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[jshackles]

GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you | GOG.COM

Hey everyone, GOG Team here.

www.gog.com

We believe the games that shaped us deserve to stay alive: easy to find, buy, download, and play forever. But time is annoyingly good at erasing them. Rights get tangled, compatibility breaks, builds disappear, and a nostalgic evening often turns into a troubleshooting session. That's the difference between "I'm playing today" (the game lives on) and "I'll play someday" (the game dies).

As Michał put it: "GOG stands for freedom, independence, and genuine control."

GOG has always been built on strong values and clear principles. When Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński first came up with the idea for GOG in 2007, the vision was simple: bring classic games back to players, and make sure that once you buy a game, it truly belongs to you, forever. In a market increasingly defined by mandatory clients and closed ecosystems, that philosophy feels more relevant than ever.

This new chapter is about doubling down on that vision. We want to do more to preserve the classics of the past, celebrate standout games of today, and help shape the classics of tomorrow, including new games with real retro spirit.

GOG will remain independent in its operations. We will continue building a platform that's ethical, non-predatory, and made to last, while helping indie developers reach the world. We're also committed to giving the community a stronger voice, with new initiatives planned for 2026.

 

[Darkmakaimura]

Love that GOG.

 

[JimmyRustler]

So both Steam and GoG are now privately owned? Awesome.

 

[jshackles]

I guess I assumed that for the last few decades GOG has been getting its operating budget from CDPR's game sales rather than from its own operations, but this news seems to tell another story. Which is great.

 

[Alexios]

No more backing from a big successful company because they don't even consider it worthwhile anymore so they let the guy with lower aspirations have it huh. Hope it works out.

 

[jshackles]

Here is CD PROJECKT's take

CD PROJEKT co-founder Michał Kiciński acquires GOG from CD PROJEKT - CD PROJEKT

Michał Kiciński, co-founder of CD PROJEKT and one of its major shareholders, has acquired 100% of the shares in GOG, formerly part of the CD PROJEKT Group. GOG is the leading DRM-free games digital distribution

www.cdprojekt.com

 

[memoryman3]

So both Steam and GoG are now privately owned? Awesome.

EGS is too. Epic is a private company with Tim Sweeney as the controlling shareholder.

 

[John Bilbo]

I really hope this works out for them.

 

[Killer8]

GoG isn't going to last more than 5 more years. Backup your games now. In terms of their financials and now what looks like CDPR shifting dead weight, the writing is on the wall.

 

[xanaum]

EGS is too. Epic is a private company with Tim Sweeney as the controlling shareholder.

Even though that guy owns the biggest share and is the "controlling" one, the rest of the company is split into shares. For example, the Chinese company Tencent owns around 40% of Epic Games, which is a huge chunk and can definitely influence decisions at the shareholders board. Even Sony owns a stake in Epic too.

 

[Kadve]

Even though that guy owns the biggest share and is the "controlling" one, the rest of the company is split into shares. For example, the Chinese company Tencent owns around 40% of Epic Games, which is a huge chunk and can definitely influence decisions at the shareholders board. Even Sony owns a stake in Epic too.

They are still considered a Private company. Their shares aren't available on the open market.

 

[Astray]

GoG isn't going to last more than 5 more years. Backup your games now. In terms of their financials and now what looks like CDPR shifting dead weight, the writing is on the wall.

They would have just closed it down if that was the case.

My guess is he wants to keep it going and maybe invest money into it, and they don't, hence the share sale.

 

[Mr Hyde]

I love GoG and want to support it but since I switched to SteamOS I'm pretty much Steam exclusive. It's such a hassle with GoG launching through Heroic I just don't bother with it. Would be cool if GoG somehow got native Linux support or integrated better with Steam somehow.

 

[Griffon]

I love GoG and want to support it but since I switched to SteamOS I'm pretty much Steam exclusive. It's such a hassle with GoG launching through Heroic I just don't bother with it. Would be cool if GoG somehow got native Linux support or integrated better with Steam somehow.

You're aware that heroic generates Steam shortcuts for you games aren't you?

 

[memoryman3]

GoG isn't going to last more than 5 more years. Backup your games now. In terms of their financials and now what looks like CDPR shifting dead weight, the writing is on the wall.

This is why the Steam monopoly is awful for developers and gamers. No room for alternative storefronts with better deals or valiant mission statements. I really hope that someday library management at least moves away from the storefronts and installing/downloading games is seamless no matter which storefront you buy from.

 

[Mr Hyde]

You're aware that heroic generates Steam shortcuts for you games aren't you?

Yes, but so far my GoG library has been very hit or miss in terms of working as intended, so I stopped using it.

 

[justiceiro]

Probably delaying the inevitable, but still better than the alternative.

 

[JimmyRustler]

GoG isn't going to last more than 5 more years. Backup your games now. In terms of their financials and now what looks like CDPR shifting dead weight, the writing is on the wall.

I swear I read the same thing already a couple of years ago.

 

[simpatico]

Love GOG but I wouldn't invest a dime in them.

 

[wipeout364]

This is why the Steam monopoly is awful for developers and gamers. No room for alternative storefronts with better deals or valiant mission statements. I really hope that someday library management at least moves away from the storefronts and installing/downloading games is seamless no matter which storefront you buy from.

100% we are creating a really bad situation here with Steam. At some point Steam is going to be acquired and things will turn pretty nasty.

That's why I have never understood the hate for other store fronts. I love Steam but I have no problem buying from other distributors and everyone should make a point of supporting other store fronts to keep Steam Honest.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I knew them openly asking for money wasn't a good sign but at least it's in good hands. GoG always seemed like something they were doing just because they felt it needed to be done and not because it was gonna make them rich. Any game that is available on both GoG and Steam I usually get the GoG version.

 

[Topher]

EGS is too. Epic is a private company with Tim Sweeney as the controlling shareholder.

40% of Epic is owned by Tencent

No room for alternative storefronts with better deals

You are literally in a thread discussing an alternative storefront.

 

[Laptop1991]

I've used GOG more than any other PC client in the last couple of years due their pro gamer and user attitude and stance, i hope GOG remains the great site and company/storefront it has become.

 

[asdasdasdbb]

You are literally in a thread discussing an alternative storefront.

That CDPR is unloading because it's unprofitable.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

I'm really not sure how to read this one. I get why people are saying GOG is doomed or whatever, but they've been on the upswing in terms of both popularity with consumer and in getting support from major publishers. They're still niche, but can add some value for publishers. Being privately owned definitely strikes me as a positive for a store with a focus on something that's not universally interesting, like DRM-free.

Of course, I'm also probably saying this in part because if GOG were to go under, I'm probably going to stop focusing on PC games much at all. I don't like DRM and I don't like Steam.

 

[Futaleufu]

GoG isn't going to last more than 5 more years. Backup your games now. In terms of their financials and now what looks like CDPR shifting dead weight, the writing is on the wall.

I'm sure someone already has a GOG megapack laying around ready for deploy...

 

[Topher]

That CDPR is unloading because it's unprofitable.

Nah, that's an assumption. And even if it were true, why are we pretending other storefronts such as Microsoft store and EGS don't exist? It's a false narrative.

 

[Pagusas]

100% we are creating a really bad situation here with Steam. At some point Steam is going to be acquired and things will turn pretty nasty.

That's why I have never understood the hate for other store fronts. I love Steam but I have no problem buying from other distributors and everyone should make a point of supporting other store fronts to keep Steam Honest.

I fear the day Gabe leaves us. Steam will fall apart fast once his guidance and control is gone.

 

[Durin]

Could be cool that it's now just a private company, not influenced by shareholders...but I just hope they can be financially sustainable.

I have about 250 games through them, and since doing their Preservation Program that's only increased because they just improve old games or make them work out of the box vs Steam versions.

Still wish digital games that have DRM after 5 years would be GoG, and go DRM-free since you've made the bulk of your revenue already.

 

[Soodanim]

I fear the day Gabe leaves us. Steam will fall apart fast once his guidance and control is gone.

With any luck Gabe is putting his billions into cloning tech so that he can have gaben2@valve take over when the day comes

 

[pudel]

That CDPR is unloading because it's unprofitable.

Yeah, somehow this gives a rather bad look on CDPR. But as long as they stay committed to GOG...nothing has really changed. (i hope)

 

[Topher]

100% we are creating a really bad situation here with Steam. At some point Steam is going to be acquired and things will turn pretty nasty.

That's why I have never understood the hate for other store fronts. I love Steam but I have no problem buying from other distributors and everyone should make a point of supporting other store fronts to keep Steam Honest.

Preferring Steam does not equate hating other platforms. If Steam gets bought and then changes dramatically then people will start finding alternatives. As it is, gamers choose Steam because it is simply the best at what it does and no one else is even close. So either Steam shits the bed and loses customers or, preferably, one of these others stores actually put in the effort to match Steam. Keeping stores "honest" works both ways. If another store wants my business then they need to earn it.

 

[PlayStaytion]

 

[Labadal]

It will either be better, or it will be worse.

You can quote me on this one.

 

[asdasdasdbb]

It will either be better, or it will be worse.

You can quote me on this one.

Thanks Magic.

 

[Signalis]

 

[asdasdasdbb]

As it is, gamers choose Steam because it is simply the best at what it does and no one else is even close.

Given that Steam lets publishers sell keys for free, I'm not sure how a third party store could work really. Very much an anticompetitive thing.

The only thing that would make sense would be for Big Publishers to have their own store with their own games.

 

[Aressa]

I respect GOG for its commitment to game preservation so hopefully this move will enhance it.

It will either be better, or it will be worse.

You can quote me on this one.

Thank you. This deep dive analysis must've took you hours.

 

[Hawk The Slayer]

Games should always be DRM free and should have never even come to the point where you don't own it in the first place unless it was an online game of course.

The only reason why I use Steam is because I don't buy stuff online with a credit card and only use Steam gift card balance to buy stuff or Amazon or blizzard or visa gift cards to add balance. And unfortunately GOG doesn't have any gog gift cards I could buy nor do they even accept vanilla visa gift cards. Or else I would have moved onto them full time instead of Steam.

 

[simpatico]

What could the business reason for this be? Does anyone see a profitable future for GOG? Especially now as we're learning more about what kind of tech civilians will have access to moving forward. I really that the DRAM things ends with the average joe getting completely stopped on the tech tree.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

The ResetERA thread on this same topic is just dismal. You really get the sense, the only thing they care about over there is how much $$$ a company makes, and just how pessimistic their groupthink mentality has gotten WRT anything gaming.

If you want to worry about money, don't. Otherwise I doubt the original co-founder would've acquired GOG in the first place. Either they have a plan in place for funding or the store turning a profit is not their main goal whatsoever.

This is why the Steam monopoly is awful for developers and gamers. No room for alternative storefronts with better deals or valiant mission statements. I really hope that someday library management at least moves away from the storefronts and installing/downloading games is seamless no matter which storefront you buy from.

You're still going on about this shit?

100% we are creating a really bad situation here with Steam. At some point Steam is going to be acquired and things will turn pretty nasty.

That's why I have never understood the hate for other store fronts. I love Steam but I have no problem buying from other distributors and everyone should make a point of supporting other store fronts to keep Steam Honest.

So the dead Xbox talking points of "keeping Sony honest" that failed there are getting repackaged, I see.

Nah, that's an assumption. And even if it were true, why are we pretending other storefronts such as Microsoft store and EGS don't exist? It's a false narrative.

We don't even know if their main intent in buying the store IS to push for profitability. The main focus could be on games preservation, for example. Maybe it transforms into an Internet Archives but focused specifically on video games.

Guess it goes to show how poisoned the well is that the very first thing some people think about with news like this, is "How do we get line go up?"

I fear the day Gabe leaves us. Steam will fall apart fast once his guidance and control is gone.

So you think the same Gabe who spends most of his time travelling the world on his yachts, is handling the day-to-day operations and management at Valve, or actively programming on games like Deadlocked or engineering on stuff like Steam Machine like a Mark Cerny?

OK then. If Valve were that fragile to fall apart without Gabe being there in the trenches for every little detail, it'd have fallen apart by now. Crazy how some of you think he'd keep this company going without vetting strong leadership at various levels, or having a successor lined up if & when he's ready to retire fully.

 

[Pagusas]

So you think the same Gabe who spends most of his time travelling the world on his yachts, is handling the day-to-day operations and management at Valve, or actively programming on games like Deadlocked or engineering on stuff like Steam Machine like a Mark Cerny?

No I think Gabe is the thing keeping Valve private. I think without him it will eventually be made public. He has no need for the money and fame, he already has it, that may not be true of the next person.

 

[Fess]

I'll buy some extra games just because of this. I love what they're doing.

 

[StereoVsn]

EGS is too. Epic is a private company with Tim Sweeney as the controlling shareholder.

Epic though has major investment from Tencent and Sony. It would have a lot of more input from those entities I would think.

 

[Topher]

Given that Steam lets publishers sell keys for free, I'm not sure how a third party store could work really. Very much an anticompetitive thing.

Start with making a PC store and community that people want to use, like Valve did. Microsoft has a store built into Windows so if we are going to point out "anticompetitive things" let's start there. And despite that, PC gamers choose to bypass that store and buy from Steam. That's a Microsoft problem, not Steam.

The only thing that would make sense would be for Big Publishers to have their own store with their own games.

Some do and they sell Steam keys. I preordered Dark Heresy direct from Owlcat and got a Steam key. Valve got none of that money. And we are going to spin this as anticompetitive now? Come on. There is nothing stopping Microsoft or Epic from doing the same thing.

 

[Topher]

No I think Gabe is the thing keeping Valve private. I think without him it will eventually be made public. He has no need for the money and fame, he already has it, that may not be true of the next person.

You are probably right. At some point, Valve's ownership will more than likely sell and everything that makes it special will begin to erode away as stockholder demands become the driving force.

 

[StereoVsn]

No I think Gabe is the thing keeping Valve private. I think without him it will eventually be made public. He has no need for the money and fame, he already has it, that may not be true of the next person.

Next person is his son I think. And unless Gabe is crazy, he would setup a proper trust fund to protect his investment so the company wouldn't go to shit.

The question is how capable Gabe's son is but we don't have any way of knowing. I would think he is already deeply involved.

For the GoG acquisition, fingers crossed it will be a good thing. Nobody would plow millions into it if they didn't think it could work, especially the original founder. God's speed to them.

I love GoG and have hundreds of games on the service. Often will even rebuy games I have on Steam after they are all patched up so I have them in GoG.

 

[Idleyes]

PC gamers choose to bypass that store and buy from Steam.

 

[Wilhelm_85]

GOG is awesome. I really hope they can stay the course under new ownership.

 

[asdasdasdbb]

Some do and they sell Steam keys. I preordered Dark Heresy direct from Owlcat and got a Steam key. Valve got none of that money. And we are going to spin this as anticompetitive now? Come on.

It makes it extremely difficult for a store to compete. There really is no point for publishers to put their games on GOG.