New GOG Owner Describes Strategies to Compete with Steam

CD Projekt RED has transferred control of GOG to Michal Kicinski, co-founder of the studio and digital store, as of the end of 2025. This change aims to reinforce GOG's identity as it operates in a market dominated by Steam, with a goal to grow in a competitive landscape.

At the helm of GOG, Kicinski and Maciej Golebiewski, the managing director, explained how the company plans to maintain its relevance without copying the competition. They believe that despite a more specialized catalog, **GOG can still expand** in a concentrated market.

Kicinski Evaluates Competitiveness with Steam

Kicinski sees direct competition with Steam as a significant challenge. He mentions that Steam is a "Goliath" in the sector, highlighting the frustrated attempts of other platforms, such as Discord and Epic Games, to rival the giant.

Despite the difficulties, Golebiewski claims that GOG remains relevant. He attributes this resilience to the store’s ability to **adapt and evolve** over time, focusing on values that differ from Steam, such as preserving classic games.

Kicinski emphasizes that GOG does not seek to imitate Steam, but rather to enhance its own strengths. He acknowledges that Steam's user-friendliness is an area where GOG can **evolve**, while maintaining its core values.

Leveraging GOG's Uniqueness

Kicinski explains that GOG's main advantage lies in its **unique identity**. He highlights that the store distinguishes itself by not flooding users with low-quality releases. "We don’t launch hundreds of games daily," he stresses, emphasizing their rigorous curation.

This curation helps preserve the **perception of value** of the catalog and facilitates the discovery of good games, which gets lost on larger platforms. GOG's new focus will also be to improve the usability of the GOG Galaxy client, aiming to enhance the user experience.

Kicinski Criticizes Windows and Highlights Interest in Linux

In his remarks, Kicinski severely criticized Windows, calling it a "low-quality product." He shared his experiences dealing with Windows computers from family members, highlighting his frustrations.

Golebiewski, in turn, mentions that GOG is attentive to the dissatisfaction of users with Microsoft's ecosystem. He asserted that the inclusion of **Linux** in GOG's strategy for this year aims to cater to this audience. The open-source operating system is becoming increasingly popular among gamers, offering opportunities for the store.

With GOG now under new leadership, the emphasis will be on reinforcing its identity and exploring underserved niches in the market. **The future of the platform** could be promising if these strategies are implemented effectively.