I used to be considerably stunned that Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Pink determined to promote its on-line video games retailer GOG late in 2025, however unsurprised by who purchased it. Michał Kiciński was a co-founder and joint CEO of CDPR, together with in 2008 when it launched GOG. After parting methods with the corporate in 2011, he is reacquired the storefront so as to problem Steam’s hegemony and decide to offering gamers with DRM-free video games for them to play any time, anywhere.
For these unaware, DRM is touted as anti-piracy software program, however typically requires further sign-ins or registrations so as to play video games you have purchased. Ever been flummoxed by attempting to play a single-player recreation in your Steam Deck solely to search out it requires a web based connection to launch for some cause? That is seemingly DRM in motion.
The Witcher 3 was a dedication to this anti-DRM stance from CD Projekt, and it is one of many few Steam video games to not make the most of the software program. Numerous different video games use it, from RPGs to first-person shooters, however Kiciński would not imagine it helps to keep away from piracy, and that it will possibly influence video games’ efficiency as well.
“Because the very starting, we’ve not seen DRM as an answer for piracy, as a result of the video games get pirated anyway, almost day one,” he tells GamesIndustry.biz in an interview. “We see DRM as one thing which may make the lifetime of a authorized buyer harder. The one cause to maintain it alive might be to please the homeowners of the video games, as a result of that is their requirement very often.”
Whereas he says that his stance is much less controversial than it has been previously, it has come again to chew him earlier than. He notes that CDPR’s personal writer sued the developer when it eliminated DRM from The Witcher 2 to enhance efficiency, regardless of the actual fact the sport had already been pirated. He says GOG has misplaced enterprise with some publishers as a consequence of its dedication, however has gained enterprise with others.
As for the longer term, GOG is unsurprisingly doubling down on its USP. “It is a core worth of GOG, and there is no indicators that it would die in any seen future,” he says. “This isn’t solely an moral worth, but it surely’s additionally very pragmatic. It helps folks to take pleasure in video games it doesn’t matter what occurs with the software program supplied by the platform or what web connection they’ve.”
Whereas this will likely come throughout because the DRM-free shopkeeper (and co-founder of the store itself) poo-pooing the idea of DRM to drum up enterprise, Kiciński’s stance has remained constant all through the years, and is fashionable with avid gamers who benefit from the notion of having the ability to play the video games they’ve purchased wherever and every time they please.
It is significantly poignant within the wake of Anthem’s shutdown and extra video games being delisted from on-line platforms each week. Whereas there are different elements in play, corresponding to servers for on-line multiplayer video games, buying video games with out DRM would assist you to play them even after publishers have eliminated them from sale.
Whereas Kiciński freely admits that “Steam is profitable with its ease of use,” he believes that “a lot might be finished in GOG with out dropping its core values and the best way it operates basically.”
Will it ever be a real competitor to Valve’s storefront, which has extra concurrent customers than there are folks in Canada? It appears unlikely, particularly when the would possibly of Epic Video games has struggled to come back shut with its personal providing. However Kiciński is dedicated to staying true to his ethical code, and that is admirable in its personal proper.
