Windows XP gamers, is there hope?

[DethMerchant2001]

So before you just say "update to a newer OS", I just want to make clear that this is a second computer that I have, that if all else fails might just dual boot to Windows 7 at a later date. This computer was pieced together with the sole purpose of being as close to era appropriate as possible.

Anyways, for older games that I have, lets use id software as an example. I know that some of their games have files that can simply be copied and pasted. My question is, would it be possible to just copy and back up the entirity of the folders for older XP era games and play them without steam? I have only ever really tried this with 2 games to various degrees of success, Quake 1 and 2. They work, so it would stand to reason that other games from the era would work like that as well? OR is GoG and Humble Bundle gonna have to get me through those darkest of days when Steam cuts off support for XP?

[Ogami]

Most games will not start without the Steam client, no.
What you could do, install all those XP games with Steam on that PC and then go
into permanent Steam Offline mode.
They will still work that way but of course you wont be able to ever go online again with Steam on that system.

Honestly, i think GoG is the better solution if you want keep those old games functional.

[DethMerchant2001]

Originally posted by Ogami:

Most games will not start without the Steam client, no.
What you could do, install all those XP games with Steam on that PC and then go
into permanent Steam Offline mode.
They will still work that way but of course you wont be able to ever go online again with Steam on that system.

Honestly, i think GoG is the better solution if you want keep those old games functional.

Hmm, so I just got lucky with the id software games so far? Fortuantely I have all the original Doom games on disc. I just need my Quakes, Return to Castle Wolfenstien, etc. GoG recently started a thing where they can link to Steam and save your games that way assuming that they have added them to that service. So there is a little more hope there. I just really dont want to have buy games again that I already own for the sole puporse of playing on XP.

[Jaunitta 🌸]

Newer games drivers use what we know as DirextX. 11 and DX 12.
DX 12. is backwards compatible with DX 11.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectX

"My question is, would it be possible to just copy and back up the entirity of the folders for older XP era games and play them without steam?"
The games on Steam are digital, like Steam Cloud based. DRM.
What we have on our systems is just like a preloading game.
Any non Steam games can be added to library.
Open the games Tab at the very top>Add a non Steam Game to my Library.
This kind of explains it
Should I buy games directly from steam or CD/DVD??
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/540744299982889587/

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by Jaunitta:

Newer games drivers use what we know as DirextX. 11 and DX 12.
DX 12. is backwards compatible with DX 11.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectX

"My question is, would it be possible to just copy and back up the entirity of the folders for older XP era games and play them without steam?"
The games on Steam are digital, like Steam Cloud based. DRM.
What we have on our systems is just like a preloading game.
Any non Steam games can be added to library.
Open the games Tab at the very top>Add a non Steam Game to my Library.
This kind of explains it
Should I buy games directly from steam or CD/DVD??
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/540744299982889587/

Some games can . Most can't.
Just upgrade to 7. The difference between XP and 7 is rather small to begin with in terms of UI look and feel as well as performance. If you really want a genuine xp experience you can run the game in XP mode