GOG's New Chapter: Independence, DRM-Free Focus, and Ambitious Plans to Rescue Classic Games

The Transaction: Why CD Projekt Let GOG Go

The details of the deal are straightforward but significant. For a sum of $25.2 million, CD Projekt Red has transferred ownership of the GOG platform back to one of its original architects, Michał Kiciński, who co-founded both CD Projekt and GOG (originally Good Old Games) in 2008.

CD Projekt’s rationale, as stated in their official release, is one of corporate focus. The company aims to sharpen its resources and strategy entirely on developing its core RPG franchises—The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077—and their related entertainment expansions. Managing a digital storefront, even one as philosophically aligned as GOG, ultimately falls outside this refined core mission.

Crucially, this is a strategic divestment, not a fire sale. GOG itself described the past year as "stable" and "very encouraging," directly countering any narrative of the sale being born from failure. For gamers, the most immediate reassurance comes from a continuity agreement signed between the two entities. This ensures that CD Projekt's games, including the highly anticipated The Witcher 4, will continue to launch on GOG without exclusivity to other stores. Your library and account remain untouched; this is a change in captaincy, not a scuttling of the ship.

The GOG Philosophy: Now "More Central Than Ever"

With independence comes a renewed sense of purpose. GOG’s founding principle—providing DRM-free games that players truly own—has been boldly reaffirmed as the platform's core mission. The company stated that this philosophy is now "more central than ever," positioning GOG as a platform for "freedom, independence, and genuine control."

This is a powerful stance in today's gaming ecosystem, which is increasingly defined by subscription services where games can vanish from a catalog and always-online DRM that can render a purchased product unplayable. GOG’s model offers a tangible alternative: you buy it, you download it, it’s yours. The recent case of Horses serves as the perfect case study. When larger platforms deemed the game unsuitable for their storefronts, GOG provided a direct channel to the audience, upholding a commitment to creator and consumer choice over centralized curation. This action demonstrates that its principles are not just marketing but operational directives.

The Ambitious Mission: "Rescue Missions" for Classic Games

The most exciting revelation from GOG’s new roadmap is the announcement of expanded "rescue missions" slated to begin in earnest in 2026 and 2027. This is where GOG’s independence could have its most profound cultural impact.

A "rescue mission" is GOG’s term for the arduous process of acquiring the rights to classic, often forgotten PC games, then painstakingly updating their code, wrappers, and installers to ensure they run seamlessly on modern operating systems. It’s digital archaeology with a commercial and preservationist heart. These efforts are vital for gaming history, preventing culturally significant titles from being lost to time due to digital rot, licensing entanglements, or obsolete hardware requirements.

By making this a flagship initiative, the new GOG is doubling down on its original "Good Old Games" identity but with greater ambition and focus. The platform also aims to support new games with a "retro spirit," suggesting a curated space that values design philosophy alongside historical preservation. This two-pronged approach could solidify GOG as the definitive home for gamers who view games as lasting artifacts, not just transient services.

What Changes and What Stays the Same for Gamers

For the everyday user, the immediate experience will be one of reassuring continuity.

• What Stays: Your user account, your existing library of DRM-free games, and the fundamental store policy of selling games without copy protection all remain unchanged. The availability of CD Projekt’s titles is also secure.
• What Could Evolve: The future points toward a potentially sharper, more curated focus. Freed from being a subsidiary within a larger developer-publisher, GOG can now fully embrace its niche. This aligns with the strategic vision for independence, which emphasizes a return to core principles. We can expect a storefront that increasingly highlights classic games, indie titles with a retro ethos, and niche projects that align with its values of ownership and accessibility. This focus is a direct extension of the operational philosophy demonstrated by the swift onboarding of Horses.

This independence may also allow for more agile and experimental partnerships. GOG can now operate as a truly neutral platform, potentially becoming the go-to destination for games that challenge the norms or policies of larger, more restrictive storefronts—a role it has already begun to test.

GOG’s journey has come full circle: from a passionate project within CD Projekt to an independent entity with a renewed, razor-sharp mission. This move transcends corporate restructuring; it represents the strengthening of a crucial, principled alternative in the digital marketplace. In an age of ephemeral game access and centralized control, GOG is positioning itself as both a guardian for gaming’s past and a steadfast champion for consumer rights. As we look toward 2026, the anticipation is no longer just for new games, but for the ambitious "rescue missions" that will define this bold new chapter and bring pieces of our shared digital heritage back to life.

Tags: GOG, CD Projekt Red, DRM-free, Game Preservation, PC Gaming