CD Projekt: Witcher 2 GOG.com sales vindicate DRM-free decision

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 10 November, 2011

35,000 copies sold over the first 6 months.

Sales of fantasy role-playing game The Witcher 2 on GOG.com vindicated CD Projekt's decision to release it DRM-free, it has said.

For the first six months following launch CD Projekt shifted 35,000 copies of the game digitally through GOG.com, which it owns. GOG.com sold the second most units across all platforms.

Top was, of course, Steam. More than 195,000 units were sold through Valve's digital platform. All other digital distribution outlets combined sold approximately ten thousand units.

In total, The Witcher 2 sold nearly a quarter of a million units digitally.

"The digital sales of The Witcher 2 have exceeded our expectations," CD Projekt boss Marcin Iwiński said.

"We are even more pleased that our own platform GOG.com had such a great share in the Witcher's success. The performance of GOG.com in selling new titles is not completely surprising, as we have said for years that DRM isn't necessary.

"It is gratifying to see that the only platform that offered The Witcher 2 DRM-free from launch has performed so well. We're confident that many gamers who haven't had a chance to purchase The Witcher 2 just yet will take advantage of holiday specials and continue to expand our fanbase."

Last year CD Projekt told Eurogamer DRM treats gamers like "criminals".

The Witcher 2 sold nearly one million copies overall - as of the end of August. The digital sales reported today relate to the six month period 17th May to 30th October.

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About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (30) Latest comment 7 months ago

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  • whatsthecoo #1 7 months ago

    I would of thought it would sell a lot more than a 1/4 million copies. I wonder how many physical copies it sold...?

  • George-Roper #2 7 months ago

    Well deserved.

    You make a good game then back it up with excellent patch and content support WITHOUT CHARGING ANY MORE and you'll have loyal CUSTOMERS.

    Bravo!

  • hjarg #3 7 months ago

    Hear, hear!
    Hope other companies take notice. Hint, looking at you, Ubisoft!

  • Arcturas #4 7 months ago

    I bought the Premium Edition to support them on release out of principle and I still have'nt got around to playing it (huge game backlog)! Ubi are you watching??
    Edited by Arcturas at 10/11/11 @ 15:56

  • Shikasama #5 7 months ago

    I'll buy whatever CD Projekt put out. Not only because their business pratcices deserve it, but I've yet to be dissapointe dby one of their products.

  • crsmithy #6 7 months ago

    Helped by the fact that the game was bloody good no doubt.

  • nuanimal #7 7 months ago

    This

    I bought it from GOG (and other games) because, not only was it a great game at a fair price - but I like the fact that when my laptop died I could carry on and play on the Mrs machine. And then when I got it replaced, I just reinstalled and carried on.

    I'm also looking at building a new PC for Xmas and will look to install there too.

    The shadow of worrying about running out of activations, other shitty is gone. For that I applaud CDP (also they sell Fallout Tactics; SWAT3; Freespace 2; and shit loads of other games for a couple in sales everynow and again).

  • Quickstick4 #8 7 months ago

    @whatsthecoo http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-30-witcher-2-sales-are-nearly-1-million

    - very well deserved. One off the best games I have played in years

  • ISmoke #9 7 months ago

    I still need to complete this game, only the 3rd chapter. All i can remember when playing it though was thinking how good of a game it was i bought it off a whim really as RPGs aren't my thing but i loved every minute i played of it and the combat was brilliant.

  • Darren #10 7 months ago

    Given the number of PC gamers and the Witcher's popularity I'm actually surprised that it didn't sell a lot more copies. I thought it'd have sold over a million copies at least digitally so 250,000 seems very low. I wonder how many boxed copies were sold? I actually bought it from GOG so I could get it early but couldn't resist buying the excellent value Collector's Edition either (which will come in handy if I need to reinstall the game).

    It's not like it doesn't deserve to do much better as it is my favourite game of 2011 by a long way (though I suspect Skyrim might have something to say about that after tonight!). It is coming to the Xbox 360 though where it should do fairly well.

    *EDIT*
    So it sold 750,000 boxed copies then? Still a low figure for what is an outstanding game IMO.
    Edited by Darren at 10/11/11 @ 16:10

  • Bradach #11 7 months ago

    Great game, especially in 3d

  • v.profane #12 7 months ago

    I pre-ordered it from GOG because not only was it DRM free but cheaper too.

  • bikmate #13 7 months ago

    Go GOG! <3

  • DUFFKING #14 7 months ago

    GOG version has lots of extras too like the soundtrack and free game guide etc.

  • papizdano #15 7 months ago

    @whatsthecoo http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-30-witcher-2-sales-are-nearly-1-million

  • xmifi #16 7 months ago

    It's easy supporting a company wich rewards it's coustemeres with free content and strives for quality. You don't second guess your purchase when you know you can trust the company to deliver quality.

  • StooMonster #17 7 months ago

    Still amazes me how many retail boxed copies of PC games get sold versus downloads. I've seen the 3:1 ratio mentioned before and here it is again.

    Looks like retail sales of PC gaming are going to continue for a while, it's no wonder the retailers still have so much power over publishers.

  • AaronTurner #18 7 months ago

    1 million over 6 months for a fairly specialised RPG experience exclusive to the PC is pretty good going I'd say.

  • MisterSlimm #19 7 months ago

    @whatsthecoo The article also said about one million were sold in total so about 3/4 million physical copies.

  • bad09 #20 7 months ago

    Now I have a PC that could run it again, I will join others in supporting the ray of hopeful light in a dark, dark industry we call CD Projekt......Although I do still need to finish the first, was right at the middle when my old PC busted :(

    Means I have to start all over again, still not a bad thing... :lol:

  • cheeky_pete #21 7 months ago

    @whatsthecoo It's PC only and is an RPG so it's not going to make the massive inflated numbers you often read about. Always remember 99/100 EA, Ubi or Activision will talk about units shipped not sold.

  • misho8723 #22 7 months ago

    They have sold nearly 1 mil. copies till August.. now the number is definitely higher (in the 1 mil. copies are counted physical copies sold only till middle July, digital sales to the end of August)

  • infernox1 #23 7 months ago

    @whatsthecoo 'The Witcher 2 sold nearly one million copies overall - as of the end of August. The digital sales reported today relate to the six month period 17th May to 30th October. '

    its in the article. so around 25% of sales were digital, i was expecting more myself.

  • Seoh #24 7 months ago

    Awesome game that every pc gamer should own!

  • Paul_cz #25 7 months ago

    By now the total sales could be approaching 1.5 million...not bad, altough given the extreme quality of the game (my GOTY, not even Skyrim tops it) and post-launch support, not to mention huge amount of extras in retail AND digital version, I would love to see sales approaching something like 4 million, DAMMIT.

    These guys deserve it, not goddamn ActardVision.

  • Lunatic4ever #26 7 months ago

    I had the same problem with witcher 2 that I had with the previous title.
    I just didn't play it through. Spent something like 15 hrs or somewhat and then I just stopped because I had some issues with crashing and since I got a new geforce...I dont when I will ever find time to play it again.

    Especially now with all the other great titles out there...damn those bucks I shelled out for it...its always the same...this "gotta preorder it" behavior just ruins my life

  • Stratix #27 7 months ago

    I bought this game before I even knew much about it because it looked good at a glance and I saw it was DRM free on GOG. I don't often do that, but I am glad I did!

  • StooMonster #28 7 months ago

    @Paul_cz I would love to see sales approaching something like 4 million

    Well they've got the Xbox 360 version coming soon, that will help them build up some sales numbers I hope.

    Great products and a good attitude, they deserve success.

  • Inmediasress #29 7 months ago

    For an RPG that isn't exatly mainstream ala Bioware RPGs and was PC only for now at least it's a great success.
    Something that proves that PCs are still a great platform, you just don't need to be money hungry bitches and provide quality games/service instead of leftover consoleports and piracy moaning.
    Something which seems even Bethesda are forgeting no matter the hyped up fanboy outrage but it's true.

  • spekkeh #30 7 months ago

    I'm not quite sure how selling 35.000 copies via their own system, while the DRM version of Steam sold six times that number, is any kind of vindication. But if they're happy with it good for them.