GOG Sold Back to Co-Founder for $25.2 Million, CD Projekt Insists on Stability
▼ Summary
– CD Projekt has sold its DRM-free PC storefront GOG to its original co-founder, Michał Kiciński, for approximately $25.2 million.
– The sale aligns with CD Projekt’s strategy to focus fully on developing video games, including The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2.
– GOG will operate independently and maintain its DRM-free philosophy, with a distribution agreement ensuring future CD Projekt games are released on the platform.
– Kiciński emphasized GOG’s founding mission of preserving classic games and ensuring players truly own their purchased games forever.
– CD Projekt stated that GOG is financially stable and has had an encouraging year, with the sale allowing GOG to pursue its mission with stronger backing.
In a strategic move to sharpen its focus on core game development, CD Projekt has sold its DRM-free digital storefront, GOG, back to co-founder Michał Kiciński for approximately $25.2 million. This transaction allows the renowned Polish studio, creator of The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, to concentrate its resources entirely on its ambitious slate of upcoming RPGs while ensuring GOG continues its mission under familiar and passionate leadership. Kiciński, who also co-founded CD Projekt and retains a significant stake in the company, originally launched GOG in 2008 with a clear vision of preserving classic games and championing consumer ownership.
The sale is framed as a natural evolution for both entities. CD Projekt’s leadership stated that divesting GOG aligns perfectly with their long-term strategy to dedicate their full attention to creating top-tier role-playing games and expanding their entertainment franchises. GOG will continue to operate independently, maintaining its foundational commitment to a DRM-free philosophy. A new distribution agreement ensures that future CD Projekt Red titles, including the highly anticipated The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2, will still be available on the GOG platform at launch.
For Michał Kiciński, this represents a homecoming. He emphasized that GOG was built on the principles of freedom, independence, and genuine ownership, values he believes are shared with CD Projekt. He expressed strong personal commitment to GOG’s core mission of curating timeless classics and seeking out new games with a retro spirit, noting his direct involvement in several such projects slated for a 2026 release. Kiciński’s vision positions GOG as the definitive destination for purchasing both classic libraries and new CD Projekt titles.
From an operational standpoint, CD Projekt executives stress that this change is about focus, not instability. They clarified that GOG is financially stable and has experienced an encouraging period of growth and gamer enthusiasm. The platform recently garnered attention for supporting indie titles like Horses after its removal from other storefronts. For the user community, the experience is expected to remain consistent, with the store’s unique library and consumer-friendly policies intact.
With GOG now under Kiciński’s dedicated stewardship, CD Projekt can streamline its operations toward a packed development roadmap. This includes not only the next Witcher and Cyberpunk sequels but also projects like The Witcher Remake, Project Sirius, and a brand-new IP codenamed Project Hadar. The separation is portrayed as a positive step for both companies, allowing each to pursue its specialized goals with renewed vigor and support.
(Source: IGN)
