GOG remains committed to preserving games DRM-free, offering downloadable, backup-friendly standalone installers for every title in its store, ensuring installation and operation without reliance on online servers. Marcin Paczynski, Senior Manager of Business Development and Partnerships at GOG, stated, "There is no such thing as game preservation with DRM."
Founded in 2008, GOG now also releases modern titles and provides a launcher with cloud saves and automatic updates. However, standalone installers remain a fixed component for every game in the store, allowing players to save their game files locally.
While preserving the original essence of titles, the team also improves compatibility and usability of classic games on modern devices, but upgrades must not compromise the original design. When handling early "Resident Evil" titles, the team discussed replacing tank controls but ultimately decided to retain them, considering that the game's difficulty and overall design were built around the original control scheme.
"Thief Gold" adds full controller support and a radial menu provided by community creators. The team believes these adjustments do not disrupt the game's immersion or core loop. Beyond the program itself, manuals, maps, and lore materials for classic titles also need preservation; GOG often purchases and scans these materials independently or solicits them from the community.
This work is also constrained by complex copyright chains and commercial costs. For example, Westwood Studios' "Dune" games may have code, cinematic content, and intellectual property rights held by different parties. GOG currently supports this work through its $5-per-month Patrons program, which has attracted over ten thousand members.