GOG Apologizes for Sending Newsletter with Nazi Symbols
GOG has issued an apology after a recent newsletter titled "Slavic adventure" was sent to its followers, featuring Nazi runes in its subject line. The company confirmed the mistake was not a misunderstanding or misinterpretation — the symbols included were clearly identifiable as the Sonnenrad, kolovrat, and the double Siegrune of the SS, all closely associated with the Nazi regime.
From user emails, the subject line featured these Nazi symbols, which immediately raised concerns. PC Gamer's Kara Philips described the incident as "messing up, and then there's whatever this is," highlighting the severity of the error. The question remains: how did such a glaring mistake happen?
GOG acknowledged the mistake on X, stating, "We are sorry for today's newsletter." The company listed a series of errors that contributed to the issue, including:
- Incorrect placement of the runes
- Using the wrong logo for The End of the Sun
- Failing to check the newsletter's display on mobile devices
- Not translating feedback from their German QA team to other languages
While the apology outlines the technical errors, it does not fully explain how the Nazi symbols ended up in the email in the first place. These symbols are strongly associated with Nazi ideology and white supremacy, making their inclusion particularly problematic. As with the swastika, the historical context before the Third Reich is irrelevant — the Nazi links are too clear and widespread to be overlooked or downplayed.
GOG confirmed that it stopped the mailout upon discovering the error and is now "revising our review process to enforce more checks and catch these mistakes earlier." The company has taken steps to prevent similar issues in the future, emphasizing a commitment to more rigorous content reviews.
