The FreedomToBuy initiative opened with 13 free NSFW games, in protest against unsanctioned censorship by payment processors.
More than a million people claimed 13 free not-safe-for-work (NSFW) titles from GOG over the weekend as part of the launch of FreedomToBuy.games, an initiative to protest censorship in gaming.
GOG.com, formerly known as Good Old Games, is a digital distribution platform for video games and films. It’s known for offering titles free of Digital Rights Management (DRM), meaning users can download and play them without restrictions.
The DRM-free games, which were available until midnight EST on Monday, 4 August, were offered to push back against what GOG describes as growing censorship in the games industry. All 13 titles fell under the NSFW label, a category increasingly targeted by payment processors and moderation policies on platforms like Steam and Itch.io.
On the campaign site, GOG states: “Censorship is quietly deciding which games you can buy. We are fighting back. Some games vanish. Not because they broke the law but because someone decided they shouldn’t exist. For 48 hours, these games are free, because if a game is legal, you should be free to buy it.”
Developer concern has grown in recent months, as storefronts like Steam and Itch.io began delisting NSFW titles under pressure from payment providers, following letters sent by the Australian anti-porn group Collective Shout.
Among those who have spoken out is NieR: Automata director Yoko Taro, whose year-old warning about payment-based censorship has regained attention following recent game takedowns. Indie studio Aggro Crab, the developers of the summer 2025 indie hit Peak, and the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) have also joined the chorus of concern.
Over one million downloads underscore growing backlash against unsanctioned censorship
Just 24 hours after launch, GOG reported that more than one million users had already claimed the bundle. “The response is so much beyond our expectations that our team needs to work around the clock to maintain the stability of the platform,” the company said on Sunday.
The surge in demand led to some technical issues, prompting GOG to extend the availability window slightly. But the core promise remained the same: any DRM-free title downloaded from GOG is yours to keep, permanently.
While the campaign may have drawn attention for its NSFW content, the central message behind FreedomToBuy is about resisting the broader trend of gaming censorship. As the campaign website puts it: “Some games vanish. Not because they broke the law but because someone decided they shouldn’t exist.”
Recent events have intensified industry concern, including platform bans and new adult content restrictions enforced by payment processors. Collective Shout has claimed responsibility for influencing Steam’s latest moderation rules, showing how external pressure can directly shape what games are allowed to remain on mainstream storefronts.
Although this particular bundle is no longer available, the campaign may continue. The FreedomToBuy website includes a contact form for developers interested in contributing their games to future giveaways “as part of the protest."
