Well, this is one way to help fund a store. GOG have added an extra box when you go to checkout to get you to donate.
I noticed it today when going to pick up Star Trek: Armada and Star Trek: Armada II since I have such fond memories of playing them and they're discounted in the GOG Summer Sale. Looking over the checkout process before hitting buy, I noticed a whole new box talking about the GOG Preservation Program asking for more money.
GOG say that "Any additional amount you add to this order helps to fund fixes, ports, and DRM-free releases", but realistically if you do decide to give them extra, they can do whatever they want with it.
This doesn't just appear for older games, it's been added to the entire checkout process. I tested with other modern games too in my cart and it's now always there.
GOG has never exactly been too profitable, to the point that back in late 2021 they announced some changes due to the losses. Going by their 2024 financial report for the full year, GOG only hit 0.6% net profitability which is down from 4.4% in 2023. For Q1 2025 it's currently at 0.8%. So clearly they still have a lot of work to do there but they are boosted by the owned franchises of the CD PROJEKT group including The Witcher and Cyberpunk.
Their recent expansion of updating older games is part of that work, like the whole GOG Preservation Program that recently added Devil May Cry HD Collection, Devil May Cry 4 and more classics. They've also been a bit too slow to modernise like with only just recently introducing dynamic bundle pricing, something that should have been there a long time ago.
It will be interesting to see what GOG fans think to them now asking for extra money during checkout.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
About the author - Liam Dawe
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. You can also follow my personal adventures on Bluesky.
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Szkodnix 9 hours ago
If they ask nicely, I don't have any problems with that approach.
6 Likes
Raaben 8 hours ago
On one hand, GoG overall and especially game preservation is a worthy cause, but it comes off looking desperate IMO. Perhaps it is. Especially with the growing anti-tip backlash recently as more and more services are expecting them for some reason, I don't think this will go over in a good way esp with attracting new users, even if unobtrusive. I'm still a big fan of GoG and personally don't care either way on this, but I worry it could have the opposite effect intended.
Last edited by Raaben on 19 Jun 2025 at 3:30 pm UTC
Last edited by Raaben on 19 Jun 2025 at 3:30 pm UTC
2 Likes
HJ 
8 hours ago
Quite literally "add tip to your purchase"
1 Likes
pb 8 hours ago
Donating to a failing company is wasted money, I did it many times, for example during the pandemic, and it never worked out. It either ended in a closure or a company sale, and in both cases donators got nothing but sour taste, sometimes not even a thank you. I'm not telling anyone not to do that, just sharing my experience.
Last edited by pb on 19 Jun 2025 at 2:06 pm UTC
Last edited by pb on 19 Jun 2025 at 2:06 pm UTC
0 Likes
dziadulewicz 7 hours ago
Sure would (and would have already) tipped extras in many ways if GOG truly supported Linux. An official Linux client to show it. But no. They do not.
Therefore i have spent exactly zero euros and dollars to GOG in about 20 years. Steam has gotten all of my monies.
Therefore i have spent exactly zero euros and dollars to GOG in about 20 years. Steam has gotten all of my monies.
6 Likes
Alm888 7 hours ago
Hell no. I won't be giving this "store" any money, ever. Provided I will be able to and right now I'm not due to them "galvanizing" the global community.
0 Likes
I will consider it, i prefer gog instead of steam since steam is drm and you dont own those games. steam will never get a cent out of me.
Last edited by Lib-Inst on 19 Jun 2025 at 3:21 pm UTC
Last edited by Lib-Inst on 19 Jun 2025 at 3:21 pm UTC
2 Likes
Eike 7 hours ago
I will consider it, i prefer gog instad of steam since steam is drm and you dont own those games. steam will never get a cent out of me.
*sigh*
Sure someone wrote an FAQ somewhere?
* You get a licence to use software, be it from Steam, GoG, your floppy disc box, or Linux.
* It is wrong to say "Steam is DRM". Steam offers a DRM system, and it offers DRM'd games as well as games without DRM. You can copy the latter games freely and use them wherever you want. (You might not be allowed to, but that's not what DRM is about.)
5 Likes
grigi 6 hours ago
I just remember how they almost aggressively avoided supporting Linux for years giving away a growing market to Steam.
They were so well suited towards Linux people too with their DRM-Free stance too. Sigh.
They were so well suited towards Linux people too with their DRM-Free stance too. Sigh.
5 Likes
tfk 6 hours ago
Failing business model, asking for donations. I've already started making backups of my games. Just I'm case.
2 Likes
Caldathras 6 hours ago
@Eike
It is wrong to say "Steam is DRM".I don't want to start into this argument again... Technically, you are right in saying the Steam client is not DRM. I think @Lib-Inst was simply referring to the fact that the Steam client is initially required to install the game whereas the offline installers are self-contained. So, more of a "you cannot install a game bought on Steam without the Steam client" or "installation requires the Steam client" kind of complaint.
4 Likes
Well, here's the other shoe dropping on that inane marketing: they're not making enough, and they can't increase their cut or pricing with Steam just over there selling most of the same games (even when acknowledging some of them are packaged in a more sloppy fashion vs GOG).
I mean... sure, if this approach works out for them. Time to start planning some backups, I guess.
I mean... sure, if this approach works out for them. Time to start planning some backups, I guess.
0 Likes
Stella 5 hours ago
No promised native Linux client = no donations. It's literally as simple as that. As long as they continue ignoring Linux I have no interest in spending any money on GOG, for games or otherwise.Steam ftw
0 Likes
tmtvl 5 hours ago
For me the anti-DRM stance is more important than GNU/Linux support... even if I do recall that there was some controversy around a title which could not be played multiplayer if it weren't launched from Galaxy (quick Brave search shows Aragami 2 and Monster Train). I already have my favourite games on GOG backed up, but I do think I'll start adding a little extra when buying stuff (as I said, I consider DRM to be worse than I consider GNU/Linux support to be nice).
4 Likes
poiuz 5 hours ago
It is wrong to say "Steam is DRM". Steam offers a DRM system, and it offers DRM'd games as well as games without DRM. You can copy the latter games freely and use them wherever you want. (You might not be allowed to, but that's not what DRM is about.)Steam is always DRM. Just try to start a game with the same account on two PCs. Steam DRM restricts this. There are workarounds (DRM free games can be started without Steam & or being offline) but this doesn't change the fact that Steam restricts access to all your games (even if the games are actually DRM free).
even if I do recall that there was some controversy around a title which could not be played multiplayer if it weren't launched from Galaxy (quick Brave search shows Aragami 2 and Monster Train)Online mutliplayer is basically always DRMed, even on GOG.
0 Likes
ripper 3 hours ago
Different people, different tastes. I find the tip request non-controversial. GOG has a unique mission and deserves much better than almost 0% profit. That I find sad. It could be implemented better, I guess, by specifying some particular cause or project. Also, I would appreciate tips for developers, during purchase and especially after finishing the game, even if GOG took their cut. Currently there's no option to send some additional money their way, on any platform.
I buy all games that I can on GOG, because I believe that no DRM beats platform availability. Wine works well now. Realistically, we will most likely be able to play Windows games even 20 years from now, but not Linux games, due to frequent API breakage.
Yes, there are some DRM-free games even on Steam. But it's a completely different story. You have no information, no guarantee, it changes in time, and it takes a lot of time sometimes to verify and create a standalone copy of such games. I know because I do it. GOG is a paradise compared to it. I just download an installer and store it on my NAS. It's mine forever (sure, I have backups). Shut up and take my money.
I buy all games that I can on GOG, because I believe that no DRM beats platform availability. Wine works well now. Realistically, we will most likely be able to play Windows games even 20 years from now, but not Linux games, due to frequent API breakage.
Yes, there are some DRM-free games even on Steam. But it's a completely different story. You have no information, no guarantee, it changes in time, and it takes a lot of time sometimes to verify and create a standalone copy of such games. I know because I do it. GOG is a paradise compared to it. I just download an installer and store it on my NAS. It's mine forever (sure, I have backups). Shut up and take my money.
1 Likes
kaiman 1 hour ago
I first read the article headline "GOG now ask for donations when you buy games" and I am like "Hell no! Raise your prices if you don't make enough money!". But then the article states that it is for the game preservation program, and I think that's a legitimate cause.
Because truth is, as beloved as some of those classics are, getting them to run flawlessly on modern OSes, much less keeping them running in the future, must cost more than they will realistically bring in as revenue.
So I guess I might send some money that way with my next purchase, even though I personally would want to see more modern indie games making their way to GOG. Maybe those would make the money to preserve another game or two?
Because truth is, as beloved as some of those classics are, getting them to run flawlessly on modern OSes, much less keeping them running in the future, must cost more than they will realistically bring in as revenue.
So I guess I might send some money that way with my next purchase, even though I personally would want to see more modern indie games making their way to GOG. Maybe those would make the money to preserve another game or two?
0 Likes
Cyril 14 minutes ago
A bit off topic, but not fully either...
Every time a "GOG doing X" or "Steam doing Y" news comes up, the comments section is like this, people writing and reading the same over and over...
Guys don't you ever get bored? And I'm saying that for the two sides really, how is that interesting to anyone repeating those arguments? I don't think anybody get convinced here to one side or another (or really rarely).
Sometimes it feels a bit like reading bots unfortunately. I'm pretty sure Liam is bored too (I think he said that in the past).
I personally stopped making arguments on this topic, because I don't think I can add anything relevant that's not have been said anymore and I don't expect people to change their stance (especially this hot one, I mean).
I'm saying that without hostility because I like GOL, I'm sure we can do better but I really don't know how. Maybe some of you will think about it. It's like a message in a bottle.
Now on this donations thing, if it can help GOG from people who can afford it then it's good.
But yeah it might be an alarming sign to the GOG's health, I don't know, but I don't think it can do any damage as long as it remains optional. It's too early to say.
Last edited by Cyril on 19 Jun 2025 at 9:33 pm UTC
Every time a "GOG doing X" or "Steam doing Y" news comes up, the comments section is like this, people writing and reading the same over and over...
Guys don't you ever get bored? And I'm saying that for the two sides really, how is that interesting to anyone repeating those arguments? I don't think anybody get convinced here to one side or another (or really rarely).
Sometimes it feels a bit like reading bots unfortunately. I'm pretty sure Liam is bored too (I think he said that in the past).
I personally stopped making arguments on this topic, because I don't think I can add anything relevant that's not have been said anymore and I don't expect people to change their stance (especially this hot one, I mean).
I'm saying that without hostility because I like GOL, I'm sure we can do better but I really don't know how. Maybe some of you will think about it. It's like a message in a bottle.
Now on this donations thing, if it can help GOG from people who can afford it then it's good.
But yeah it might be an alarming sign to the GOG's health, I don't know, but I don't think it can do any damage as long as it remains optional. It's too early to say.
Last edited by Cyril on 19 Jun 2025 at 9:33 pm UTC
0 Likes
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