GOG wants to bring back physical games, but it’s ‘a very, very complicated thing’
GOG is exploring the possibility of bringing back physical game copies, according to Marcin Paczynski, the company’s senior business development and partnerships manager. The vision involves a streamlined ordering system where customers select a game on the GOG platform and receive a physical boxed copy by mail, complete with the packaging and manuals that characterized PC gaming’s golden age.
The initiative reflects nostalgia for the tangible experience of physical game media, evoking memories of iconic PC releases like Guild Wars: Factions and World of Warcraft. As digital distribution has dominated the gaming industry for nearly two decades, GOG’s consideration of physical media revival targets collectors and enthusiasts who value the aesthetic and preservation aspects of boxed games.
However, Paczynski acknowledged that implementing such a service would be “a very, very complicated thing.” The challenges are substantial, including licensing negotiations, manufacturing logistics, supply chain management, and determining economic viability in a market where physical retail has largely disappeared. Despite the obstacles, GOG’s exploration of this concept reflects growing interest from some segments of the gaming community in alternative forms of game ownership and preservation.