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GOG CELEBRATES 15 YEARS: THE JOURNEY FROM CLASSICS TO DRM-FREE AAA GAMES
From nostalgia to AAA games
Interview
PC
Interview
Digital distribution platform GOG is celebrating its 15th anniversary and plans to celebrate with game fans in several ways. During Gamescom, we had the opportunity to speak with PR Manager Gabriela Siemienkowicz, who revealed what surprises they have in store for us and shared her insights on the platform's mission and its unique place in the gaming community with 15 years of experience.
"We joke internally that we're turning into a naughty teenager. Sweet 16 will probably be a lot of fun, but 15 is an opportunity to remember how much we've done and how far we've come from such a small company," Gabriela began, recalling the times when parent company CD Projekt Red, known for the series about The Witcher, decided to launch GOG, their vision was to offer DRM-free games, which was a new idea at the time.
Over the years, GOG has been a staunch supporter of preserving legacy games. Gabriela drew attention to a recent study by the Video Game History Foundation, according to which 87% of classic games are at risk of being lost forever. “No other art form really dies as quickly as games because of systems that no longer support them. Our goal is to make games last forever. Especially the classics and games from the so-called abandonware and have them available again for users to enjoy."
GOG's commitment is evident in its unique game offering. Gabriela proudly stated, "We have around 150 games that are exclusively available on GOG, including iconic titles like Diablo with the Hellfire expansion and SWAT 4." While the platform does not strive for exclusivity, it prides itself on rescuing such classics and sometimes it even creates game builds itself when developers don't have enough capacity for it.
GOG celebrates 15 years: How it went from classics to DRM-free AAA games
Freedom to play DRM-free games offline
DRM or Digital Rights Management has long been a subject of debate in the gaming community. Gabriela emphasizes that GOG strives to provide a "sense of ownership" that no other platform offers. Every game on GOG is DRM-free, allowing players to download, share and play offline without restrictions. Players have the freedom to play games under any conditions, for example even during a mountain hike, completely offline.
Gabriela mentioned that GOG offers the GOG Galaxy client, which is packed with features like achievements and cloud saves. Nevertheless, it remains an option rather than an obligation. "Once you download the games, they are available offline," he adds. This ensures that players can access their games even if the company's servers face downtime.
What's also fascinating about GOG is how strongly they believe in trust-based customer relationships. Gabriela cites a low refund rate and a generous 30-day refund policy as evidence of the success of their strategy, and says the company's trust-focused approach started around 2019.
GOG's journey is strongly linked to classic games, and Gabriela recalls its beginnings with cult games that many of us grew up with. It's not just about nostalgia, it's about preserving these classics for future generations. Their diverse library ranges from Heroes of Might and Magic 3 to modern AAA titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
GOG celebrates 15 years: How it went from classics to DRM-free AAA games
Return of the Alpha Protocol
On its current 15th anniversary, GOG continues its commitment to bringing "lost" classics back to life. It offers the title Alpha Protocol, which disappeared from digital stores due to complicated licensing rights. However, as Gabriela quips, "We are experts at capturing, finding and recovering these games."
She also revealed that GOG will expand its game list to include titles from Quantic Dream, including Heavy Rain, Fahrenheit and Beyond: Two Souls. Although these titles are not old, they have already become cult in the gaming world. Simultaneously with these releases, they will also launch the long-awaited spy thriller Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. “Hardcore fans of CD Projekt RED on GOG will come to know that this is the CD Projekt family. We want to support it, so to speak, directly from the source," says Gabriela.
In addition to the business aspects, Gabriela also brings to the fore the friendly corporate culture at GOG. There is a real love for games and an understanding of the deep impact they have on players. From casual to hardcore gamers, GOG celebrates each gamer's unique journey.
On the occasion of the 15th birthday, GOG also invited its partners to join in the celebrations and maybe choose 15 games that they would recommend to everyone. However, Gabriela emphasizes that it doesn't necessarily have to be old games and it's a subjective matter: "Games are a form of art, but art is subjective." For example, she and her Polish colleagues are big fans of Heroes of Might and Magic 3, and Gabriela jokes that it should be a must play for everyone.
GOG celebrates 15 years: How it went from classics to DRM-free AAA games
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