... which also in the Steam version can be played without Steam being actice, same goes for the disc version. It had no copy protection.
GOG made quite a fuzz about it, so yes: They DID use their games to promote DRM free gaming.

But frankly, Steam players didn't care if they need Steam or not to play the game. Not releasing on Steam was never an option, after all CDP needs money and not selling on the most popular platform - at that time without Epic as competitor - would certainly have been bold, but a financial desaster.

Maybe with the next game it could work, after all - afaik - over 40% of Cyberpunk copies were sold on GOG. That's not bad. On the other hand, many Steam players have become all the more aggressive, since Epic got exclusives too and refuse to look anywhere but Steam. That would mean 50% less sales and CDP can't afford that.


Here's another con for Zoom: They only sell in USD, which means exchange rates varying on a daily base and exchange costs by paypal. But even if that's only a few cents, people usually want to pay in their own currency.
How many of you US people would be here if GOG only sold in EUR?

There really is no versus. They barely compete.

Humble Bundle is mostly Steam Keys, and its attraction is mainly to those who care about Bundles and don't care about DRM. They have just over 1400 DRM-Free games listed, but despite the odd sale, GOG is cheaper on a more regular basis for the games in common. That said, Humble does have the odd DRM-Free game not at GOG, and sometimes for a good price.

Zoom Platform is potentially another GOG in the making, except they have a different growth ethic. That and their pricing make them no real challenger to GOG. Like Humble they have a bunch of DRM-Free games not available at GOG. Though if you wait long enough, those games seem to eventually popup at GOG, and for a better price. IndieGala often had games going for free that were at ZP, possibly still do. If not for the Duke games at ZP, I doubt I would have become a customer, and once a customer they only sold other games to me, where I thought the price was mostly okay, and the game was not at GOG ... though in many cases the game did eventually turn up at GOG, so I learnt a lesson there. I still check their pricing and releases every now and then. I have a bunch of games on my wishlist at ZP, but the only game I am any kind of keen on is Operation: Pinkeye, but that game is so over-priced it isn't funny. In fact though ZP are usually the cheapest for it, Steam recently had it on sale for a couple of dollars cheaper, but not enough for me. I'll wait until the price is more realistic or just grab Agent 64, when a good price, as it looks heaps better.

GOG are mostly a store on their own when it comes to DRM-Free in any big way. Talking about GOG's big sellers, not stuff you can generally get at stores like Itch.io or Fireflower Games etc.

I would hesitate to say that GOG even really competes with Steam in any meaningful way. But it would depend on the customer. Talking about games in common. Steam have far more games than GOG, and most of those then are not in competition, except where due to finances a customer might be choosing between two different games, one at GOG and one at Steam. Of course, if you don't care about DRM state, then it may come down to price and or other benefits. And a bunch of folk are happy to take a punt and go with DRM-Free Lite games at Steam and Epic, many of which do exist at GOG.

So it is all about your perspective. I for instance buy a game at GOG, because it is better to do so. I won't buy a game at Steam in most cases, because of DRM concerns. I mostly won't buy at Humble because of DRM concerns and price. I mostly won't buy at Zoom Platform due to price. But for me, it is not an availability thing, except in rare cases, and I refuse to pay too much in any case. I also have the luxury of owning a lot of games, so rarely feel pressured into buying another one, and avoid creating desires by not browsing Steam or Epic etc or wanting the latest greatest in games generally.

Steam gamers mostly LOVE DRM, this is not inferior, it is a bonus.

Yakuza like a Dragon for example still got a Denuvo on Steam and i am almost sure, some people probably even feel romantic about...

Of course the crackers too, i mean... they somewhat lose so much meaning with a life full of boring DRM free games. Just never assume other people got the same view and taste, they clearly do not. I recommend even to put 2 full scale DRM on it, because every time it still has been cracked the ones succeeding will cry tears for this new achievement.