1.12.4 fixed the major memory leaks from earlier 1.12 versions. With the standard -force-opengl or -force-d3d11 launch flags on GOG, players report stable play for hundreds of parts — even with 80+ mods.
Kerbal Space Program v1.12.4 on GOG is a stable, polished release of the beloved spaceflight sandbox—great for new players and veterans who enjoy realistic orbital mechanics, moddability, and creative engineering challenges.
This is the killer feature. On Steam, your game updates automatically (even with "only update on launch" settings, it often breaks). If a mod you love works perfectly with v1.12.4, but Squad pushes a stealth 1.12.5 (which they haven't, but hypothetically), Steam would break your mod list. The GOG version stays exactly as you left it forever. kerbal space program v1124gog best
As the final official update from the original development team, v1.12.4 carries a sense of legitimacy. It is the version upon which the vast majority of the modding community standardized before the sequel's release, ensuring that tutorial content, craft files, and technical wikis are most accurate for this specific build number.
By late 2023–2024, major mods like:
…all officially supported 1.12.x, with many modders quietly confirming that 1.12.4 was their personal development target. Fewer “silent errors” than 1.12.5.
| Feature | Steam v1.12.4 | GOG v1.12.4 (Best) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | DRM | Steamworks DRM | None (DRM Free) | | Offline Installer | No | Yes (Downloadable .exe) | | Multi-Instance Folders | Difficult (SteamLibrary limits) | Trivial (Copy/Paste folder) | | Cloud Saves | Yes (often corrupts modded saves) | Optional (Galaxy) / Manual (Better) | | Mod Compatibility | High | Identical but more stable | | Steam Workshop | Yes (Simplistic) | No (Use Curse/Spacedock) | | Launch Speed | Requires Steam client open | Direct click .exe | | Price during sale | ~$9.99 | ~$9.99 (Same, but supports GOG) | As the final official update from the original
Verdict: For the tinkerer, the modder, or the player who wants to ensure they can play Kerbal Space Program in 2035 on a disconnected PC, the GOG version wins by a mile.