GOG Launches Program for PC Games Preservation

GOG has long been a cornerstone of vintage PC gaming. While their catalog does feature modern games, it’s the platform’s selection of DRM-free classics like Beyond Good & Evil and Silent Hill 4: The Room that truly stands out. This vast library offers many titles that are often hard to find elsewhere.

Now, under the ownership of CD Projekt Red, GOG is enhancing its appeal with the announcement of the GOG Preservation Program. Unveiled on Wednesday, this initiative aims to ensure that selected games, branded as “Good Old Games,” maintain their compatibility with current and future systems while being preserved as authentically as possible.

According to the blog post, “If a game is part of the Preservation Program, it means that we commit our own resources to maintaining its compatibility with modern and future systems.” Currently, these titles work on Windows 10 and 11, with plans for better support on future platforms.

The program currently includes 100 classic titles such as System Shock 2, Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition, and the original Diablo, with more to come. Although many of these games have been available for a while, the Preservation Program serves as a commitment from GOG to ensure they receive necessary updates and meet specific standards for players. Plus, all these titles are DRM-free, allowing users to enjoy them without the fear of licenses being revoked or requiring an internet connection.

For example, earlier this year, GOG released the Resident Evil Bundle, featuring the first three classic Resident Evil games for $25. They made minimal enhancements, like quality-of-life improvements with new rendering options and better controller support, while ensuring the games remain as true to the original experience as possible—more so than an emulator or vintage physical copies might offer.

Despite recent improvements in the preservation and availability of classic games, the industry still faces significant hurdles. High-profile companies have closed digital storefronts, making it difficult for older titles to continue being accessible. For instance, while Sony reversed its decision to shut down its PlayStation 3 and PS Vita digital stores, Nintendo permanently closed its Wii U and 3DS eShops in 2023. While major platforms have begun publishing retro titles through subscription services, the PC gaming space has lagged, with remakes frequently failing to capture the essence of the originals.

The GOG blog lamented this, stating, “Unfortunately, the classic PC games market is in a sorry state. It’s too tiny for leading platforms to give it any attention. Classic releases often get the sell-it-and-forget-it treatment, and as time goes on and technology evolves, compatibility issues arise and remain unaddressed.”