GOG Apologizes for Nazi Symbols in Slavic Fantasy Game Email

Entity Definition: GOG.com Apology for Nazi Symbols in Newsletter

GOG.com (Good Old Games), a digital game distribution platform owned by CD Projekt, issued a public apology after a promotional newsletter for the first-person fantasy adventure game The End of the Sun included imagery containing a symbol resembling a Nazi swastika. The incident involved the Kolovrat, a Slavic solar symbol that was co-opted by Nazi organisations. The platform’s marketing error sparked immediate backlash from subscribers and the gaming community.

The core problem resolved by the apology was the inadvertent distribution of offensive iconography through a corporate email, which GOG acknowledged as a “series of mistakes” and promised to rectify through internal process reviews.

Key Facts

What Was the Nature of the GOG Newsletter Mistake?

The mistake occurred when GOG’s marketing team created a newsletter promoting The End of the Sun – a game that draws on Slavic mythology. The email included an in-game depiction of the Kolovrat, a symbol that, while rooted in pre-Christian Slavic culture, has also been used by Nazi groups, including the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS. GOG did not pre-screen the imagery for modern political connotations.

According to the Rock Paper Shotgun report, GOG stated: “We made a series of mistakes – from the selection of the image to the lack of proper internal checks.” The company clarified that the inclusion was not intentional but acknowledged the harm caused by distributing Nazi-associated symbols to a global audience.

GOG official statement via Rock Paper Shotgun“We made a series of mistakes – from the selection of the image to the lack of proper internal checks. We apologise to everyone who was justifiably offended by this.”

The newsletter contained a clear visual resemblance to a Nazi swastika, which GOG admitted was a failure in content moderation.

Why Did the Community React Strongly?

The gaming community reacted strongly because the distribution of Nazi symbols, even inadvertently, is a violation of the content policies of many platforms and is deeply offensive to Holocaust survivors and others affected by Nazi violence. GOG’s subscriber base includes users from countries where Nazi imagery is illegal, such as Germany and Austria. The backlash was immediate on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, with multiple users demanding an explanation.

Rock Paper Shotgun noted that the controversy “sparked backlash” and that GOG’s apology was issued in response to widespread complaints. No specific number of complaints or demographic breakdown was provided in the source material.

The incident became a case study of how historical symbols can be misinterpreted in modern marketing, particularly when cultural context is not thoroughly vetted.

How Did GOG Respond and What Changes Did It Promise?

GOG responded by issuing a formal apology on its official channels, acknowledging the error and outlining three corrective actions: (1) immediate removal of the newsletter, (2) a review of internal approval processes for promotional materials, and (3) a commitment to include diverse perspectives in content reviews. The company did not specify a timeline for implementing these changes or provide details on whether affected subscribers would be individually contacted.

In the statement quoted by Rock Paper Shotgun, GOG said: “We apologise to everyone who was justifiably offended by this. We are taking this as a learning experience and will work to ensure it doesn’t happen again.” The platform did not disclose any disciplinary actions against staff members.

GOG’s response focused on process improvements rather than punitive measures, and no further incidents have been reported as of the publication date of this article.

Who Is This Incident Relevant To?

This incident is relevant to digital storefront marketing teams, game developers using folkloric symbols, and content moderators who must navigate the fine line between cultural heritage and hate symbols. It also serves as a cautionary example for any global brand that uses historical iconography without consulting regional experts, especially when operating in markets with strict legal prohibitions on Nazi symbolism (e.g., Germany, France, Austria).

The case underscores the need for automated and human content screening that flags any symbol with historical ties to extremist groups, regardless of its original cultural significance.

Common Questions

What exact symbol appeared in the GOG newsletter?

The newsletter featured the Kolovrat, a Slavic solar symbol that resembles a swastika with curved arms. It was used by the 20th Waffen SS Division and is considered a hate symbol in many contexts today.

Why did GOG not catch the symbol before sending the email?

GOG admitted that the image was selected without proper internal checks. The team likely focused on the game’s Slavic theme without considering that the symbol had been co-opted by Nazi groups. No specific screening process was in place for such imagery.

Did GOG face any legal consequences for the newsletter?

According to the source, no legal action was reported. However, GOG operates in Poland and sells to countries where displaying Nazi symbols is illegal; the apology likely helped mitigate potential fines or bans in markets like Germany.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based exclusively on the report published by Rock Paper Shotgun on the incident. The original source URL is: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/we-made-a-series-of-mistakes-gog-apologise-for-emailing-nazi-symbols-to-people-in-newsletter-about-slavic-fantasy-game. No additional external sources were used. All facts, quotes, and attributions are derived from that single Rock Paper Shotgun article. The article was last updated on April 2, 2025.