In a move announced on December 29, 2025, Michał Kiciński, co-founder of CD Projekt and GOG.com, has completed the acquisition of GOG, taking 100 percent ownership of the DRM-free PC games store. Kiciński and his brother Marcin founded CD Projekt in 1994, and Kiciński helped launch GOG in 2008. He resigned from CD Projekt in 2010 but has remained involved with the company. GOG has operated as part of CD Projekt via Sp.z.o.o. since its inception, and the new arrangement formalizes Kiciński’s full ownership of the storefront.
CD Projekt group leadership framed the change as a moment to sharpen focus on an ambitious development roadmap and the expansion of its franchises with high-quality products. In a company blog, CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that the move aligns with a longer-term strategy rather than a sudden shift in direction. The leadership emphasized that GOG will continue to operate independently, preserving its DRM-free philosophy and its core commitment to empowering players and developers.
Michał Kiciński spoke publicly about GOG’s enduring values and mission, recalling that from the outset the platform aimed to revive classic games and ensure that a purchased game truly belongs to the player forever. He stressed that GOG would continue to operate independently under his ownership, preserving the DRM-free philosophy and the platform’s user-first ethos. He also indicated personal involvement in reviving titles with a retro spirit and suggested that new releases with classic sensibilities would appear on GOG in 2026.
CD Projekt and GOG share a long history and common values, including freedom, independence, and a strong sense of ownership. The executive team described the transition as a way to leverage GOG’s autonomy to support gamers and developers while maintaining a clear identity as the destination for classic and DRM-free titles. The leadership emphasized that this move will strengthen collaboration within the CD Projekt family while preserving GOG’s distinctive character.
As part of the agreement, GOG and CD Projekt have signed a distribution deal that will see all of CD Projekt Red's upcoming games launch on GOG. The arrangement reinforces GOG’s role within CD Projekt’s broader publishing framework and ensures players can access both existing and forthcoming titles on the DRM-free storefront. GOG has historically defended player choice and digital preservation, including cases where it permitted controversial titles to appear on its store to support artistic expression. The platform also runs Preservation Program efforts to maintain compatibility with current and future systems and is a member of EFGA, the European Federation of Game Archives, Museums and Preservation Projects.
Industry observers view the ownership shift as indicative of a broader trend toward platform independence within the Polish games scene. By placing GOG on a more autonomous footing within the CD Projekt ecosystem, the deal could help balance publishing ambitions with a deep commitment to accessibility and long-term game preservation. GOG’s track record on preservation and its DRM-free model position the platform as a stable home for both retro classics and carefully curated new releases.
In a statement aligned with the new structure, Kiciński emphasized that going back to their roots allows GOG to double down on what the platform does best: revive classics and build a robust library for players who value longevity and freedom of access. He also signaled that his involvement in new projects with a retro spirit will contribute to a diverse lineup on GOG in 2026. Meanwhile, CD Projekt’s joint CEO highlighted that the company’s roadmap remains ambitious, with continued support for high-quality franchises and the introduction of new experiences that complement GOG’s catalog.
The press materials also note that CD Projekt and GOG share the same core values of freedom and independence. The executive team argued that, under Kiciński’s ownership, GOG will keep its independent governance while benefiting from a closer relationship with CD Projekt on distribution and future titles. This balanced approach aims to preserve GOG’s identity as the home for classic and DRM-free titles while enabling a smoother path for upcoming CD Projekt Red releases to reach GOG’s audience.
For readers watching the industry, the acquisition signals a strategic alignment between development pipelines and distribution platforms in a way that prioritizes longevity and user choice. The emphasis on classic revival, DRM-free delivery, and preservation aligns with growing concerns about accessibility and the long-term viability of digital games. The coming year will reveal how the 2026 slate materializes on GOG and whether the integration with CD Projekt Red’s upcoming games expands the storefront’s reach without diluting its fundamental principles.
Overall, the move stands as a landmark moment for both GOG and CD Projekt. It consolidates ownership on the GOG side while preserving the platform’s independent ethos and its commitment to DRM-free play. For players, it reinforces the promise that classic titles can remain accessible on modern hardware and that new releases may be liberated from proprietary restrictions when possible. For the industry, it marks a notable example of leadership signaling a stable, preservation-forward path in a market increasingly dominated by large, multi-platform publishers. The joint focus on a thoughtful development roadmap, strong values, and a clear mission to make games live forever provides a durable narrative for the coming years in Industry & Business.