CD Projekt Sells GOG to Co-Founder Michal Kicinski

The Polish developer CD Projekt, creator of franchises like The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077, has finalized the sale of its digital distribution platform GOG.com. The buyer is Michal Kicinski, one of the co-founders and former president of the same company, in a deal valued at approximately 25.2 million dollars. This strategic step aims to allow CD Projekt to focus all its efforts on producing its next major role-playing titles. 🎮

A Transaction to Redefine Each Company's Focus

The sale formally separates the paths of the developer and the digital store. CD Projekt redirects its investment and human resources to its main studios to work on the new The Witcher saga, the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, and an original intellectual property. On the other hand, Kicinski takes full control of GOG, committing to guide the platform with its original philosophy, which prioritizes the preservation of gaming legacy and a direct connection with the gaming community.

Key Details of the Deal:

The total sale amount was 90.7 million Polish zlotys, equivalent to approximately 25.2 million US dollars.
The agreement was formalized through a contract that both parties consider beneficial for the independent future of each entity.
The decision responds to a corporate strategy for CD Projekt to optimize its structure and focus exclusively on creating video games.

This separation allows GOG to evolve with an independent focus, while CD Projekt faces the challenge of producing its next major releases.

GOG Continues Its Mission Without Altering the User Experience

For platform customers, there will be no perceptible changes. GOG maintains its commitment to offering classic and modern games without restrictive DRM systems. CD Projekt Red titles, such as the complete The Witcher saga, will continue to be available for purchase in the store. Additionally, the optional GOG Galaxy client, which allows organizing the personal library and connecting accounts from other platforms, will also continue its usual development and support.

Commitments That Remain After the Sale:

The DRM-free philosophy and support for independent developers remain as a fundamental pillar.
Daily operations, the catalog, and user support will not undergo modifications.
The vision of preserving old video games to run on modern systems remains the new owner's priority.

An Independent Future for the Platform and Its Founder

This move marks a new chapter for both companies. Kicinski, by reacquiring the project he helped found, has the opportunity to lead GOG with total autonomy, away from the corporate pressures of a large developer. Meanwhile, CD Projekt frees itself from managing a distribution platform to channel all its capacity into what it does best: developing immersive role-playing worlds. The community, in a joking tone, notes that now they can complain directly to the original owner if a classic game doesn't work. 😄