GOG perceives the increasing pressure from payment processors on Steam and other PC digital storefronts as fundamentally a game preservation concern, with company representatives emphasizing this perspective in recent discussions. This viewpoint provides a broader context to the ongoing Steam censorship situation that has generated substantial controversy throughout recent months.

In July 2025, Steam removed hundreds of adult-oriented games from its digital marketplace. Valve identified pressure from payment processing companies as the exclusive reason for this action. This development triggered considerable online criticism aimed at both the payment processors and Collective Shout, an Australian advocacy organization that claimed responsibility for influencing them, condemning the affected games as representations of "sexploitation."

During a recent conversation with Automaton West, GOG Senior PR representative Piotr Gnyp characterized the current situation as a "game preservation issue," highlighting that any game removed from a digital platform for any reason faces potential permanent loss. "The prospect of games potentially disappearing due to external pressure is especially concerning," Gnyp stated. While this conservation-focused perspective hasn't dominated recent discussions, it aligns perfectly with GOG's fundamental mission to preserve "good old" games—the concept that originally inspired its name before adopting the acronym.

Although censorship measures have impacted both Steam and Itch.io in recent months, GOG has thus far resisted similar pressures, partly because it operates as a curated marketplace rather than an open platform. According to Gnyp, the company selects content based on quality and relevance while also considering alignment with its "values and target audience." While not all consumers prefer platform-mediated curation, GOG's approach remains compelling due to its emphasis on DRM-free downloads and offline installation capabilities. This ensures that even if the company ceased operations, all previously acquired games would remain accessible provided they had been downloaded.

Gnyp further emphasizes that GOG, Steam, and all other digital marketplaces must comply with legal regulations across the numerous countries where they operate. While these laws may sometimes lack consistency, they don't represent the central factor in the 2025 censorship wave, at least not directly.

Multiple anti-censorship petitions gained significant traction in response to Steam's recent game removals. However, as of mid-September 2025, not a single title affected by the removal wave has been reinstated on Valve's platform. The majority remain completely unavailable for purchase. However unusual these removals might appear, Gnyp acknowledges that game delistings are "impossible to avoid completely."

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