CD Projekt has bought its DRM-free PC storefront GOG to its authentic co-founder, Michał Kiciński, for 90.7 million Polish złoty (approx. $25.2 million). Kiciński can be co-founder of CD Projekt itself, and at the moment holds 10% of share capital within the enterprise.
Kiciński co-founded GOG in 2008, and it has operated inside the CD Projekt Group for over 17 years. Promoting GOG “matches” CD Projekt’s long-term technique, in accordance to a FAQ posted online. CD Projekt, the Polish firm behind smash hits The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, needs to deal with online game improvement and different initiatives, it mentioned. CD Projekt is at the moment growing The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2.
“Promoting GOG matches CD Projekt’s long-term technique,” reads the assertion. “CD Projekt needs to focus its full consideration on creating top-quality RPGs and offering our followers with different types of leisure based mostly on our manufacturers. This deal lets CD Projekt hold that focus, whereas GOG will get stronger backing to pursue its personal mission.”
Kiciński commented: “From the very starting, GOG has all the time been constructed on robust values and clear rules. When Marcin Iwiński and I got here up with the concept for GOG, the imaginative and prescient was easy: convey traditional video games again to gamers and make sure that as soon as you purchase a sport, it really belongs to you — without end.”
GOG will function independently, it mentioned, and proceed with its DRM-free philosophy. Following the sale, CD Projekt and GOG signed a distribution settlement that specifies the phrases of future cooperation, together with a plan to launch CD Projekt Pink’s upcoming video games on GOG.
“CD Projekt and GOG share the identical roots and values: freedom, independence, and a real sense of possession,” Kiciński continued. “I consider that CD Projekt, with its distinctive AAA video games, will stand, as all the time, behind the GOG providing — making GOG one of the best place on the planet to buy The Witcher and Cyberpunk video games, each current titles and the brand new ones all of us anticipate a lot.
“As a mature gamer, I usually play traditional video games myself and deeply admire the creativity behind a lot of them. I really consider that well-crafted classics can ship as a lot pleasure as new releases. When it comes to pure playability, timeless video games usually show to be actually the protected alternative, particularly in a market flooded with gazillions of low-quality smaller video games. Past preserving classics, GOG has all the time sought out new video games with a retro spirit. I’m personally concerned within the improvement of some video games like that and they’ll actually make their robust look on GOG in 2026.”
Michał Nowakowski, joint CEO of CD Projekt, added: “with our focus now absolutely on an formidable improvement roadmap and increasing our franchises with new high-quality merchandise, we felt this was the proper time for this transfer.
“For a very long time now, GOG has been working independently. Now it’s going into excellent arms — we’re satisfied that with the assist of Michał Kiciński, one in all GOG’s co-founders, its future shall be stuffed with nice initiatives and successes. We want to thank the GOG group for years of fruitful cooperation and want all of them one of the best. And to the GOG group, I say ‘see you round,’ as a result of our upcoming releases will naturally be obtainable on GOG as nicely.”
GOG has lengthy competed with Steam for the hearts and minds of PC avid gamers by leaning on its no-DRM coverage, though Valve’s platform stays the overwhelming market chief. Within the FAQ, the query ‘is GOG financially unstable?’ is requested. The reply, formally, isn’t any. “GOG is secure and has had a extremely encouraging yr,” reads the assertion. “In truth, we’ve seen extra enthusiasm from avid gamers in direction of our mission than ever earlier than.” GOG hit the headlines lately for getting behind indie sport Horses after Valve banned it from Steam.
It feels like from a person standpoint, nothing adjustments right here. As for CD Projekt, it will possibly now strip out GOG from its enterprise, which at newest rely employed 1,335 workers. In The Witcher franchise it has the aforementioned The Witcher 4 as a part of a brand new Witcher trilogy with Ciri as protagonist, The Witcher Remake, and Undertaking Sirius. Cyberpunk 2 can be in improvement, as is Undertaking Hadar, a brand new IP.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.