Preserving Gaming History with GOG – Insights from Piotr Gnyp and Marcin Paczynski :
As the conversation around game preservation grows louder, platforms like GOG.com are stepping up to ensure classic titles remain accessible to new generations of players. In a recent IndieGameBusiness® podcast, Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness®, sat down with Piotr Gnyp, Senior PR, and Marcin Paczynski, Senior Business Development at GOG.com, to discuss the challenges of licensing, the technology behind keeping old games alive, and why preserving gaming’s past is just as important as supporting its future.
GOG’s Mission – More Than a Storefront :
When most people think of digital game distribution, they think of storefronts like Steam or Epic. But GOG.com is different. Founded in 2008 by the creators of CD Projekt Red, GOG was built around the idea that games should remain accessible long after their original release. Early on, the platform focused on classics that could no longer run on modern systems. Today, GOG combines a growing library of new releases with its ongoing mission to keep gaming history alive
GOG was created to solve a problem: preserving access to games that become unplayable as technology moves forward.
Meet the Guests – Careers in PR and Business Development :
Marcin Paczynski has been with GOG for more than seven years, starting as a tester and eventually joining the business development team. His role now involves tracking down rights, negotiating with publishers, and convincing them to re-release forgotten titles.
Piotr Gnyp began his career in tabletop RPGs before moving into game design, publishing, and eventually PR. At GOG, his goal is simple but ambitious: to make people care about game preservation.
The GOG Preservation Program :
Although GOG has been preserving games since its launch, the GOG Preservation Program formalized that mission in 2022. The initiative ensures that older titles not only run on modern PCs but also meet quality expectations like widescreen support, controller compatibility, and cloud saves.
Currently, about 200 titles are actively maintained under this program, with a goal of expanding to over 1,000 in the coming years.
The Preservation Program ensures older titles continue to run smoothly while also adapting them to modern standards.
The Challenge of Licensing and Split Rights :
Preserving games isn’t just about coding fixes. One of the biggest challenges is licensing. Rights can be split between publishers, developers, and even heirs of original creators. GOG has had cases where they hired private investigators to track down forgotten rights holders living off the grid.
For some titles, such as Black & White, rights are split between Microsoft and EA, making negotiations especially complex.
Legal hurdles often delay or prevent classic games from being re-released, with split rights posing the toughest challenges.
Community Involvement – The Dreamlist :
To prioritize what games should come back, GOG created the Dreamlist, a voting platform where players nominate and support titles they want preserved. Not only does this guide GOG’s efforts, but publishers also use the data to gauge demand.
Surprisingly, some cult classics like Digimon World surged to the top of the list despite modest reviews at launch, proving the power of community nostalgia.
The Dreamlist empowers players to shape which titles GOG pursues for preservation.
Technology Behind the Preservation :
GOG has built specialized tools such as wrappers for DirectX, input, and modding integration. These allow classic games to gain modern features like alt-tab support, widescreen resolutions, and cloud saving.
Multiplayer, however, remains a hurdle. Because GOG rarely has access to original source code, most re-releases ship with only single-player content. That said, projects are underway to restore online play through LAN wrappers and VPN support
GOG uses proprietary tools to modernize classics, though restoring multiplayer remains a work in progress.
What Counts as a “Classic” Game? :
One fascinating discussion is how to define a classic. For older gamers, classics might mean 1990s PC titles like Baldur’s Gate. For younger players, The Witcher 3 or Fallout 4—games already a decade old—carry nostalgic weight.
GOG uses a practical benchmark: around ten years or two console generations old. This evolving definition ensures the preservation of not just retro titles, but also beloved modern classics.
The definition of “classic” is subjective, but GOG treats ten-year-old games or two generations back as preservation-worthy.
One-Click Mods – Extending Game Life :
Mods are another way to keep games alive. Recognizing how intimidating mod installation can be, GOG launched One-Click Mods, which bundle mods into safe, tested packages. Players can install major overhauls like Skyblivion or Heroes of Might and Magic III: Horn of the Abyss with a single click.
One-Click Mods make community-created content accessible to everyone, no technical expertise required.
Marketing and Support for Developers :
Unlike Steam, GOG is a curated platform. Each release is supported with:
- A front-page feature
- Social media promotion
- Newsletter inclusion
- Optional deeper campaigns like page takeovers or streams
For indie developers, the value isn’t just sales but exposure to GOG’s highly engaged, core gamer community.
GOG provides built-in marketing support, ensuring every release gets visibility with its audience.
Looking Ahead – Preserving Games for Future Generations :
Piotr and Marcin emphasized that GOG’s mission goes beyond business. It’s about cultural preservation—making sure games that shaped players’ lives remain accessible. With new technologies, expanding partnerships in Japan, and ongoing community involvement, GOG aims to be the first stop for anyone seeking back-catalog games.
GOG wants to be recognized as the go-to platform for preserving both retro and modern classics for future generations.
How to Get Involved :
Vote on the Dreamlist: Share your favorite games and memories to influence preservation.
Follow GOG: Stay updated on new releases, preservation updates, and cultural projects through their Twitter, Discord, and newsletters.
Support Preservation: Buying from GOG directly funds their ability to restore more games.
Want more insights like this? :
Watch the full episode on YouTube or hop into the IndieGameBusiness® Discord to connect with Piotr and Marcin, and other industry pros. And don’t miss our next IndieGameBusiness® Sessions this September 17th & 18th —featuring expert talks on funding and running your indie studio!
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