Will we be able to use this without Steam running in the background?

[Snypir]

The main reason I prefer the GitHub releases is that they are standalone, and I am even willing to pay for standalone. Kinda stinks that Steam may have to be running in the background even when using DualSenseX with non-Steam apps.

[Cosmii02]

For the moment, you will need steam open.
We are not sure if we will implement a way to make it standalone in the future.
UwU

[Paliverse]

Hello, to avoid piracy steam has to be running, there are no current plans for standalone as i don't have a way to authenticate users with some sort of license. There's also many steam features that are getting integrated that wont be of use in a standalone fashion. Anything can happen in the future though.

[TODO: Username]

Wallpaper Engine can run without Steam, and I think they're doing fine. I honestly don't believe that many people would pirate a 2€ program and lose both updates and convenient Steam Workshop support.

Edit: Lossless Scaling: https://store.steampowered.com/app/993090/Lossless_Scaling/ also seems to be doing fine without DRM.

Edit 2: It is of course up to you how you want to handle this, using Steam for DRM is far from the worst option. I just wanted to give some examples of programs that have decided to go a different route and seem to be doing ok.

[Snypir]

Originally posted by Paliverse:

Hello, to avoid piracy steam has to be running, there are no current plans for standalone as i don't have a way to authenticate users with some sort of license. There's also many steam features that are getting integrated that wont be of use in a standalone fashion. Anything can happen in the future though.

Thanks for your reply, hopefully something can be considered in the future. I fully support the idea that the software should be paid to support your development, but it’s always unfortunate seeing a project do a total 180 from an open-source philosophy —> paid & DRM.

Originally posted by TODO: Username:

Wallpaper Engine can run without Steam, and I think they're doing fine. I honestly don't believe that many people would pirate a 2€ program and lose both updates and convenient Steam Workshop support.

I agree, the $2 price is negligible in that almost all of us can afford it, and I doubt that being able to run without Steam in the background would lead to any sizable amount of piracy, as you pointed out with Wallpaper Engine, etc, most wouldn’t want to miss out on Workshop integration as you stated as well. It’s just another example of paying customers having to bear consequences due to some bad apples. DSX will still be piratable whether it has Steam DRM or not, it’s just that us paying customers won’t be able to run it without Steam open, and those who don’t pay for it will be able to. Oh well 🤷‍♂️

[Paliverse]

Originally posted by Txturez:

Originally posted by Paliverse:

Hello, to avoid piracy steam has to be running, there are no current plans for standalone as i don't have a way to authenticate users with some sort of license. There's also many steam features that are getting integrated that wont be of use in a standalone fashion. Anything can happen in the future though.

Thanks for your reply, hopefully something can be considered in the future. I fully support the idea that the software should be paid to support your development, but it’s always unfortunate seeing a project do a total 180 from an open-source philosophy —> paid & DRM.

Originally posted by TODO: Username:

Wallpaper Engine can run without Steam, and I think they're doing fine. I honestly don't believe that many people would pirate a 2€ program and lose both updates and convenient Steam Workshop support.

I agree, the $2 price is negligible in that almost all of us can afford it, and I doubt that being able to run without Steam in the background would lead to any sizable amount of piracy, as you pointed out with Wallpaper Engine, etc, most wouldn’t want to miss out on Workshop integration as you stated as well. It’s just another example of paying customers having to bear consequences due to some bad apples. DSX will still be piratable whether it has Steam DRM or not, it’s just that us paying customers won’t be able to run it without Steam open, and those who don’t pay for it will be able to. Oh well 🤷‍♂️

I Agree that many aren't gonna like this model, but if i don't have protections in place, you can easily browse the local files for the app from library and just grab all the files and it would run anywhere, or upload it online. The use of Steam API features like workshop, getting the location of DSX through the API to save app settings, require the Steam Client app to at least be running in the background, as this is how Steam has designed it.

Also DSX was never open sourced, just hosted on GitHub.

As for Wallpaper Engine being able to run without steam is still something i have no idea how to achieve. So ill try looking into it.

[Angel Xex]

In my case, I like the steam version, especially because of the automatic updates that the steam servers carry, and implement cloud save for custom configurations.

[Snypir]

Originally posted by Angel Xex:

In my case, I like the steam version, especially because of the automatic updates that the steam servers carry, and implement cloud save for custom configurations.

True, that would be quite useful.

Originally posted by Paliverse:

As for Wallpaper Engine being able to run without steam is still something i have no idea how to achieve. So ill try looking into it.

However you end up implementing the Steam API, I’m sure it’ll turn out as good as possible. Thanks for hearing me out, and looking forward to the Steam launch!

[MP-ONE]

Having to have Steam running at all times to use this app is a deal breaker for me. I have many GOG games, origin, uplay and many other non Steam games and having to launch this app with Steam running at all times is not for me.

Im sure the low cost would prevent piracy. I for one would have bought this for this asking price. Theres other software on Steam that can run without steam running.

[- White -]

Ive bought the app but also have multiple steam accounts dont really want to buy the app multiple times hopefully you make this available without steam.

Thats my only gripe apart from that app is awesome best ps5 controller app available impressive.

[Mitsuru Kirijo]

I am going to refund this and just stick to either DS4Windows or the github version. DRM for this? are you for real?

[LASTdayALIVE]

The app is perfect and still have it on my desktop account. But most of my games are local coop and use them split screen with third party apps, that means steam has to be off each time. And I have 2 dualsense gamepads. It's ridiculous that I have to play on them with ds4... ridiculous. My friend... we spend 100 euros for 2 gamepads and 2200 euros for a pc that runs simultaneously 2 instances... and we will pirate your app? Come on now..

[Khronikos]

Originally posted by Mitsuru Kirijo:

I am going to refund this and just stick to either DS4Windows or the github version. DRM for this? are you for real?

They are for real. Nobody cares. The app is better than DS4Windows.

[Snypir]

Originally posted by Khronikos:

Originally posted by Mitsuru Kirijo:

I am going to refund this and just stick to either DS4Windows or the github version. DRM for this? are you for real?

They are for real. Nobody cares. The app is better than DS4Windows.

DS4Windows “just works”, so this app is not needed for most people. Having to have Steam running in the background for a simple controller remapping app is so not needed.