CD Projekt has officially sold its DRM-free PC storefront GOG back to original co-founder Michal Kicinski, ending an ownership period that began in 2008.
The transaction is valued at approximately $25.2 million, marking a significant shift in the company’s long-term strategy.
The sale returns GOG to independent ownership while allowing CD Projekt to narrow its focus on internal game development.
What GOG Has Represented in the PC Market
Over the years, GOG has carved out a distinct position in the PC ecosystem by championing DRM-free ownership, hosting major titles such as Baldur’s Gate 3 and Tomb Raider.
Beyond new releases, the platform has increasingly leaned into game preservation, particularly with the launch of the GOG Preservation Program in late 2024.
That initiative has enabled modern re-releases of classic and hard-to-access games, including the original Resident Evil trilogy and Alpha Protocol, reinforcing GOG’s reputation as a preservation-focused storefront rather than a conventional digital retailer.
Why CD Projekt Made the Decision
According to CD Projekt, the sale is not driven by financial pressure. Instead, the studio stated that separating from GOG allows it to fully refocus on creating top-quality RPGs.
To maintain continuity for players, a publishing agreement has been put in place to ensure that future CD Projekt titles will continue to launch on GOG despite the change in ownership.
GOG’s management also confirmed that 2025 has been an encouraging year for the platform, emphasizing that the move reflects strategic alignment rather than distress.
Leadership Reactions From Both Sides
Michal Kicinski praised both CD Projekt and fellow co-founder Marcin Iwinski, expressing confidence in GOG’s independent future.
Meanwhile, CD Projekt CEO Michael Nowakowski thanked the GOG team and framed the transition as a friendly handover rather than a clean break, describing it as a “see you around” moment while reaffirming the company’s intention to support the platform with upcoming releases.
CD Projekt’s Development Pipeline Moves Center Stage
With GOG no longer part of its corporate structure, CD Projekt is placing full attention on an ambitious lineup of projects, including:
- The Witcher 4, which debuted a cinematic teaser at the 2024 Game Awards and places Ciri at the center with increased narrative choice
- A new multiplayer Witcher project
- A Witcher remake being developed by Fool’s Theory
- Ongoing expansion of the Witcher universe across television and tabletop formats
- Continued long-term investment in the Cyberpunk franchise
What This Means Going Forward
The sale returns GOG to its roots under an original founder while allowing CD Projekt to streamline its operations around large-scale RPG development.
At the same time, the continued publishing partnership ensures that CD Projekt’s future titles will remain available on a DRM-free platform that aligns with its long-standing values.
For players, the outcome preserves access, choice, and ownership—while signaling a clear strategic reset for one of Europe’s most prominent RPG studios.
Enjoy our updates? You can add GamingHQ as a preferred source in Google Search to see our articles more often.
