GOG, the renowned DRM-free PC games distribution platform, has recently entered a new era following its acquisition by Michał Kiciński, co-founder of CD Projekt Red.
This development, announced over the recent holiday period, has sparked insightful discussions about GOG’s long-term strategy, particularly its ambition to remaster and reintroduce classic game IPs—a move that could reshape the digital preservation landscape familiar to fans of Nightdive Studios and similar industry leaders. Kiciński, who was part of CD Projekt Red's founding team and departed the renowned Polish developer in 2012, has returned to the gaming sector with a renewed vision for GOG.
The platform has built its reputation catering to enthusiasts of classic and indie games, delivering a curated selection of DRM-free titles to a global audience.
Now under Kiciński’s direction, GOG is considering not just the distribution, but creative stewardship of beloved game properties. In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz features editor Lewis Packwood, Kiciński shed light on his strategic outlook.
Drawing comparisons to Nightdive Studios—known for reviving dormant franchises such as System Shock through remasters and faithful updates—he endorsed the idea of acquiring and revitalizing classic IPs.
Kiciński remarked that expanding GOG’s business model to more hands-on development and publishing roles felt like a natural progression, emphasizing Poland’s robust pool of game development talent.
However, he stressed that this directional shift remains in preliminary stages, noting, "It is a step-by-step process, and at this stage, no significant decisions have been formalized." GOG executives have previously articulated similar aspirations.
During Gamescom 2025, Bartosz Kwietniewski, GOG's Head of Business Development, lauded Nightdive Studios as setting a gold standard for resurrecting and modernizing legacy games, stating they exemplify what GOG would like to achieve: acquiring intellectual property rights, adapting them to modern game engines, and potentially even producing new spiritual successors or sequels. Further into the interview, Kiciński elaborated on his reasons for acquiring GOG, noting a continued sense of attachment to the company and a desire to preserve its unique identity.
He indicated that preventing GOG from being subsumed by a larger conglomerate was a key motivator, aiming to avoid job losses and the fate of many independent studios in the current industry climate—a trend he called "very visible" and detrimental to creativity within the gaming sector. Since its inception, GOG has been instrumental in making classic games accessible to modern audiences, often collaborating with developers and publishers to ensure compatibility with the latest PC hardware, and sometimes even extending support to platforms like the Nintendo Switch through collaborations.
The renewed focus on acquiring and developing classic IPs suggests an ambitious future for GOG—a future rooted in both preservation and innovation. As GOG moves forward under Michał Kiciński’s stewardship, the industry will be closely watching how this DRM-free platform evolves, and whether it can set a new benchmark for classic game remasters, all while maintaining the community-focused ethos that has defined its success.
This development, announced over the recent holiday period, has sparked insightful discussions about GOG’s long-term strategy, particularly its ambition to remaster and reintroduce classic game IPs—a move that could reshape the digital preservation landscape familiar to fans of Nightdive Studios and similar industry leaders. Kiciński, who was part of CD Projekt Red's founding team and departed the renowned Polish developer in 2012, has returned to the gaming sector with a renewed vision for GOG.
The platform has built its reputation catering to enthusiasts of classic and indie games, delivering a curated selection of DRM-free titles to a global audience.
Now under Kiciński’s direction, GOG is considering not just the distribution, but creative stewardship of beloved game properties. In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz features editor Lewis Packwood, Kiciński shed light on his strategic outlook.
Drawing comparisons to Nightdive Studios—known for reviving dormant franchises such as System Shock through remasters and faithful updates—he endorsed the idea of acquiring and revitalizing classic IPs.
Kiciński remarked that expanding GOG’s business model to more hands-on development and publishing roles felt like a natural progression, emphasizing Poland’s robust pool of game development talent.
However, he stressed that this directional shift remains in preliminary stages, noting, "It is a step-by-step process, and at this stage, no significant decisions have been formalized." GOG executives have previously articulated similar aspirations.
During Gamescom 2025, Bartosz Kwietniewski, GOG's Head of Business Development, lauded Nightdive Studios as setting a gold standard for resurrecting and modernizing legacy games, stating they exemplify what GOG would like to achieve: acquiring intellectual property rights, adapting them to modern game engines, and potentially even producing new spiritual successors or sequels. Further into the interview, Kiciński elaborated on his reasons for acquiring GOG, noting a continued sense of attachment to the company and a desire to preserve its unique identity.
He indicated that preventing GOG from being subsumed by a larger conglomerate was a key motivator, aiming to avoid job losses and the fate of many independent studios in the current industry climate—a trend he called "very visible" and detrimental to creativity within the gaming sector. Since its inception, GOG has been instrumental in making classic games accessible to modern audiences, often collaborating with developers and publishers to ensure compatibility with the latest PC hardware, and sometimes even extending support to platforms like the Nintendo Switch through collaborations.
The renewed focus on acquiring and developing classic IPs suggests an ambitious future for GOG—a future rooted in both preservation and innovation. As GOG moves forward under Michał Kiciński’s stewardship, the industry will be closely watching how this DRM-free platform evolves, and whether it can set a new benchmark for classic game remasters, all while maintaining the community-focused ethos that has defined its success.
