{"slug": "gog", "name": "GOG", "category": "other", "category_name": "Other software", "description": "Digital PC game store that sells DRM-free games with downloadable offline installers.", "recommenders": 9, "commenters": 11, "warners": 0, "score": 8.353, "rising": -0.29, "first": "2025-12-29", "latest": "2026-08-04", "why": "Liked for DRM-free games with offline installers that you can download, back up and keep for life.", "why_is_quote": false, "has_verdict": true, "sentiment": {"recommend": 9, "neutral": 1, "compare": 1, "warn": 0}, "spark": [0, 2, 2, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 2, 2, 0, 0], "listed": true, "loved": ["DRM-free installers", "Lasting ownership"], "caveat": "Online co-op", "short_quote": "But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments.", "icon": true, "domain": null, "github_repo": null, "official_url": "https://www.gog.com/", "pricing": "paid", "aliases": ["GOG"], "verdict": [{"text": "Liked for DRM-free games with offline installers", "cites": [{"id": 786681936, "item_id": 49167621, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49167621", "by": "jeroenhd", "date": "2026-08-04", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "GOG will let you download DRM-free installers", "excerpt": "> All I'm saying is it's all digital on the PC side of things, and has been for ages, but we have means of maintaining access to the games we love over here, and it's one of the reasons I've gravitated to the PC for quite a while now. It all depends on where you buy your games of course; GOG will let you download DRM-free installers, but if Steam goes down, your libraries goes down with it. They have made a vague pro", "context": "", "use_case": "buying PC games", "switched_from": "", "story": "Xbox goes down. You can't play games you own on disc"}, {"id": 742767216, "item_id": 46422951, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46422951", "by": "roxolotl", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments.", "excerpt": "I always search GOG before Steam. It\u2019s slightly less user friendly in the most minor ways and sometimes a bit more expensive. But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments. Steam is really great for what it is but you\u2019re not buying games you\u2019re leasing them. Excited to hear GOG might get more focus and investment.", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free game purchases", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}, {"id": 780045057, "item_id": 48752816, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48752816", "by": "quacker", "date": "2026-07-01", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG, and prefer a DRM-free digital copy for PC that I can backup redundantly", "excerpt": "Right. License pulls happen extremely rarely for digital video games[1] And delisting a game from a store isn't a license pull. Delisting prevents new purchases of the game, but owners of a game prior to delisting can still download and play[2] For example, even though Sony is closing the PS3 store to new purchases after 20 years, existing owners of digital games can still download their digital copies. So my entire ", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free games", "switched_from": "", "story": "Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation"}, {"id": 742773280, "item_id": 46423330, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46423330", "by": "101008", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love it to be honest, and I think that's how it should be", "excerpt": "First time I heard about GOG. Is like Steam but you download the .exe installer (or wahtever format it is) from the game you purchase? Like Kazaa/Ares but paid? I love it to be honest, and I think that's how it should be, but how do creators (and GOG) fight piracy? What's preventing me from buying, getting the offline installer and then sharing it later? If I am wrong and GOG is something completely different, then l", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free game purchases", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}]}, {"text": " that you can download, back up and keep for life.", "cites": [{"id": 783876432, "item_id": 48992277, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48992277", "by": "pipes", "date": "2026-07-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life.", "excerpt": "I used to agree with this sentiment. But now I think they engage in some nasty practices, like not allowing developers to list their games on other online stores at cheaper prices. That and they take a large cut (30 percent I think) Vs epic store at 12 percent as far as I can recall. I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life. Also I just like them. However getting their games to work ", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The Great Steam Deck Crash of 2026: How the New Pricing Decreased Demand by 80%"}, {"id": 786685760, "item_id": 49167860, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49167860", "by": "Forgeties79", "date": "2026-08-04", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "That\u2019s why I\u2019ve been shifting over to GOG and making sure to back up my library", "excerpt": "They don\u2019t let you resell games, if you die your library is gone, if said steamdeck (or steam machine) breaks those games are gone, the list goes on. It is a digital store with the exact same limitations of any video game console full of digital purchases. I use Steam but I also know I\u2019m vulnerable to a rug pull. We all are. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve been shifting over to GOG and making sure to back up my library in an organiz", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free game library", "switched_from": "Steam", "story": "Xbox goes down. You can't play games you own on disc"}, {"id": 780045057, "item_id": 48752816, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48752816", "by": "quacker", "date": "2026-07-01", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG, and prefer a DRM-free digital copy for PC that I can backup redundantly", "excerpt": "Right. License pulls happen extremely rarely for digital video games[1] And delisting a game from a store isn't a license pull. Delisting prevents new purchases of the game, but owners of a game prior to delisting can still download and play[2] For example, even though Sony is closing the PS3 store to new purchases after 20 years, existing owners of digital games can still download their digital copies. So my entire ", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free games", "switched_from": "", "story": "Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation"}]}, {"text": " The most common caveat is that it trails Steam on convenience,", "cites": [{"id": 762011105, "item_id": 47625694, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47625694", "by": "DocTomoe", "date": "2026-04-03", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG", "excerpt": "It's ironic to call something 'Europe does it better' when all alternatives mentioned are - objectively - worse, sometimes catastrophically worse than the things they are meant to replace. This is especially true for offers that are content-related. Claiming that RTL+ is anywhere NEAR Netflix is insulting. I love GOG, but the library and ease-of-use of Steam is unmatched (to the point that half of my GOG library does", "context": "", "use_case": "game library", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: European alternatives to Google, Apple, Dropbox and 120 US apps"}, {"id": 742767216, "item_id": 46422951, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46422951", "by": "roxolotl", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments.", "excerpt": "I always search GOG before Steam. It\u2019s slightly less user friendly in the most minor ways and sometimes a bit more expensive. But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments. Steam is really great for what it is but you\u2019re not buying games you\u2019re leasing them. Excited to hear GOG might get more focus and investment.", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free game purchases", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}, {"id": 783876432, "item_id": 48992277, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48992277", "by": "pipes", "date": "2026-07-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life.", "excerpt": "I used to agree with this sentiment. But now I think they engage in some nasty practices, like not allowing developers to list their games on other online stores at cheaper prices. That and they take a large cut (30 percent I think) Vs epic store at 12 percent as far as I can recall. I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life. Also I just like them. However getting their games to work ", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The Great Steam Deck Crash of 2026: How the New Pricing Decreased Demand by 80%"}]}, {"text": " especially easy online co-op and Linux or Steam Deck support.", "cites": [{"id": 745505216, "item_id": 46594076, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46594076", "by": "JoeBOFH", "date": "2026-01-12", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG and buy a lot of games through them", "excerpt": "I love GOG and buy a lot of games through them, but at the same time one of the things Steam provides is very easy and simple online coop support. So if I ever intend to play with others I go with Steam. I don\u2019t see an easy way around that.", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The new owner of GOG discusses taking on Steam, the devil of DRM, and Nightdive"}, {"id": 742772450, "item_id": 46423278, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46423278", "by": "TheCraiggers", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "compare", "quote": "I used to love gog.", "excerpt": "I used to love gog. I purchased a bunch of stuff back when they were talking a big game around supporting Linux with their Galaxy client. But while gog was talking, Valve was actually doing. Building an actual Linux client. Making multiplayer actually work. Not to mention all the work they've done with Proton and upstreamimg graphics drivers. I hope gog succeeds. I just value Linux gaming support over not having DRM.", "context": "Linux gamer", "use_case": "game store", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}, {"id": 783876432, "item_id": 48992277, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48992277", "by": "pipes", "date": "2026-07-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life.", "excerpt": "I used to agree with this sentiment. But now I think they engage in some nasty practices, like not allowing developers to list their games on other online stores at cheaper prices. That and they take a large cut (30 percent I think) Vs epic store at 12 percent as far as I can recall. I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life. Also I just like them. However getting their games to work ", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The Great Steam Deck Crash of 2026: How the New Pricing Decreased Demand by 80%"}]}], "praise": [{"label": "DRM-free installers", "summary": "Commenters value buying DRM-free games and downloading standalone installers.", "quotes": [{"id": 786681936, "item_id": 49167621, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49167621", "by": "jeroenhd", "date": "2026-08-04", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "GOG will let you download DRM-free installers", "excerpt": "> All I'm saying is it's all digital on the PC side of things, and has been for ages, but we have means of maintaining access to the games we love over here, and it's one of the reasons I've gravitated to the PC for quite a while now. It all depends on where you buy your games of course; GOG will let you download DRM-free installers, but if Steam goes down, your libraries goes down with it. They have made a vague pro", "context": "", "use_case": "buying PC games", "switched_from": "", "story": "Xbox goes down. You can't play games you own on disc"}, {"id": 742767216, "item_id": 46422951, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46422951", "by": "roxolotl", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments.", "excerpt": "I always search GOG before Steam. It\u2019s slightly less user friendly in the most minor ways and sometimes a bit more expensive. But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments. Steam is really great for what it is but you\u2019re not buying games you\u2019re leasing them. Excited to hear GOG might get more focus and investment.", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free game purchases", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}, {"id": 742818017, "item_id": 46426126, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46426126", "by": "trvz", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I then gradually switched to GOG, sometimes buying things again", "excerpt": "I started building up my digital game library on Steam. I then gradually switched to GOG, sometimes buying things again (it's not that bad with the identical deep discounts for most games on all platforms), because of the better DRM situation and because I like to be in relationships with public companies, so that I can buy their shares. When GOG messed up their cloud saves functionality (reduced the granted storage ", "context": "", "use_case": "game library", "switched_from": "Steam", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}]}, {"label": "Lasting ownership", "summary": "Downloads can be kept for life and backed up, unlike stores where you lease games.", "quotes": [{"id": 783876432, "item_id": 48992277, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48992277", "by": "pipes", "date": "2026-07-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life.", "excerpt": "I used to agree with this sentiment. But now I think they engage in some nasty practices, like not allowing developers to list their games on other online stores at cheaper prices. That and they take a large cut (30 percent I think) Vs epic store at 12 percent as far as I can recall. I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life. Also I just like them. However getting their games to work ", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The Great Steam Deck Crash of 2026: How the New Pricing Decreased Demand by 80%"}, {"id": 780045057, "item_id": 48752816, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48752816", "by": "quacker", "date": "2026-07-01", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG, and prefer a DRM-free digital copy for PC that I can backup redundantly", "excerpt": "Right. License pulls happen extremely rarely for digital video games[1] And delisting a game from a store isn't a license pull. Delisting prevents new purchases of the game, but owners of a game prior to delisting can still download and play[2] For example, even though Sony is closing the PS3 store to new purchases after 20 years, existing owners of digital games can still download their digital copies. So my entire ", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free games", "switched_from": "", "story": "Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation"}, {"id": 786685760, "item_id": 49167860, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49167860", "by": "Forgeties79", "date": "2026-08-04", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "That\u2019s why I\u2019ve been shifting over to GOG and making sure to back up my library", "excerpt": "They don\u2019t let you resell games, if you die your library is gone, if said steamdeck (or steam machine) breaks those games are gone, the list goes on. It is a digital store with the exact same limitations of any video game console full of digital purchases. I use Steam but I also know I\u2019m vulnerable to a rug pull. We all are. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve been shifting over to GOG and making sure to back up my library in an organiz", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free game library", "switched_from": "Steam", "story": "Xbox goes down. You can't play games you own on disc"}]}, {"label": "Liked company", "summary": "Commenters like GOG and its mission and hope it competes with Steam.", "quotes": [{"id": 745507792, "item_id": 46594237, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46594237", "by": "platevoltage", "date": "2026-01-12", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "from what I know of their mission, I like it. I hope they become a worthy competitor to Steam.", "excerpt": "I used GOG only because that was the way to get Fallout London running, but from what I know of their mission, I like it. I hope they become a worthy competitor to Steam.", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The new owner of GOG discusses taking on Steam, the devil of DRM, and Nightdive"}, {"id": 745505216, "item_id": 46594076, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46594076", "by": "JoeBOFH", "date": "2026-01-12", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG and buy a lot of games through them", "excerpt": "I love GOG and buy a lot of games through them, but at the same time one of the things Steam provides is very easy and simple online coop support. So if I ever intend to play with others I go with Steam. I don\u2019t see an easy way around that.", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The new owner of GOG discusses taking on Steam, the devil of DRM, and Nightdive"}, {"id": 742772450, "item_id": 46423278, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46423278", "by": "TheCraiggers", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "compare", "quote": "I used to love gog.", "excerpt": "I used to love gog. I purchased a bunch of stuff back when they were talking a big game around supporting Linux with their Galaxy client. But while gog was talking, Valve was actually doing. Building an actual Linux client. Making multiplayer actually work. Not to mention all the work they've done with Proton and upstreamimg graphics drivers. I hope gog succeeds. I just value Linux gaming support over not having DRM.", "context": "Linux gamer", "use_case": "game store", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}]}], "caveats": [{"label": "Online co-op", "summary": "Commenters turn to Steam for easy online co-op and working multiplayer.", "quotes": [{"id": 745505216, "item_id": 46594076, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46594076", "by": "JoeBOFH", "date": "2026-01-12", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG and buy a lot of games through them", "excerpt": "I love GOG and buy a lot of games through them, but at the same time one of the things Steam provides is very easy and simple online coop support. So if I ever intend to play with others I go with Steam. I don\u2019t see an easy way around that.", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The new owner of GOG discusses taking on Steam, the devil of DRM, and Nightdive"}, {"id": 742772450, "item_id": 46423278, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46423278", "by": "TheCraiggers", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "compare", "quote": "I used to love gog.", "excerpt": "I used to love gog. I purchased a bunch of stuff back when they were talking a big game around supporting Linux with their Galaxy client. But while gog was talking, Valve was actually doing. Building an actual Linux client. Making multiplayer actually work. Not to mention all the work they've done with Proton and upstreamimg graphics drivers. I hope gog succeeds. I just value Linux gaming support over not having DRM.", "context": "Linux gamer", "use_case": "game store", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}]}, {"label": "Linux, Steam Deck", "summary": "Getting GOG games working on Steam Deck takes more effort, and Valve leads on Linux support.", "quotes": [{"id": 783876432, "item_id": 48992277, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48992277", "by": "pipes", "date": "2026-07-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life.", "excerpt": "I used to agree with this sentiment. But now I think they engage in some nasty practices, like not allowing developers to list their games on other online stores at cheaper prices. That and they take a large cut (30 percent I think) Vs epic store at 12 percent as far as I can recall. I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life. Also I just like them. However getting their games to work ", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The Great Steam Deck Crash of 2026: How the New Pricing Decreased Demand by 80%"}, {"id": 742772450, "item_id": 46423278, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46423278", "by": "TheCraiggers", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "compare", "quote": "I used to love gog.", "excerpt": "I used to love gog. I purchased a bunch of stuff back when they were talking a big game around supporting Linux with their Galaxy client. But while gog was talking, Valve was actually doing. Building an actual Linux client. Making multiplayer actually work. Not to mention all the work they've done with Proton and upstreamimg graphics drivers. I hope gog succeeds. I just value Linux gaming support over not having DRM.", "context": "Linux gamer", "use_case": "game store", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}]}, {"label": "Ease of use", "summary": "Commenters find it slightly less user-friendly than Steam, with a smaller library.", "quotes": [{"id": 742767216, "item_id": 46422951, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46422951", "by": "roxolotl", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments.", "excerpt": "I always search GOG before Steam. It\u2019s slightly less user friendly in the most minor ways and sometimes a bit more expensive. But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments. Steam is really great for what it is but you\u2019re not buying games you\u2019re leasing them. Excited to hear GOG might get more focus and investment.", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free game purchases", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}, {"id": 762011105, "item_id": 47625694, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47625694", "by": "DocTomoe", "date": "2026-04-03", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG", "excerpt": "It's ironic to call something 'Europe does it better' when all alternatives mentioned are - objectively - worse, sometimes catastrophically worse than the things they are meant to replace. This is especially true for offers that are content-related. Claiming that RTL+ is anywhere NEAR Netflix is insulting. I love GOG, but the library and ease-of-use of Steam is unmatched (to the point that half of my GOG library does", "context": "", "use_case": "game library", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: European alternatives to Google, Apple, Dropbox and 120 US apps"}]}, {"label": "Game updates", "summary": "One commenter says half their GOG library no longer runs on their hardware because games aren't updated.", "quotes": [{"id": 762011105, "item_id": 47625694, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47625694", "by": "DocTomoe", "date": "2026-04-03", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG", "excerpt": "It's ironic to call something 'Europe does it better' when all alternatives mentioned are - objectively - worse, sometimes catastrophically worse than the things they are meant to replace. This is especially true for offers that are content-related. Claiming that RTL+ is anywhere NEAR Netflix is insulting. I love GOG, but the library and ease-of-use of Steam is unmatched (to the point that half of my GOG library does", "context": "", "use_case": "game library", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: European alternatives to Google, Apple, Dropbox and 120 US apps"}]}, {"label": "Cloud saves", "summary": "Reduced cloud save storage forced one user to delete old saves and go back to Steam.", "quotes": [{"id": 742818017, "item_id": 46426126, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46426126", "by": "trvz", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I then gradually switched to GOG, sometimes buying things again", "excerpt": "I started building up my digital game library on Steam. I then gradually switched to GOG, sometimes buying things again (it's not that bad with the identical deep discounts for most games on all platforms), because of the better DRM situation and because I like to be in relationships with public companies, so that I can buy their shares. When GOG messed up their cloud saves functionality (reduced the granted storage ", "context": "", "use_case": "game library", "switched_from": "Steam", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}]}, {"label": "Sometimes pricier", "summary": "Games are sometimes a bit more expensive than on Steam.", "quotes": [{"id": 742767216, "item_id": 46422951, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46422951", "by": "roxolotl", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments.", "excerpt": "I always search GOG before Steam. It\u2019s slightly less user friendly in the most minor ways and sometimes a bit more expensive. But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments. Steam is really great for what it is but you\u2019re not buying games you\u2019re leasing them. Excited to hear GOG might get more focus and investment.", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free game purchases", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}]}], "who": [], "tags": ["for DRM-free collectors", "for offline backups", "for Steam switchers", "for single-player gaming"], "use_cases": ["buying games", "game library", "drm-free game purchases", "drm-free game library", "buying pc games", "drm-free games"], "compared": [{"slug": "steam", "name": "Steam", "co": 11, "switched_from": 2, "switched_to": 2}], "makers": [], "threads": [{"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46422412", "title": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you", "mentions": 4}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49167448", "title": "Xbox goes down. You can't play games you own on disc", "mentions": 2}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46592009", "title": "The new owner of GOG discusses taking on Steam, the devil of DRM, and Nightdive", "mentions": 2}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48991815", "title": "The Great Steam Deck Crash of 2026: How the New Pricing Decreased Demand by 80%", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48745456", "title": "Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47624741", "title": "Show HN: European alternatives to Google, Apple, Dropbox and 120 US apps", "mentions": 1}], "sentiment_by_month": {"2025-11": {}, "2025-12": {"recommend": 2, "compare": 1, "neutral": 1}, "2026-01": {"recommend": 2}, "2026-02": {}, "2026-03": {}, "2026-04": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-05": {}, "2026-06": {}, "2026-07": {"recommend": 2}, "2026-08": {"recommend": 2}, "2026-09": {}, "2026-10": {}}, "quotes": [{"id": 786685760, "item_id": 49167860, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49167860", "by": "Forgeties79", "date": "2026-08-04", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "That\u2019s why I\u2019ve been shifting over to GOG and making sure to back up my library", "excerpt": "They don\u2019t let you resell games, if you die your library is gone, if said steamdeck (or steam machine) breaks those games are gone, the list goes on. It is a digital store with the exact same limitations of any video game console full of digital purchases. I use Steam but I also know I\u2019m vulnerable to a rug pull. We all are. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve been shifting over to GOG and making sure to back up my library in an organiz", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free game library", "switched_from": "Steam", "story": "Xbox goes down. You can't play games you own on disc"}, {"id": 786681936, "item_id": 49167621, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49167621", "by": "jeroenhd", "date": "2026-08-04", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "GOG will let you download DRM-free installers", "excerpt": "> All I'm saying is it's all digital on the PC side of things, and has been for ages, but we have means of maintaining access to the games we love over here, and it's one of the reasons I've gravitated to the PC for quite a while now. It all depends on where you buy your games of course; GOG will let you download DRM-free installers, but if Steam goes down, your libraries goes down with it. They have made a vague pro", "context": "", "use_case": "buying PC games", "switched_from": "", "story": "Xbox goes down. You can't play games you own on disc"}, {"id": 783876432, "item_id": 48992277, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48992277", "by": "pipes", "date": "2026-07-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life.", "excerpt": "I used to agree with this sentiment. But now I think they engage in some nasty practices, like not allowing developers to list their games on other online stores at cheaper prices. That and they take a large cut (30 percent I think) Vs epic store at 12 percent as far as I can recall. I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life. Also I just like them. However getting their games to work ", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The Great Steam Deck Crash of 2026: How the New Pricing Decreased Demand by 80%"}, {"id": 780045057, "item_id": 48752816, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48752816", "by": "quacker", "date": "2026-07-01", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG, and prefer a DRM-free digital copy for PC that I can backup redundantly", "excerpt": "Right. License pulls happen extremely rarely for digital video games[1] And delisting a game from a store isn't a license pull. Delisting prevents new purchases of the game, but owners of a game prior to delisting can still download and play[2] For example, even though Sony is closing the PS3 store to new purchases after 20 years, existing owners of digital games can still download their digital copies. So my entire ", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free games", "switched_from": "", "story": "Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation"}, {"id": 762011105, "item_id": 47625694, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47625694", "by": "DocTomoe", "date": "2026-04-03", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG", "excerpt": "It's ironic to call something 'Europe does it better' when all alternatives mentioned are - objectively - worse, sometimes catastrophically worse than the things they are meant to replace. This is especially true for offers that are content-related. Claiming that RTL+ is anywhere NEAR Netflix is insulting. I love GOG, but the library and ease-of-use of Steam is unmatched (to the point that half of my GOG library does", "context": "", "use_case": "game library", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: European alternatives to Google, Apple, Dropbox and 120 US apps"}, {"id": 745507792, "item_id": 46594237, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46594237", "by": "platevoltage", "date": "2026-01-12", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "from what I know of their mission, I like it. I hope they become a worthy competitor to Steam.", "excerpt": "I used GOG only because that was the way to get Fallout London running, but from what I know of their mission, I like it. I hope they become a worthy competitor to Steam.", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The new owner of GOG discusses taking on Steam, the devil of DRM, and Nightdive"}, {"id": 745505216, "item_id": 46594076, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46594076", "by": "JoeBOFH", "date": "2026-01-12", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love GOG and buy a lot of games through them", "excerpt": "I love GOG and buy a lot of games through them, but at the same time one of the things Steam provides is very easy and simple online coop support. So if I ever intend to play with others I go with Steam. I don\u2019t see an easy way around that.", "context": "", "use_case": "buying games", "switched_from": "", "story": "The new owner of GOG discusses taking on Steam, the devil of DRM, and Nightdive"}, {"id": 742818017, "item_id": 46426126, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46426126", "by": "trvz", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I then gradually switched to GOG, sometimes buying things again", "excerpt": "I started building up my digital game library on Steam. I then gradually switched to GOG, sometimes buying things again (it's not that bad with the identical deep discounts for most games on all platforms), because of the better DRM situation and because I like to be in relationships with public companies, so that I can buy their shares. When GOG messed up their cloud saves functionality (reduced the granted storage ", "context": "", "use_case": "game library", "switched_from": "Steam", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}, {"id": 742773280, "item_id": 46423330, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46423330", "by": "101008", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love it to be honest, and I think that's how it should be", "excerpt": "First time I heard about GOG. Is like Steam but you download the .exe installer (or wahtever format it is) from the game you purchase? Like Kazaa/Ares but paid? I love it to be honest, and I think that's how it should be, but how do creators (and GOG) fight piracy? What's preventing me from buying, getting the offline installer and then sharing it later? If I am wrong and GOG is something completely different, then l", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free game purchases", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}, {"id": 742772450, "item_id": 46423278, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46423278", "by": "TheCraiggers", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "compare", "quote": "I used to love gog.", "excerpt": "I used to love gog. I purchased a bunch of stuff back when they were talking a big game around supporting Linux with their Galaxy client. But while gog was talking, Valve was actually doing. Building an actual Linux client. Making multiplayer actually work. Not to mention all the work they've done with Proton and upstreamimg graphics drivers. I hope gog succeeds. I just value Linux gaming support over not having DRM.", "context": "Linux gamer", "use_case": "game store", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}, {"id": 742767216, "item_id": 46422951, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46422951", "by": "roxolotl", "date": "2025-12-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments.", "excerpt": "I always search GOG before Steam. It\u2019s slightly less user friendly in the most minor ways and sometimes a bit more expensive. But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments. Steam is really great for what it is but you\u2019re not buying games you\u2019re leasing them. Excited to hear GOG might get more focus and investment.", "context": "", "use_case": "DRM-free game purchases", "switched_from": "", "story": "GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you"}]}