Feature Request: Require installing via Itch app & disable web download

[sinbad]

Both macOS and Windows 8+ have features which prevent the smooth running of unsigned applications downloaded from the web. Any game distributed on Itch.io without a code signature cannot be launched easily if downloaded via the web page; there are no such issues when downloading using the Itch app, because you either remove the quarantine flag or avoid having it set in the first place.

It would be nice to avoid problems by being able to disable downloading a game on the web and instead of putting the "Purchase" section at the bottom with download links, to instead put a button "Download the Itch.io app to Purchase/Download" or similar. Perhaps an admin could indicate on a per-file basis whether it is code signed, if it's the kind of download that would need that ("Executable" at least), to trigger this. Or even better, Itch could detect whether a file is codesigned and do the right thing automatically unless told otherwise. This would solve a lot of headaches and having to manually tell people to install via the Itch app.

Thanks!

[fasterthanlime]

Or even better, Itch could detect whether a file is codesigned and do the right thing automatically

I've done some work along those lines that we could definitely re-use serverside :)

• manifest parsing: https://github.com/itchio/pelican/blob/master/probe_test.go#L132-L133
• checking authenticode: https://github.com/itchio/butler/blob/master/endpoints/launch/launchers/native/ue4_prereqs_windows.go#L189-L192

I don't know what @leafo's current position on this is - what I know is that the goal was for the desktop app not to replace the website.

However, we also want to provide great UX. Once v25 is out, we're planning on making the app more visible and the #1 option to install games. If my understanding is correct, we'll keep providing web downloads for advanced users, but perhaps as a less visible option, maybe behind a disclaimer or two.

[sinbad]

Great, thanks for the fast reply! The desktop app doesn't have to replace the website, but there definitely some cases where the web version just can't function properly as a distribution platform with unsigned binaries. Even if it was just something we as developers could manually flip a switch on because we know web quarantining is going to cause us issues and generate support requests, that would be useful. The automatic route would be great too, but if that comes with too much additional baggage around web/desktop priority an advanced manual feature would suffice.

[aaronfranke]

I think it would make sense to have an option to point users to the app before offering a download, but I disagree with disabling web downloads entirely. Even if the web download has some reduced functionality compared to a download through the Itch app, it should always be possible. I don't believe that users should ever be required to download a client, it should be optional but recommended.

[SkyCharger001]

and in some cases the Itch app will claim that it has installed a game when in fact it has only installed the installer.

[fasterthanlime]

and in some cases the Itch app will claim that it has installed a game when in fact it has only installed the installer.

We support all the installer types we can support, see https://itch.io/docs/itch/integrating/compatibility-policy.html

However, I agree that incompatible installers should be detected beforehand, and the itch app should refuse to download them - this is on my TODO list.

[kasp1]

I found this post where @leafo asks why would someone want to limit their game to be downloaded only through the Itch app (the thread is already archived).

Games based on Client/Server architecture typically require the clients and servers to stay in sync in order to maintain network protocol compatibility. Whenever a user has an outdated client that doesn't support the latest version of networking protocol anymore, we have no other choice but not to let them connect to the server and tell them that they should update.

The version API is a great help for builds "unmanaged" by an updater but you know, people are just lazy to go to the website, redownload, reinstall, and reopen. Especially if you iterate fast and release often.

Each "manual" update comes with a significantly greater loss of users than if the update is a one-button-click. Therefore we would prefer to only distribute through the app which includes an easy update system.

Anyway, publishing on Itch is the easiest I've ever gone through. Keep up the great work. Thank you.

[n8bot]

I have similar thoughts as kasp1

Also, our game is huge (21 GB) so keeping clients in sync is really only a good idea using the patches provided by the app.

I would love to exclude file downloads as an option (unless the user REALL Y REALLY wants to and understands that the app is the better way?)

Yeah. That would be the best case: Hiding the files, strongly advising and directing to the app, but still let the files be downloaded for posterity.

[yunylz]

I think we need this as a feature, I want to force my game to be playable via Itch app only.