GOG Lead Reflects on the Ongoing Impact of Removing Cult Horror Game Devotion After Five Years

GOG, the digital PC gaming platform, has taken a moment to reflect on its controversial decision to remove Devotion five years ago, acknowledging that this choice may have impacted its credibility.

In a recent interview, Maciej Gołębiewski, the managing director of GOG, faced criticism for stating that the company is “always ready to take a stand on the right values,” especially after GOG defended the indie horror game Horses against external pressures last month.

So, what sparked the backlash? Five years back, Devotion, a well-received horror title, found itself in hot water when it launched with a poster that appeared to mock Chinese President Xi Jinping, resulting in its removal from Steam. The developer, Red Candle, explained that the images were meant to be placeholder assets and were included by mistake before they were completely removed. Following this, GOG also decided to pull support for Devotion.

Now, Gołębiewski has shared that reflecting on that decision is still challenging, citing “very real business constraints, a limited understanding of the complex geopolitical factors at play, and a lack of good options that would both protect GOG and its partners while allowing the game to be released responsibly.”

He admitted that the way GOG communicated its decision “understandably damaged the trust our users have in us.” However, he emphasized that decisions like the one regarding Devotion are complex. “Operating a global digital storefront involves navigating legal, operational, and commercial realities that don’t always lead to ideal outcomes.”

The situation with Horses was different, according to Gołębiewski, as several GOG employees played it before its launch and determined it wouldn’t present any legal issues. This shift in GOG’s approach may be attributed to the company’s recent independence following CD Projekt’s sale of the storefront back to its original co-founder.