GOG.com to take on Steam, Origin with addition of new games

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 17 November, 2011

Will come at a new, higher price point.

GOG.com is set to take on Valve's Steam and EA's Origin with the addition of newer games to the service.

The DRM-free distributor wants to be the second largest independent digital games seller on the internet.

It will continue to add classic games, for which it is known, but will pursue newer titles for 2012 and 2013. It wants to sign exclusive releases with certain developers, it said.

"Traditionally, GOG.com has looked for great classics that are three years old or older," Guillaume Rambourg managing director said.

"We will continue to add classic games, of course, but we are actively working to sign newer titles now. Of course, these new titles will have to come at a new, higher price point, but our key focus will always be on the same core values that have made GOG.com great so far: completely DRM-free games, flat prices everywhere in the world, and extra content and goodies for our fantastic customers."

Rambourg said over 400 games will be on GOG.com by the end of 2012.

"Finally, we want to work closely with ambitious developers and independent publishers who feel a kinship with that 'good old spirit' that GOG.com embodies," he continued. "Thanks to the commercial success of The Witcher 2 on GOG.com, more and more people realize that our values are universal.

"They are coming to GOG and asking if we can carry their titles. We've made GOG.com the destination for classic PC games, but now is the time to take this to the next level and emerge as the best alternative digital distribution platform for all PC games."

Picture of Wesley.

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 (45) Latest comment 6 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • NewbieZilla #1 6 months ago

    I can't see people being happy with so many places with exclusive content.

  • tossetaz #2 6 months ago

    How on earth are they gonna keep having no DRM? I doubt any of the big publishers want to allow unprotected versions of their games available for download.

  • wizlon #3 6 months ago

    GNG - Good New Games?

  • DozyKipper #4 6 months ago

    @tossetaz Indeed. They are not going to get Ubi, EA, etc. on board without DRM.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #5 6 months ago

    I can only support this. I am a happy GOG customer and wouldn't mind getting my games from them instead of Steam, even if they are a tad more expensive. I rarely buy new releases on Steam anyway, however, it's the weekend deals they really have to compete with, not the Steam DRM. I have bought so many games just because they were heavily discounted to play a few months later. I guess 50% of my Steam collection is made up by games that were discounted with the other 50% coming from the humble indie bundles.

  • uknortherner2000 #6 6 months ago

    @DozyKipper No big loss really.

  • jonfon #7 6 months ago

    @NewbieZilla
    I didn't see exclusive in that article at all. Thw Witcher 2 is available on GoG and Steam.

    This be good news, although I too am interested in how they're going to achieve DRM free software.

    I think services like Impulse probably have a bit to worry about here more than Steam. Origin is kinda safe too thanks to it's "Well it's my ball so if you want to play you have to use me" approach (which I loathe).
    Edited by jonfon at 17/11/11 @ 15:43

  • Schiraman #8 6 months ago

    It's true that some companies won't put their games on GOG without DRM, but if their competitors start to outsell them because they are willing to do that, then maybe they'll change their mind.

    At any rate, more competition for Steam can't be a bad thing. Hope they do well.

  • Zapatero #9 6 months ago

    @tossetaz Not only that but until now GOG have been a rather benign presence. Once they start stepping on the toes of the giants it might be trickier to keep signing the old games.

  • arcam #10 6 months ago

    Nice. This is the first of the Steam rivals I'd really consider getting a decent number of games from.

  • TheApologist #11 6 months ago

    Good news, everyone!

    I'm a perfectly happy Steam user, but this is the kind of competition I want to see (unlike Origin). GOG has been a good thing for some time: they provide great service, I don't need to run an application while playing the game, and they have great values treating paying customers with (DRM free) respect.

  • uiruki #12 6 months ago

    This is more like it. A non-Steam digital game store with an actual selling point, rather than a different company saying "here's a slightly worse experience, but it might be a bit cheaper, or we have the odd bit of exclusivity."

  • NewbieZilla #13 6 months ago

    @jonfon From the article: "It will continue to add classic games, for which it is known, but will pursue newer titles for 2012 and 2013. It wants to sign exclusive releases with certain developers, it said."

    Is this to be timed exclusives? Not the first thing that comes to mind when I read the above, to be honest.

  • VonHugenstein #14 6 months ago

    Dear GOG, whatever. As long as you keep pumpin out da oldies in a WIN XP/7 friendly format, knock yourself out. Fantasy General w/ music in DOSBOX would be nice.

  • jonfon #15 6 months ago

    @NewbieZilla
    Erk, missed that, as did my Browser Find. Bad browser, bad. *smack*

    Exclusives = bad news. I want there to be competition dammit, not more Origin style antics.

  • Optimaximal #16 6 months ago

    @jonfon Unfortunately, the only way most companies know how to compete in any industry these days is to try and screw their competitors, not bring new/innovative ideas or services to the table.

  • Springchicken #17 6 months ago

    GOG are about the only digital distributor these days that don't make me feel like a criminal. Would love the option of buying more newer games from them.

  • Farzlepot #18 6 months ago

    So long as they keep giving me nostalgia I'm not fussed.

    Unfortunately I had already wondered how long it would take them to consider straying from their original path in favour of profit, and I knew they'd go for newer releases. They just take more money, damnit! And I fear that will take the focus off their oldies.

  • Jay-ITFC #19 6 months ago

    @Springchicken Your mate 'Dave' can't be classified a digital distributor... ;)

  • GamesConnoisseur #20 6 months ago

    Go GOG Go!

    Blow away the wispy Steam and let the Origin be lost in the long aeons past!

    Go GOG Go!

    PC gamers long cry for DRM free games, so here a choice for you, put where your mouth is and opt for a publisher that does exactly that and really support PC gamers with wide variety of the landmark PC titles, from the past and now the present.

  • Spekingur #21 6 months ago

    @DozyKipper Oh the irony of saying they won't get EA aboard when Populous 2 was released on GOG today - a title which EA own.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #22 6 months ago

    @Spekingur: Oh the irony of saying they won't get EA aboard when Populous 2 was released on GOG today - a title which EA own.

    Well the subject is new titles and Populous 2 obviously is not a new title so the only irony I see is you missing the point.

  • Buztafen #23 6 months ago

    Never used GoG. Is it worth a punt then?

  • bikmate #24 6 months ago

    @Buztafen Yes

  • Springchicken #25 6 months ago

    @Jay-ITFC He does a great line in knocked-off Casio watches, though.

  • oceanmotion #26 6 months ago

    Nice one GoG. Might take a while but hopefully it shows publishers users like DRM and client free games.

  • bad09 #27 6 months ago

    This could be great news as gog is absolute the correct way to do DD, much more so than Steam. However, all this talk of exclusives leaves a nasty taste. PC is an open platform closing it off with all this exlcusive to this store or that store is anti-consumer, anti-choice and just not what I want on an open platform. Why can't this industry just sell to people by giving them choice and off their stupid consumer hurting backroom deals? I fear Valve, MS and EA with their exclusive shit have started something truly awful for the platform.

    Also, is this goodbye to DRM free gog? There is no way in hell they will ever get a single publisher to go DRM free that goes completely against their whole war on ownership....er sorry piracy. Besides 75% of the download market has been fooled into thinking we "buy" games from an internet DRM subscription, why would the scum of the industry walk away from that to give us ownership back? Can you imagine Ubi dropping their crud to sell on gog? Nah me neiher...
    Edited by bad09 at 17/11/11 @ 17:24

  • marmaduke #28 6 months ago

    What about GetGames? They're selling the PC version of Arkham City for £30 at the moment. And they're really nice.

  • kickerconspiracy #29 6 months ago

    I like gog.

    They make me damp.

  • Skinme #30 6 months ago

    Would love to buy some of the retro games from GOG, but my bank pretty much rapes me if I use anything other than £s. I'd be lucky to walk away with a 1:1 exchange rate after charges. If anyone knows of a more internationally friendly bank than Lloyds, let me know!

  • Turrican_Freak #31 6 months ago

    Good luck with the no DRM policy.
    I found my self buying games that I already own from GOG just to support their awesome work.
    Edited by Turrican_Freak at 17/11/11 @ 17:26

  • StooMonster #32 6 months ago

    @jonfon I think services like Impulse probably have a bit to worry about here more than Steam.

    Impulse is now owned by GameStop.

    Previous Impulse 2-million selling exclusive Sins Of A Solar Empire: Trinity is now available on Steam (with 25% off discount to celebrate).

    Stardock says more coming, would like to see them on GoG.com too.

  • Malek86 #33 6 months ago

    Well, I'm just hoping that old games releases won't be too slowed down...

  • uninspiredcup #34 6 months ago

    The guys at CD make me happy to be a pc gamer.
    Everyone seems to be jumping to console with milking mentalitys treating the pc like trash, even though it's the greatest platform in the world.

  • havoc2011 #35 6 months ago

    Good now lets have System Shock 2 fully supported and compatible with Windows 7 please!

  • WickedDeeJ #36 6 months ago

    Finally! No more having to put up with artificially inflated prices based on Geo-IP. Bye Steam, Bye Origin. I will not miss any of you!

  • gourry #37 6 months ago

    This news has obviously been a bit much for their servers as I can't currently access gog.com

    I do like Steam but nothing wrong with an alternative, especially like gog.com

  • StooMonster #38 6 months ago

    @WickedDeeJ

    Publishers set prices on Steam, Origin, GfWL, etc. they also decide on geo-IP price locks.

    What makes you think publishers would act different with new games on GoG?

  • WickedDeeJ #39 6 months ago

    @Stoomonster GOG has a particular way of doing things. They are running without Geo-IP on their site, made that public knowledge and let people set their own price via their profile. That is their concept. GOG is probably more concerned with keeping their customers than appeasing publishers since they are making a tidy profit on the titles they have now. And I say this without knowing the legal intricacies of any deal made between publishers or GOG, but I can't really see how it's any different than the internet shops selling boxed copies at 15-20% beneath the RRP.

  • dennett316 #40 6 months ago

    @Skinme What about paying them through Paypal? I think I've only ever been charged £1 for an order of 3 games from gog, still nice and cheap even after that charge.

  • keep #41 6 months ago

    They probably get this asked three times a day but they really need to get some of the LucasArts classics on board, particularly Sam & Max as it's not available anywhere else at the moment. I would happily pay a fiver for Sam & Max!

  • jamyskis #42 6 months ago

    The wording suggests to me that they'll be focusing on indie titles like Desura and GamersGate. As tossetaz stated, the major publishers are so DRM-obsessed that they would never agree to having new games published free of DRM.

    Personally, that doesn't bother me much - any company that decides to treat its customers as criminals doesn't deserve to have my money anyway. Since the infection known as DRM has spread through out the PC industry, most of my money spent as been on indie titles anyway.

  • lemonfist #43 6 months ago

    If I could buy every PC game from GOG, I would.

    Gamersgate also have some DRM-free games, but you have to fiddle around a bit in the installation process to get a proper backup file.

    While auto-patching etc. is nice on Steam, I by far prefer having complete control over the rights of my games.

  • callum9999 #44 6 months ago

    We're still a while off yet, but the publishers will relent on DRM eventually.

    The music industry insisted on using DRM for a long time, then gradually realised the stupidity of it (once 1 copy has been cracked, pirates can make unlimited copies - ergo as soon as it's cracked, DRM is largely useless). When they switched to MP3s their sales rocketed. While there isn't the same incentive with games (DRM was a real problem with MP3 portability - which isn't generally an issue with games), it's only a matter of time before they go down the same path.

    Well, that or all use something like the Ubisoft always-online DRM, so hopefully they see sense before they resort to that!

    And in regards to people being unhappy at going to more than 1 download store, I wouldn't be so sure. We do the same with retail stores (physical and online) - why not downloads?
    Edited by callum9999 at 18/11/11 @ 23:05

  • Discalceaterabbit #45 6 months ago

    System Shock.
    That is all.