GOG views the increasing demands from payment companies on platforms like Steam and other PC game stores as a threat to keeping games available in the future. A GOG representative recently explained this, adding context to the recent debate over Steam removing certain games.
In July 2025, Steam removed hundreds of adult games from its store. Valve explained this was due to pressure from the companies that handle payments. The decision caused a strong negative reaction online, with criticism directed at both the payment processors and an Australian activist group called Collective Shout. This group claimed responsibility for urging the payment processors to take action, labeling the games as exploitative.
Payment Processor Censorship Is a ‘Game Preservation Issue,’ GOG Argues
GOG’s Piotr Gnyp recently described the increasing removal of games from digital stores as a serious problem for game preservation. He explained to Automaton West that when a game is taken down from a store, it risks being lost forever, especially when those removals are due to outside pressures. This focus on preservation aligns with GOG’s core goal of keeping classic games available-a principle that was actually the foundation of the company’s original name.
Both Steam and Itch.io have faced censorship issues lately, but GOG has managed to avoid them. This is largely because GOG carefully chooses which games to sell, unlike platforms that allow almost anything. Gnyp reports that GOG considers both game quality and whether a game fits their principles and what their players want. While some gamers prefer not to have a curated platform, GOG’s approach is attractive because it offers DRM-free games and downloadable installers. This ensures that players can still enjoy their purchased games even if GOG were to shut down, as long as they’ve already downloaded them.
Gnyp points out that digital stores like GOG and Steam must follow the laws of the countries where they do business. While these laws aren’t always the same everywhere, they aren’t the main cause of the expected increase in censorship in 2025 – at least, not immediately.
It is particularly worrying when games are potentially vanishing due to external pressure.
Recent Steam game removals sparked numerous petitions protesting censorship, but as of mid-September 2025, none of the affected games have been reinstated on the platform. The vast majority are still unavailable for purchase. While these delistings are rare, Gnyp explains that they are an unavoidable part of the digital distribution landscape.
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2025-09-15 04:34