every right in deciding how the provide their products and services, just like you have every right not to be their costumer anymore. If you have a game that only runs on Windows XP and Microsoft drops support for that OS, then the problem should be the game developer there. Not Microsoft.If the game developers themselves don't care about providing support for their product (or service, depending on the developer...) why should Microsoft? That's like complaining I need a special kind of tire for my car because the streets are broken... but I complain when the car manufacturer stops providing those tires instead of complaining to the state for not fixing the streets. Microsoft is not "your business partner" giving you an OS for work. They provide you a service (not unlimited btw) which you can use or not, for your business. Same with phone companies offering you a plan, two years later that plan no longer exists, upgrade or get out... Fair? Hell no. Wrong? No, it's their right. I don't like the way Apple does things either. So, even if I want to use Mac OS, I just don't give them money and stay away from their computers. Do I like Android? No. Do I like iOS? Slightly less no. So I've got an old Iphone which is still supported. In 2 years, if any of the apps I use stop working, is the developers problem, not Apple's (unless Apple FORBIDS the support, which Microsoft is not doing). Google decided to leave XP behind for Chrome. Mozilla decided to leave support for Firefox. Not MS. Guilt where guilt goes.

As for Steam, I just hate that thing... I only had it for Valve's games... Again, their games, their product or service, they offer it how they wish. You can accept that, or don't play (or do other practices which I don't condone either). They offered to other developers the option to provide their games on their platform. No one forced them to be ONLY on Steam. And now we have pretty much everyone coming with a new launcher (drm) every month. And here, I can only blame the gamers themselves, for doing whatever bullshit just for a piece of entertainment. Pre-orders, dlcs, pay to win, supper buggy games... I don't blame the developers, I blame US. I vote with my wallet, just like you. But is not enough, apparently.

PhilsComputerLab: True, but the offline installers all work on XP, which is great.

viranimus: As for MS, my problem is not inherently with expecting developers to support the old OSes but rather the unavoidable state that win 7 IS the last legitimate Windows OS. When GoG no longer supports WIndows OS, unless GOG decides to launch its own Linux distro, much like Steam did, and the games in question support the distro, My support for GOG will have to end because I cannot, will not, and should not even be asked to comply with what Windows demands just to access my GOG content and like it or not that is not Microsoft's choice to drop support, that falls on GOG and/or the developers. Exactly as you put it, They have the right to conduct their business the way they want and I have the right to spend my money how I want. I will not spend it on any OS that makes unlawful demands.

That however is not rightbecause we as consumers have that duty to defend ourselves from these practices. Just accepting that its not fair "but what are you going to do" is giving up. Just because a corporation tries to do their capitalistic duty and exploit what they can get away with does not mean we are somehow required to roll over and take it. Just like how just because a game company pushes an anti consumer practice with one of their games does not mean we have to buy it.

synfresh: This post is titled 'Should help GoG get more games'. There is absolutely no way this helps GoG if GoG's own client doesn't support XP (which they market very aggressively FYI). At this point they are not going to put any games in the store that do not work with Galaxy.

paladin181: Pretty sure Steam nor GOG work on DOS. Why do people treat moving on from obsolete software like it's some crime. Sadly if you're using XP, you're hindering yourself.