Michał Kiciński, co-founder of CD Projekt and DRM-free digital games store GOG, acquires 100% ownership of GOG from CD Projekt and signs a distribution deal
A-GOG. — Michał Kiciński, co-founder of CD Projekt, has acquired 100 percent ownership of GOG, the DRM-free digital games store.
Eurogamer.netVikki Blake
Context & Ripple Effects
GOG built its identity around DRM-free distribution and broadened that storefront to all users in its earlier public launch as a DRM-free Steam alternative. The ownership transfer now separates the store from CD Projekt while preserving a commercial distribution connection between them.
The deal matters because GOG’s customer proposition is tied to how a digital library is delivered and retained, not simply to its catalog. A founder-led owner changes who controls that proposition while CD Projekt remains a distribution partner.
First-order effects
Michał Kiciński takes full ownership of GOG, moving control of the storefront out of CD Projekt.
CD Projekt becomes a distribution-deal counterparty rather than GOG’s owner, retaining a formal route for its games to reach GOG customers.
Second-order effects
GOG can set its storefront, partnership, and DRM-free priorities under an owner whose incentives are no longer those of CD Projekt’s corporate group.
The continued distribution agreement limits immediate disruption for CD Projekt titles on GOG, while giving other publishers a clearer distinction between the store and a competing game developer.
Third-order effects
If the separation is sustained, it could reinforce a model in which game studios and distribution platforms remain commercially linked without sharing ownership—a potentially important distinction for platform neutrality.
The transaction keeps DRM-free access as a differentiated storefront strategy, but its long-term significance will depend on whether GOG can translate independent control into durable publisher and customer support.
The trend: This is part of a broader reshaping of game distribution in which ownership of storefronts, catalogs, and customer libraries is being separated from individual game-development businesses.
Having GoG as a private entity rather than dealing with shareholders of CD PROJEKT is only a good thing for customers and gamers If GoG can refocus and make a Linux version of Galaxy while also creating a better storefront/platform for congregating game libraries, its a win imo
BREAKING: Michał Kiciński has bought GOG back from CD Projekt Red. Huge win for gamers GOG was built on ownership, preservation, and respecting players, not activist corpo rot that CDPR turned into over recent years. Getting it away from DEI-Rotted culture is awesome news LFG! [i…
After 17 amazing years together, it's time for a new chapter for GOG. Congrats on everything you've achieved and keep on making games live forever! Best of luck to you, Michał!
Big news! CD PROJEKT has sold 100% of GOG to Michał Kiciński, one of its original founders. Read more: https://www.cdprojekt.com/... For CD PROJEKT, this lets us focus 100% of our energy on what we do best: telling captivating stories through our games and expanding our IPs with …
GOG is entering a new chapter. Michał Kiciński, co-founder of CD PROJEKT and GOG, has acquired GOG from CD PROJEKT. The mission stays the same: Make Games Live Forever. Going back to our roots allows us to double down on what we do best: reviving classics, giving you a library