I woke up this morning to news that genuinely surprised me—GOG, the beloved DRM-free gaming platform that’s been part of CD Projekt for over 17 years, is going independent. And honestly? After reading the details, I think this might be the best thing to happen to the platform in years.
Michał Kiciński, one of the original co-founders of both GOG and CD Projekt, just acquired 100% of GOG’s shares for PLN 90.7 million (roughly $25 million USD). This means GOG splits from CD Projekt officially, ending a partnership that defined the company since its founding in 2008. But before you panic about your game library or start doom-scrolling Reddit threads, let me walk you through what this actually means for you.
Key Takeaways:
Your GOG account, library, and games remain completely unchanged. DRM-free is staying—in fact, Kiciński says it’s more central to GOG’s mission than ever. CD Projekt RED games like The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 will continue releasing on GOG through a new distribution agreement. GOG is financially stable and had an encouraging 2024-2025 fiscal year. The Preservation Program continues with plans to maintain hundreds of classic games playable on modern systems.
Why GOG Splits from CD Projekt Now
Here’s the thing about corporate spin-offs—they usually come with a lot of corporate speak that says nothing. But this one feels different because the reasoning actually makes sense from both sides.
CD Projekt has been laser-focused on their ambitious game development roadmap. With The Witcher 4 in full-scale production, a new Witcher trilogy planned for release within six years after that, a Cyberpunk sequel in the works, and a remake of the original Witcher game all competing for attention, the company decided that owning a digital storefront was becoming a distraction from their core mission of making games.
Meanwhile, GOG has been operating relatively independently for years anyway. As Michał Nowakowski, Joint CEO of CD Projekt, put it during the announcement, GOG is going into very good hands with Kiciński at the helm. The co-founder returning to take full ownership feels less like a hostile takeover and more like a homecoming.
What struck me most was Kiciński’s statement about why he’s doing this. He believes that in a PC gaming market increasingly dominated by mandatory clients, closed ecosystems, and corporate pressure from shareholders, GOG’s approach is more relevant than ever. No lock-in, no forced platforms, actual ownership of the games you buy—these aren’t just features anymore, they’re a philosophy that sets GOG apart from competitors like Steam and Epic Games Store.
Your Library Is Safe: What the GOG Split Means for Users
Let me address the elephant in the room because I know exactly what you’re thinking: “Is my 200-game library about to disappear?”
No. Absolutely not.
GOG has been remarkably transparent about this. Your account stays a GOG account. Your library remains yours to enjoy. If a game gets delisted, you still keep it—exactly as it’s always worked. Nothing about your user experience is changing.
The offline installers that GOG is famous for? Still available. Cloud saves? Still working. DRM-free downloads that you can backup to a hard drive and install on any computer you own? Still the core promise of the platform.
I’ve spent way too many hours building my GOG library over the years, and honestly, this announcement reinforced why I keep coming back to the platform. In an industry where companies routinely shut down servers and revoke access to purchased content (looking at you, Ubisoft), GOG’s commitment to actual game ownership isn’t just a marketing point—it’s a genuine consumer protection.
For gamers who care about their long-term access to purchased content, especially those building their first gaming setup or researching the best gaming ISPs for reliable connections, this stability matters more than you might realize.
GOG and CD Projekt RED: The Relationship Continues
One of the biggest questions following any split like this involves what happens to the relationship between the two companies. After all, CD Projekt RED’s games—The Witcher series, Cyberpunk 2077, and everything in between—have been a cornerstone of GOG’s catalog.
The good news is that both companies signed a distribution agreement as part of the acquisition. This means CD Projekt RED games will continue to be available on GOG, and upcoming titles from the studio will also release on the platform. Kiciński specifically mentioned that he believes CD Projekt, with its exceptional AAA games, will continue supporting GOG’s offering, making it the best place to purchase Witcher and Cyberpunk titles.
With The Witcher 4 expected sometime after 2026 and an entire new trilogy in development, plus Cyberpunk 2 currently in preproduction with 135 developers working on it, there’s going to be plenty of CD Projekt RED content hitting GOG for years to come. The relationship might be legally different now, but practically speaking, the partnership continues.
The GOG Preservation Program Gets a Boost
If you’ve been following GOG’s evolution over the past year, you know that game preservation has become an increasingly central focus. The GOG Preservation Program launched in late 2024 with over 100 classic titles, and the company has ambitious plans to expand it significantly.
Games like Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Diablo, Fallout: New Vegas, the original Resident Evil trilogy, and hundreds of other classics now carry the “Preserved by GOG” stamp. This means the company commits its own resources to maintaining these games’ compatibility with modern and future PC systems—something that Steam and other platforms simply don’t do.
The Video Game History Foundation recently reported that 87% of games created before 2010 are inaccessible today. That’s a staggering number, and GOG has positioned itself as one of the few companies actively fighting against this digital decay.
With Kiciński’s acquisition, there’s reason to believe this preservation focus will intensify rather than diminish. He’s publicly stated that he plays classic games regularly himself and believes that well-crafted older games can deliver as much enjoyment as modern releases. He’s even personally involved in developing new games with a retro spirit that will appear on GOG in 2026.
For those of us who remember the magic of gaming’s golden eras—the DOS games, the early RPGs, the classic adventures—this commitment to preservation isn’t just business strategy. It’s keeping our shared gaming heritage alive.
GOG vs Steam: How the Split Affects Competition
Let’s be honest about the competitive landscape here. Steam dominates PC gaming with roughly 75% market share. GOG operates in a much smaller niche, though estimates vary widely. Some analysts suggest GOG captures somewhere between 1-5% of the PC gaming market, though the company’s focus on DRM-free titles and classic games means direct comparisons are tricky.
But here’s what makes GOG interesting: they’re not trying to beat Steam at Steam’s game. Where Steam offers a massive library of 70,000+ games with robust social features, achievements, and community tools, GOG focuses on a curated collection of around 9,000 titles with an emphasis on quality and ownership.
The independence from CD Projekt potentially frees GOG from shareholder pressure that might have pushed them toward more aggressive monetization. Under Kiciński’s private ownership, GOG can double down on its niche without worrying about quarterly earnings reports or investor expectations about competing with Steam’s scale.
For gamers, this means GOG is likely to remain focused on what makes it valuable rather than chasing features to compete with platforms that have fundamentally different philosophies. If you want a massive library and social features, Steam isn’t going anywhere. If you want true game ownership and a platform committed to keeping classics playable, GOG just got more focused on that mission.
What About Linux Support and GOG Galaxy?
One question that’s been circulating in gaming communities involves potential changes to GOG Galaxy, the optional launcher that provides cloud saves, achievements, and library management across platforms.
GOG hasn’t announced any specific changes to Galaxy, but the Linux gaming community is cautiously optimistic. Some commentators have speculated that without shareholder pressure from CD Projekt, GOG might be more willing to invest in Linux support—an area where the platform has historically lagged behind Steam’s Proton compatibility layer.
It’s worth noting that GOG games work on Linux through tools like Heroic Games Launcher, which is actually a GOG partner. But native Linux support and a proper Linux client have been long-standing requests from the community. Whether Kiciński’s ownership changes the calculus on that investment remains to be seen.
For now, GOG Galaxy remains available and functional. The offline installers that don’t require any launcher continue to work as they always have. If you prefer gaming without a client running in the background, GOG remains one of the few platforms that actually lets you do that.
The $25 Million Question: Is GOG Worth It?
From a pure numbers perspective, $25 million for a digital storefront that’s been operating for 17 years might seem modest. But context matters here.
The acquisition was fully financed through committed funding secured at closing, meaning Kiciński didn’t have to sell any of his CD Projekt shares to make the purchase. He remains a significant shareholder in CD Projekt while now owning 100% of GOG independently.
GOG has stated they’re financially stable and had a really encouraging year. The platform isn’t a distressed asset being sold off—it’s a profitable niche business being returned to someone who helped create it and genuinely believes in its mission.
For comparison, consider what other gaming acquisitions have cost in recent years. Microsoft paid $69 billion for Activision Blizzard. Sony spent $3.6 billion on Bungie. $25 million for GOG is pocket change by industry standards, but it’s still a significant investment in a philosophy of game ownership that’s increasingly rare in modern gaming.
Looking Forward: GOG’s 2026 Roadmap
While the immediate message from GOG is “nothing changes for users,” there are hints about what’s coming next.
Kiciński mentioned he’s personally involved in developing games with a retro spirit that will appear on GOG in 2026. Whether this means GOG will start publishing exclusive titles or simply that the platform’s owner is passionate about the content is unclear.
The Preservation Program continues expanding, with GOG aiming to preserve at least 500 games by the end of 2025—a target that should be met soon given current progress. Beyond preservation, GOG has announced new community initiatives and what they call “rescue missions” for 2026-2027, suggesting they’ll continue bringing lost or abandoned games back to playable status.
GOG also partnered with the European Federation of Video Game Archives, Museums, and Preservation in early 2025, signaling serious institutional commitment to the preservation mission. This kind of partnership suggests long-term thinking that goes beyond typical corporate planning horizons.
Should You Care About This Split?
If you’re already a GOG user, this news is almost entirely positive. The platform you’ve trusted with your library is now owned by someone with a genuine passion for its mission, operating independently from corporate gaming politics.
If you’ve never used GOG, this might be a good time to check it out. The platform regularly runs sales with deep discounts, and the fact that you can download, backup, and reinstall games without any online verification is genuinely valuable in an era where digital access can disappear overnight.
For those of us who’ve seen too many game servers shut down, too many digital libraries become inaccessible, and too many promises about permanent access proven hollow, GOG’s approach represents something worth supporting. The split from CD Projekt doesn’t change that—if anything, it reinforces the platform’s commitment to doing things differently.
Gaming security matters too, and recent incidents like the Rainbow Six Siege hack that resulted in 2 billion credits and massive bans remind us why platforms that respect user ownership matter. When you actually own your games, you’re less dependent on centralized systems that can be compromised.
Final Thoughts
The gaming industry rarely gives us good news about ownership, preservation, and consumer rights. Most announcements involve some form of monetization, service shutdown, or access restriction. But GOG splitting from CD Projekt feels different.
This is a platform returning to one of its original creators—someone who helped build it from the ground up and genuinely believes in its mission. The DRM-free philosophy isn’t going anywhere. The Preservation Program is expanding. Your library is safe. CD Projekt RED games will still arrive on the platform.
In an industry that seems determined to turn every game into a service and every purchase into a license, GOG continues to stand for something different. And now, freed from corporate structure and shareholder expectations, it might be even better positioned to do so.
I’ve been gaming long enough to be cynical about corporate announcements. But this one? This one feels like good news.
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FAQs
Is GOG owned by CD Projekt?
Not anymore. As of December 29, 2025, GOG is now owned by Michał Kiciński, one of the original co-founders of both GOG and CD Projekt. He purchased 100% of GOG’s shares for PLN 90.7 million (approximately $25 million USD), making GOG a completely independent company. While CD Projekt and GOG will maintain a distribution agreement for games, they are now separate entities.
Is CD PROJEKT RED the same as GOG?
No, they are separate entities. CD Projekt RED is the game development studio behind The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077. GOG (formerly Good Old Games) is a digital distribution platform specializing in DRM-free games. While both companies share the same origins and co-founders, GOG now operates as a completely independent company following the December 2025 acquisition. CD Projekt RED games will continue to release on GOG through a distribution agreement, but the companies are no longer under the same corporate umbrella.
Why do people use GOG instead of Steam?
The primary reason people choose GOG over Steam is the DRM-free philosophy. When you buy a game on GOG, you truly own it—no online checks, no mandatory launchers, and no risk of losing access if servers shut down. You can download games directly through a browser without any client software. GOG also specializes in preserving classic games through their Preservation Program, making older titles like Diablo, Heroes of Might and Magic 3, and the Resident Evil trilogy playable on modern systems. Additionally, GOG offers offline installers, allowing you to back up and install games without an internet connection. While Steam offers a larger library and more social features, GOG appeals to gamers who prioritize actual ownership over access.
Can GOG games be trusted?
Absolutely. GOG has operated since 2008 and maintains an excellent reputation for legitimate, safe game distribution. All games sold on GOG are thoroughly tested and verified before being offered to customers. The platform’s commitment to DRM-free distribution means you can download, backup, and install games without restrictions—there’s no phone-home requirement that could expose you to security risks. With the GOG Preservation Program, they also commit resources to maintaining classic games for current and future systems. The platform is now owned by Michał Kiciński, one of its original founders, ensuring continuity of the values that made GOG trustworthy in the first place. If you want a deeper dive into game guides and strategies, our partners at GameNero have excellent resources like their Octopath Traveler weapon database.