PC Classic Game Site GOG.com Kicks Off Open Beta With Gothic, Sacred Gold

CD-Projekt, developers of The Witcher, announced earlier this year that they'd be making classic PC games available for low-priced, DRM-free download at GOG.com -- which stands for Good Old Games -- and now, the Polish company says the service has entered open beta. The digital distribution service has been in closed beta over the past few months, and CD-Projekt says "tens of thousands" of users gave it a try. It's also added two more companies to the service -- publisher Strategy First is bringing several of its titles including tactical RPGs Sacred Gold, Jagged Alliance and Disciples Gold, while Pluto 13 will offer Piranha Bytes' 2001 RPG Gothic. GOG has previously announced deals with Codemasters and Interplay, and according to CD-Projekt, its library of available titles will reach 50 games from the '90s and early millennium, as it plans to announce more partnerships in the coming weeks. The company says the games are "optimized" for modern PCs and "packed with bonus content." "We’re elated to welcome these new companies to the GOG.com catalogue," says GOG.com managing director Adam Oldakowski. "It’s a great demonstration of their commitment to gamers, and we’re sure that our extremely devoted community will welcome Strategy First with open arms, and will have a great time revisiting the immersive world of Gothic as the Open Beta begins." "The success of the Early Access Beta showed us that there is huge demand for DRM-free classic PC games, and it helped us to prepare the site for the public launch. We are endlessly grateful to the users for their support and assistance."