Desura

Desura is a digital distribution platform developed by Bad Juju Games for the Microsoft Windows, Linux and OS X platforms. The service distributes games and related media online, with a primary focus on small independent game developers rather than larger companies. Desura contains automated game updates, community features, and developer resources. The client allows users to create and distribute game mods as well.

Many independent developers and small companies have published their content on Desura including Frozenbyte, Frictional Games,Introversion Software, Basilisk Games, S2 Games, Linux Game Publishing, RuneSoft, Running with Scissors, Interplay Entertainment, and Double Fine Productions. Desura sells many games that were previously included in Humble Bundle initiatives, as well as numerous other commercial titles. Desura also provides several freeware and free software games.

The Desura client is heavily tied to its website through the use of the Chromium Embedded Framework. Most of its services are provided through its online interface, with the exception of the game launcher, installer, and update features. This provides Desura with an interface that does not vary much from system to system.

The interface itself offers various selections based on what feature a user may want to access, with installed games being offered through the "Play" tab, games available for download or purchase being offered through the "Games" tab, user interaction and social networking features from the "Community" tab, information and features for game developers through the "Development" tab, and technical support and client settings through the "Support" tab.

Desura does not impose digital rights management, and Desura employees have commented against its use in the past, recommending that content producers ship without DRM or at least use a CD Key system instead. However, Desura itself is DRM neutral, and publishers and developers may sell games that require such technologies to be used. Desura will make sure users purchasing these titles are aware of the DRM it ships with and how it works.Desura competes in the same market as Valve Software's Steam platform. However, Scott Reismanis, the founder of DesuraNET does not consider it a competitor, but rather an attempt to address a different segment of the market.

Content hosted on Desura is primarily Indie games, which are games by smaller developers who do not have enough popularity or power to negotiate deals with Steam. Desura believes that its tighter links to a dedicated community will foster better relationships between players and developers.

Desura use to be tied to the Mod DB community, as both were run by the same company. Desura therefore highlights content distribution for mods as one of its features, although this is not yet available for the Linux client.