GOG Connect, the service that allowed gamers to import selected games from Steam libraries, has officially shut down. Though it has been around for years, GOG Connect has seldom been a popular service among many users. Now it appears GOG has finally shut down the service after years of leaving it idle.
GOG Connect was launched in 2016 as a convenient means of adding existing Steam games to GOG's library. The service would connect the GOG storefront with a user's Steam account and brings DRM-free versions of titles already owned on Steam over to GOG. While it sounds promising in theory, the reality is that the service was a restrictive option for most gamers. It only offered very few eligible games to be added to GOG and even then these would come with a strict time limit owing to numerous contractual obligations. The approach didn't help in enticing users to utilize GOG Connect and as a result, the service waned over the past few years.
As per the GOG subreddit, there were already indications that the Witcher publisher might have retired the service since last week. Although it appears to have been available as recently as January 1, some noticed that the GOG Connect page had disappeared and instead redirected users to GOG's homepage. Now, GOG has officially confirmed that the service has indeed been shut down. In a statement to PC Gamer, GOG mentioned that "nothing really happened there" for a long time and hence the company decided to stop supporting GOG Connect.
Despite the shutdown, GOG continues to offer functionality to let gamers consolidate their libraries, albeit via a different route. While it's not the same as adding DRM-free copies of owned Steam games, its GOG Galaxy service enables users to connect to a variety of storefronts and bring all owned games to a single application. Interestingly, even Epic Games Store added a download option for GOG Galaxy on its own store, back in November 2022. But the option offers little value addition considering gamers could opt to download GOG Galaxy as both versions are one and the same.
In any case, if GOG Galaxy is any indication, it's that the company continues to actively look to make headway in the online games store space. It routinely offers free games and huge discount sales, though often not on the scale of its bigger competitors. The closure of its long idling GOG Connect service may be an indication that the company may be looking to focus its efforts on building its storefront. Nevertheless, GOG has a challenging uphill battle if it's aiming to be a serious contender, particularly considering how the likes of Steam dominate the PC gaming market.