{"id":51854,"date":"2025-09-11T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T15:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=51854"},"modified":"2025-09-10T18:37:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T09:37:29","slug":"earning-the-trust-of-major-japanese-developers-like-capcom-is-not-an-easy-task-but-gog-is-getting-there-one-classic-at-a-time-we-ask-gog-about-preservation-and-censorship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/interviews\/earning-the-trust-of-major-japanese-developers-like-capcom-is-not-an-easy-task-but-gog-is-getting-there-one-classic-at-a-time-we-ask-gog-about-preservation-and-censorship\/","title":{"rendered":"Earning the trust of major Japanese developers like Capcom is not an easy task, but GOG is getting there, one classic at a time. We ask GOG about preservation and censorship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Despite being a fairly young industry and market, the video game sphere has gone through enormous changes over the past couple of decades. As hardware evolved, so did games, getting continuously replaced by better versions and updated systems, with older ones eventually fading into the background. And with this came a problem. Now, even games that were definitive of a generation can\u2019t be revisited due to the hardware they were originally intended for being discontinued or becoming obsolete, not to mention the huge number of hidden gems that are on the edge of becoming lost media.  With movements like Stop Killing Games gaining global attention, the role of video game preservation is more important than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Resident<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

GOG.com, formerly known as Good Old Games, is a digital distribution platform and subsidiary of CD Projekt, Poland-based game developer known for the Witcher and Cyberpunk series. Since its launch in 2008, GOG has been focusing on preservation and redistribution of old games for modern PCs, alongside publishing new AAA and indie titles. AUTOMATON recently got together with Piotr Gnyp, senior PR rep of GOG, who talked to us about the GOG Preservation Program, sharing some insight into how games are preserved, what it takes for a retro game to be added to GOG\u2019s catalog and whether we can expect more Japanese titles within the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Piotr
Piotr Gnyp<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate destination for classic games, wherever they come from<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Could you please give us an overview of what the GOG Preservation Program and GOG Dreamlist are? How did you come up with the idea of starting these programs?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Piotr Gnyp (hereafter Gnyp):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GOG Preservation Program and the GOG Dreamlist are two pillars of our long-term mission to preserve gaming history and keep classic titles alive for future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preservation has been part of GOG\u2019s DNA from the start. DRM-free distribution, Offline Installers, and a curated catalog of classic games were always central to what we do. But a couple of years ago, we ran an internal review of our classic catalog and realized that some titles weren\u2019t running as smoothly as we\u2019d assumed. That prompted a hard question: what does real preservation mean in practice?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s how the GOG Preservation Program was born. It\u2019s our commitment to make any game included in the Program playable on modern systems, even if official support ends or the game is delisted from GOG. We proactively update titles, fix compatibility issues, and, thanks to our in-house wrappers and tech, add features that weren\u2019t available at launch: controller support, multi-monitor support, higher resolutions, alt-tab stability, cloud saves, and more. And we do all of this without altering the original experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We think this gives our users the best value in the market for preserved games, a version that\u2019s both faithful and future-proof. We currently have over 200 games in the program, aiming for around 350 by the end of the year, and the goal is to eventually cover our entire retro catalog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"GOG<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Gnyp:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the GOG Dreamlist, that\u2019s our way of letting the community help shape preservation priorities. It\u2019s an upgraded, community-driven wishlist where players can vote for games they want to see preserved and re-released. But more than that, they can also share personal memories tied to those games. And these stories matter: there have been cases where emotional posts from players tipped the scales during negotiations with IP holders. That\u2019s what makes the Dreamlist so powerful; it\u2019s not just a poll, it\u2019s a cultural signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, while we handle the legal, technical, and business hurdles, the GOG Dreamlist reminds everyone, publishers included, why these games matter in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"GOG<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Regarding the GOG Dreamlist, if a game gets a lot of votes, will GOG negotiate with the publisher to release it? Or does the program just show demand from fans to publishers?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gnyp:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GOG Dreamlist is both a compass for us and a signal for rightsholders. When a game gets a lot of votes, especially accompanied by powerful personal memories from players, it helps us show publishers that there\u2019s still a passionate audience for their classic titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s important to remember: GOG has been doing this for well over a decade, and we\u2019re constantly reaching out to secure iconic games. Sometimes, it takes years. Diablo came to GOG after almost a decade of conversations. Preservation often means knocking on the same doors again and again, hearing \u201cno\u201d most of the time, until one day, it\u2019s finally a \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So yes, every vote and story helps, but the road from the Dreamlist to GOG release can be long and unpredictable. That\u2019s just the reality of bringing lost classics back to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"GOG<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2014The GOG Dreamlist includes games that currently only exist on consoles, as well as games that we can’t imagine being released on PC, such as Nintendo games. What is the point of including them on the list?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gnyp:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, GOG is focused on PC games, but that doesn\u2019t mean we plan to stop there. Our long-term ambition is to become the ultimate destination for classic games, wherever they come from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And let\u2019s be honest: if PC games are getting ported to consoles all the time, why shouldn\u2019t it happen in reverse, too? We\u2019re already seeing new PlayStation titles, like God of War or Horizon Zero Dawn, appear on GOG, which shows that some shifts are already happening in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add to that the evolving landscape of console emulation, and the idea of playing old console titles on PC becomes much more feasible than it was even a few years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So yes, even if some Dreamlist entries may seem far-fetched today, they reflect a real desire from our community. And to us, that\u2019s always worth listening to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dino<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A cultural and industry priority<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Through the GOG Preservation Program, nostalgic masterpieces are being released. What kind of exchanges do you have with the publishers to make the release happen? Can you give us an example of your negotiations with Capcom, which recently released Resident Evil and Dino Crisis on GOG?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gnyp:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While we can\u2019t go into details due to confidentiality restrictions, we can say that bringing classic Capcom titles like Resident Evil and Dino Crisis to GOG took time, persistence, and trust-building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working with Japanese partners often requires demonstrating both technical capability and cultural understanding. In this case, Capcom treated these launches as full new releases, so we followed a complete QA and certification process, just like we would for a brand-new game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re proud that the results exceeded expectations. Both Resident Evil and Dino Crisis have been extremely well-received on GOG, each with over 90% positive user ratings. That kind of reception shows that trust was well placed, and we hope it opens the door for more collaborations of this kind in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Breath<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Who is in charge of porting old games to Windows 11\/10? Is it the original developer or GOG? Also, games on GOG like Resident Evil and the DINO CRISIS series have been added with graphic options and various improvements. How did this come about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gnyp:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It depends on the title. In some cases, we collaborate with external partners or original developers, but in most cases, it\u2019s GOG handling the porting and compatibility work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a game becomes part of the GOG Preservation Program, that means we\u2019ve taken full responsibility for making it work on modern systems, including Windows 10\/11 compatibility, stability improvements, and additional features like graphics options, controller support, alt-tab, multi-monitor handling, and cloud saves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our internal tech team analyzes each game, builds custom wrappers or tools when needed, and thoroughly tests the result. That\u2019s how we make sure the experience is authentic but also practical for today\u2019s players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Is the Program a profitable business for GOG? How do you share revenue with the publisher?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gnyp:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GOG Preservation Program serves multiple goals. Of course, it needs to be financially viable, but just as importantly, it raises awareness and promotes the importance of game preservation as a cultural and industry priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re satisfied with the results, and so are our partners. That\u2019s largely thanks to over a decade of experience and custom in-house tools that help us optimize costs and streamline the porting process to the point where we\u2019d argue we\u2019re among the best in the world at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for revenue sharing, our revenue share follows standard industry practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Silent<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even more Japanese classics on GOG?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Konami games labeled as part of the GOG Preservation Program, such as METAL GEAR SOLID and Silent Hill 4: The Room, are not available for purchase in Japan. What is the reason for this? Is there a possibility that they will be released here in the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gnyp:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GOG is a global distribution platform, and we believe that preserved classics should be accessible to as many players as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, decisions regarding regional availability are ultimately made by the rights holders and can be impacted by various factors, such as licensing or ratings. We, of course, would love to see GOG builds made available to fans everywhere, including Japan, but we fully respect our partners\u2019 licensing considerations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2014How does GOG view the Japanese market? What percentage of the total number of users are currently Japanese? Also, in order to increase awareness and usage of GOG.com in Japan, do you have any plans to make the website, including GOG Dreamlist, available in the Japanese language or to sell games in Japanese yen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gnyp:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, GOG\u2019s main markets are Western Europe and the United States, but that doesn\u2019t mean we aren\u2019t looking East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan is home to some of the most iconic franchises in gaming history, and we\u2019re fully aware of how important the region is for anyone serious about game preservation. In recent years, we\u2019ve made more and more productive visits to Japan, and this year GOG will also be represented at the Expo in Osaka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re also paying close attention to what our Japanese players are saying, and we truly appreciate this interview helping raise awareness about GOG in Japan. You\u2019d be surprised how many of us at GOG are lifelong fans of Japanese games. To this day, there\u2019s an ongoing (and very passionate) office debate over whether Final Fantasy 6 or Final Fantasy 7 is the better game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding Japanese language support and currency is a logical next step, and while our first half of 2025 was focused on expanding the GOG Preservation Program and launching the GOG One-click Mods, the second half may be a good moment to re-evaluate localization plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re especially happy that our relationships with Japanese publishers have grown significantly in recent years. If that continues, and we think it will, you can expect to see even more Japanese classics on GOG, including within the GOG Preservation Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, Poland and Japan have more in common than people think: strong cultural ties, shared values, and a deep mutual appreciation for games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our Video Game Preservation efforts continue!

We\u2019re thrilled to announce that today we've joined the European Federation of Game Archives, Museums, and Preservation Projects (EFGAMP), making us the first Polish institution to do so. This marks another important step in\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/JBbDxN0MGw<\/a><\/p>— GOG.COM (@GOGcom) January 14, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>