Michal Kiciński acquires GOG in a new strategic phase

CD Projekt Red, developer of The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077, has officially announced the sale of GOG to Michal Kiciński, co-founder of the store and the company itself. The transition is described by the parties as a "new chapter", focused on enhancing the preservation of classics and the celebration of contemporary titles. Even though no longer the owner, CD Projekt Red confirmed that it will continue to make its previous catalog and future releases available on the platform, ensuring the continuity of support for the ecosystem.

The new owner reaffirmed the technical commitment to GOG's pillars, ensuring that the store will continue to offer only games without DRM anti-piracy systems. Kiciński promised to maintain the library of titles already purchased by users, the possibility of playing without the need for a mandatory launcher, and the maintenance of the funds from the Patrons initiative, focused on financing the rescue of old games. The proposal is to ensure that consumers "truly" own the purchased titles, maintaining the original purpose of rescuing classic works from the industry.

However, the corporate separation between CD Projekt Red and GOG raises concerns about the financial sustainability of the store independently. It is regrettable that the developer has chosen to divest the platform at a time of market consolidation, which may indicate that GOG did not achieve the expected profitability goals under the studio's direct management. Although promises to maintain a DRM-free policy are positive for users, the lack of a robust corporate infrastructure like CD Projekt Red's could limit the store's competitiveness against industry giants in the long run.