GOG's New Owner Slams Windows, Signals Linux Support

GOG's new owner, Michał Kiciński, didn't hold back his criticism of Windows, calling it "such poor-quality software… I can't believe it!" This comes as GOG announces a closer look at Linux support for its platform.

In a conversation with GOG's new owner, Michał Kiciński, and managing director, Maciej Gołębiewski, about the future of the storefront, the topic of Windows and Linux came up. Gołębiewski confirmed that GOG is paying attention to the growing interest in Linux among gamers, stating that it is "one of the things that we've put in our strategy for this year to look closer at." While he didn't offer specifics, he acknowledged that GOG could "do better on that front." Kiciński, however, was much more direct in his assessment of Microsoft's operating system.

"I'm really surprised at Windows. It's such poor-quality software and product, and I'm so surprised that it's so many years on the market. I can't believe it!"— Michał Kiciński

Kiciński mentioned that he has personally switched to macOS and finds it "unbelievable" when he has to deal with Windows on his parents' computers. His sentiment reflects a growing frustration among users with the direction of the Windows operating system. Given these comments and the general trend in the gaming community, it seems likely that GOG will increase its support for Linux games on its platform. While a dedicated GOG handheld console might not be on the horizon, better Linux compatibility for the GOG library, especially for titles in its Game Preservation program, feels like a natural next step.

Read also, Michał Kiciński, a co-founder of CD Projekt, has taken full ownership of the DRM-free digital games storefront GOG. He established the platform in 2008. The deal gives Kiciński complete control, though GOG will continue to operate as a separate entity from CD Projekt.