GOG's New Chapter: Why CD Projekt Sold Its DRM-Free Platform and What It Means for Gamers

The Deal Explained: From Corporate Asset to Private Passion Project

The transaction marks a full-circle moment. CD Projekt has sold 100% of its shares in GOG to the platform's original co-founder, Michał Kiciński, for PLN 90.7 million (approximately $25 million). The deal, finalized at the end of 2024, severs the official corporate tie but strengthens a philosophical one.

Crucially, the acquisition was financed entirely through external funding. Kiciński did not sell any of his existing 10% stake in CD Projekt to complete the purchase, a detail that underscores the personal nature of this investment. This isn't an asset shuffle; it's a founder buying back his vision.

The historical context is key. GOG (Good Old Games) was co-founded by Kiciński and Marcin Iwiński in 2008 as a passion project to preserve and sell classic PC games, free of Digital Rights Management (DRM). It was later integrated into the CD Projekt Group, growing over 17 years into a major storefront with a catalogue of over 11,200 games and a team of 1,335 employees. Now, it embarks on a new journey as a privately held entity.

The Strategic Split: Focusing on AAA RPGs vs. Preserving Gaming History

The official rationale from CD Projekt is one of sharpened focus. As a publicly traded company, its shareholders expect growth centered on its core competency: blockbuster AAA RPG development. Its current pipeline is colossal, including The Witcher 4 (Polaris), a Cyberpunk sequel (Orion), the multiplayer Witcher project Sirius, and a brand-new IP codenamed Hadar. Managing a sprawling game store, while profitable, diverts resources and attention from these flagship projects.

"For us, this is about concentrating all our energy on what we do best: creating unforgettable role-playing game worlds," a CD Projekt representative stated. "Freeing up these resources allows our development teams to operate with even greater focus."

For GOG, the separation is liberation. No longer subject to the quarterly earnings pressures of the public market, the platform can fully embrace its original, niche mission. "This move allows GOG to specialize in game preservation without compromise," explained a company blog post. It’s a return to being a curator rather than just a competitor in the storefront wars.

The split is amicable and operational. A new distribution agreement ensures that CD Projekt's future games—including the next Witcher and Cyberpunk titles—will launch on GOG day-and-date with other platforms. The corporate relationship has evolved into a strategic partnership.

What Changes (and What Doesn't) for GOG Users

For the platform's user base, the immediate message is one of continuity and reassurance. GOG’s core promises remain untouched:

• The DRM-free policy is sacrosanct. Games you buy are yours to own and back up.
• The optional GOG Galaxy client will continue to be supported and developed.
• Users' existing libraries and purchases are completely safe and accessible.

Operationally, the platform's recent return to profitability—reporting a net profit of $478,000 for the period ending Q3 2025—provides a stable foundation for independence. The most significant change for users will be additive, not subtractive.

Leadership has teased an enhanced "classic game rescue mission" set to expand significantly from 2025/2026. This initiative is a direct beneficiary of GOG's new independence; freed from the pressure to chase mainstream AAA margins, resources can be reallocated to this core passion project. It goes beyond mere sales, involving deep technical work to resurrect games that have been lost to aging hardware and incompatible software, a commitment that will define the platform's new era.

The Vision for an Independent GOG: Rescue Missions and Retro Spirit

Under Kiciński's sole ownership, GOG is poised to double down on what made it unique. The "rescue mission" is its new flagship endeavor. This isn't simply repackaging an old .ISO file. It involves complex, often painstaking work: reverse-engineering, patching, and modifying classic titles to run seamlessly on modern operating systems, often requiring negotiations with defunct publishers. It's digital archaeology with a storefront.

Beyond preservation, the new GOG will actively curate and support "new games with a retro spirit." In a telling personal commitment, Kiciński is reportedly directly involved in developing several such titles, slated for a 2026 launch on the platform. This suggests a future where GOG doesn't just sell games but incubates a specific genre and philosophy, akin to a boutique publisher dedicated to a classic gaming ethos.

This focused, founder-led vision could redefine GOG's place in a market dominated by Steam and the Epic Games Store. Instead of chasing every major AAA release, it can cultivate a dedicated community around game preservation, ownership, and a specific aesthetic. It becomes a destination rather than just an alternative.

The sale of GOG represents a strategic uncoupling that aims to play to both entities' strengths. CD Projekt gains the unburdened focus it craves for its next decade of blockbuster development. GOG, in turn, reclaims its soul, transitioning from a corporate division back to a passion-driven curator.

In an era of subscription services and ephemeral digital licenses, GOG's renewed fight for permanent ownership isn't just a niche business—it's a radical act of preservation. For gamers who believe a purchased game should be a library book, not a leased movie, its new chapter is just beginning.

Tags: CD Projekt, GOG, Game Preservation, DRM-Free Gaming, Video Game Industry