What We Know About GOG's 12,980-Game DRM-Free Catalog in 2026

GOG's digital storefront had reached a catalog of 12,980 games as of 2026, according to a report from shattered.io circulated via Google News, which framed the figure as a milestone for the platform's DRM-free sales model against larger rival Steam.

The report did not include a comparable total for Steam's own catalog in the material reviewed by HTT News National Desk, so a direct side-by-side count between the two storefronts cannot be confirmed from the sourcing available. What follows is what can be established from the originating report and what remains unverified.

How many games does GOG offer compared with Steam?

The 12,980 figure comes from the shattered.io report and is presented as GOG's current catalog size in 2026. The report positions that number against Steam, which is widely known as the larger of the two storefronts by overall library size, but the version of the report reviewed did not supply a specific Steam total for comparison. Readers looking for an exact gap between the two platforms should check each storefront's own listings directly, since digital catalogs change as titles are added, delisted, or bundled.

What does "DRM-free" mean for the games GOG sells?

The headline frames GOG specifically as a "DRM-free store," a description tied to how the platform sells its games. Digital rights management, or DRM, typically refers to software locks that require an internet connection, a license check, or a specific launcher to run a purchased game. A DRM-free release is sold as an installer file that a buyer can download and keep without those ongoing checks. That positioning has been central to how GOG markets itself as an alternative to storefronts that require always-on launcher software.

Why does a catalog-size figure matter to PC gamers?

For shoppers weighing where to buy a game, the size of a DRM-free catalog speaks directly to how many titles are available without launcher-dependent restrictions. A larger DRM-free library means more options for buyers who prioritize offline installers they can archive independently of any single company's servers staying online. That preservation angle is part of why DRM-free sales numbers get tracked and compared against subscription- or launcher-based competitors like Steam.

What hasn't been confirmed about the comparison?

The material reviewed for this piece consisted of a single aggregated report from shattered.io, surfaced through Google News. It did not include a stated methodology for how the 12,980 figure was tallied, whether downloadable content or bundled editions were counted separately from base games, or the exact date the count was taken. HTT News National Desk could not independently verify the total through a second source in the material provided, and no statement from GOG or its ownership appeared in the sourcing reviewed. Until a primary confirmation from GOG itself or a second independent count is available, the 12,980 figure should be treated as reported by shattered.io rather than independently verified.

Where can readers check current catalog counts themselves?

Because digital storefront catalogs shift regularly as publishers add, remove, or re-list titles, the most current totals for either platform are best checked on the storefronts' own public listings pages rather than relied upon from a single point-in-time report. Readers comparing DRM-free selection against Steam's broader library should treat any specific figure, including the one in this report, as a snapshot rather than a running total, and watch for any follow-up statement from GOG or its parent company confirming or updating the number.

HTT News National Desk will update this explainer if GOG, CD Projekt, or a second independent outlet publishes a confirmed catalog count or methodology for the figure reported by shattered.io.

Who is shattered.io and how was the report distributed?

The figure originated with shattered.io and reached HTT News National Desk through a Google News aggregation link rather than a direct visit to the originating outlet's own page. That distribution path is common for niche gaming coverage, but it also means the version reviewed carried no bylined reporter, no publication timestamp beyond the 2026 reference, and no linked methodology section explaining how the 12,980 count was compiled. Readers who want to verify sourcing independently should trace the Google News link back to shattered.io's own site and look for any update or correction notice before citing the number elsewhere.

What should readers do with the 12,980 figure for now?

Until GOG, CD Projekt, or a second outlet publishes a matching count, the number functions as a single-source data point rather than an industry-confirmed benchmark. Buyers comparing storefronts should treat it as a starting reference for GOG's DRM-free scale in 2026, not as a verified total suitable for direct comparison against Steam's library.