GOG’s New Leadership Stays True to Anti-DRM Principles, Prioritizing Values Over Sales

At the end of 2025, CD Projekt Red, the studio behind The Witcher 3, announced the sale of its long-standing PC gaming platform, GOG, to co-founder Michał Kiciński. Kiciński, who originally launched GOG with a strong anti-DRM philosophy, has been away from both companies for 13 years, leaving many to wonder how he might steer the now-independent storefront. However, in a recent interview, he reassured fans that GOG will continue to uphold its bold principles, even if it means forgoing potentially lucrative AAA game sales.

Initially launched in 2008 as Good Old Games, GOG was created by CD Projekt to provide access to classic titles that had become difficult to find, all without the burdensome digital rights management (DRM) that plagued many games at the time. As the platform evolved, it began to offer newer titles, but maintained its commitment to DRM-free releases.

In the late 2000s, DRM sparked significant controversy, with games often shipping on DVD-ROMs laden with restrictive measures. These included limits on installations, the requirement to have physical discs in drives to play, and online checks that rendered games unplayable without an internet connection. While these measures were ostensibly designed to combat piracy, they primarily hindered legitimate players, as pirated versions typically launched without such restrictions. GOG has proudly operated for 18 years without selling any DRM-encumbered games.

Kiciński’s return signals a continued commitment to this philosophy. In his interview, he shared that after a competitive bidding process, he successfully reacquired GOG because he sees significant potential for growth. Although GOG has not been a major revenue generator for CD Projekt, Kiciński is optimistic about its future.

“I see huge opportunities for GOG to grow,” he stated. “Some might view Steam’s 80 percent market share as a barrier, but I see it differently. With one dominant competitor, it could be easier to capture market share from them.”

His strategy isn’t about trying to outdo Steam but rather excelling in specific niches. GOG will continue to focus on classic games and collaborate with indie developers willing to distribute their titles through the platform. He pointed to games like Clair Obscur and Hollow Knight: Silksong, which launched on GOG simultaneously with Steam, as evidence that there are developers who appreciate GOG’s ethos. Additionally, as part of the sale agreement, CD Projekt’s games will remain on GOG for at least the next six years, which is a significant advantage.

Kiciński emphasized that the refusal to adopt DRM is a fundamental value for GOG, one that he believes will endure. He described this stance as both ethical and practical, expressing frustration with publishers who fail to understand the importance of this approach. “Most corporate people make plain stupid decisions,” he remarked.

For more insights from the interview, including details about the sale and future plans for GOG, you can find the full discussion available elsewhere.