GOG’s recent embrace of *Horses*—a horror game rejected by Steam—has spotlighted the platform’s willingness to take editorial stands. Yet behind that stance lies a more complicated history, including its 2020 decision to delist *Devotion*, a game tied to political controversies in China.
The managing director of GOG has now offered rare insight into that decision, framing it as a product of limited options amid legal and geopolitical constraints. In a recent interview, he acknowledged that the move—communicated abruptly via Twitter—eroded trust among users and developers alike.
The delisting of *Devotion* in 2020 came after the game’s developer, Red Candle Games, faced backlash in China for memes perceived as mocking President Xi Jinping. GOG’s reversal, announced without prior consultation, drew immediate criticism. The platform’s managing director now admits the decision was shaped by operational and legal uncertainties, with no clear path to mitigate risks while keeping the game available.
In hindsight, the way we handled it—and the way we communicated—damaged trust in ways we didn’t anticipate, he said. Unlike the *Horses* case, which posed no legal or political risks, *Devotion* presented GOG with a dilemma: proceed with a game tied to international tensions or step back to protect its business. The choice, he now concedes, came at a cost.
GOG’s shift toward clearer decision-making—including open explanations for controversial choices—may signal a broader effort to rebuild credibility. However, the episode also raises questions about whether digital storefronts can ever fully reconcile editorial values with the realities of global markets.
The contrast between GOG’s handling of *Devotion* and *Horses* highlights the uneven nature of platform decisions. While *Horses* was welcomed without controversy, *Devotion* became a cautionary tale—one that GOG’s leadership now describes as a learning experience. For developers and users, the takeaway remains: even platforms committed to player choice operate within constraints that can override ideal outcomes.
