In a transformative moment for the global gaming industry, GOG — one of the most respected digital storefronts for PC games — has officially parted ways with CD Projekt, marking the beginning of its new life as an independent company. Recognized worldwide for its unwavering dedication to offering DRM-free titles and preserving gaming history, GOG now enters a new era of autonomy driven by a renewed entrepreneurial vision and a deep respect for players’ rights. The move symbolizes not merely a corporate restructuring, but a philosophical statement about the future of digital ownership and creative freedom within the gaming landscape.
This major transition comes as GOG’s co-founder, Michał Kiciński, reacquires both GOG and the GOG Galaxy platform for a sum of $25 million. Kiciński, well-known for his groundbreaking work with CD Projekt during the development of *The Witcher* franchise, now returns to his early creation with a vision to steer it toward sustainable, innovation-driven independence. His reacquisition represents much more than a simple business transaction — it embodies a return to roots and a recommitment to the ideals that initially made GOG a beloved fixture in the world of PC gaming: trust, accessibility, and user empowerment.
Founded on the principle that players deserve permanent access and ownership of the games they purchase, GOG has long stood as a steadfast alternative to heavily restricted digital distribution services. The platform’s catalog, containing a broad range of classic and modern titles alike, has not only provided gamers with DRM-free experiences but also played a crucial role in archiving and reviving timeless works of interactive art that might otherwise have been lost to obsolescence. By safeguarding these experiences from vanishing into digital obscurity, GOG has built a legacy interwoven with the preservation of gaming’s cultural heritage.
The newly independent company now has the freedom to pursue its long-term vision without the constraints of a parent organization. This liberation could lead to more direct collaborations with developers and publishers seeking ethical, transparent, and player-focused distribution methods. For developers, this shift opens the possibility of presenting their creations within a marketplace committed to fairness and accessibility, while players stand to benefit from renewed emphasis on freedom of use and digital preservation. In many ways, GOG’s independence feels like a natural evolution — a reaffirmation of its founding mission in an ever-more commercialized industry.
Observers view this separation as particularly significant given current debates about digital rights management, consumer ownership, and corporate control in gaming ecosystems. As large publishers increasingly lock content behind subscription models, account-based access, or online verification requirements, GOG’s DRM-free policy positions it as a countercurrent to these dominant trends. The company’s renewed autonomy may empower it to stand even more firmly for user rights at a time when such advocacy is both rare and urgently needed.
With this acquisition, Kiciński has also gained control of GOG Galaxy, the versatile client designed to integrate libraries across multiple game platforms while maintaining the DRM-free philosophy at its core. This tool has become a favorite among players who value unified access to their collections without the trade-offs often forced by other ecosystems. Under independent management, Galaxy could evolve further, potentially expanding interoperability and enhancing the already seamless player experience.
Although GOG’s separation from CD Projekt marks the end of one chapter, it signals the promising dawn of another. For the gaming community, this move isn’t merely a financial milestone; it represents a reinvigoration of ideals that resonate deeply with players and creators alike. Independence provides GOG the opportunity to redefine what ethical gaming distribution can look like — transparent, consumer-oriented, and truly free of unnecessary corporate barriers. If executed with the same level of passion and integrity that defined its beginnings, the DRM-free pioneer may well chart a bold and inspiring course for the future of digital gaming as a whole.
In essence, GOG’s emancipation reflects the industry’s ongoing struggle between restrictive control and creative liberty. As an independently guided entity once again led by one of its visionary founders, GOG steps forward as both a business venture and a cultural statement — asserting that in the digital era, ownership, preservation, and respect for players’ autonomy must remain central to gaming’s evolution.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/850832/gog-cd-projekt-acquisition-steam
