GOG curators had a change of heart about Heaven’s Vault by inkle which they initially refused to allow on the store.
This is despite the fact that the studio’s previous game 80 Days has been on GOG since its release in 2014.
Heaven’s Vault
Following its launch on Steam (release date April 16), Heaven’s Vault received very positive reviews from both players and journalists. However, back at the time inkle failed to release the game on GOG. According to inkle co-founder Joe Humfrey, GOG decided not to release the game based on the experience they had with the early build of the title.
Now, three months later, GOG has reconsidered and Heaven’s Vault has been added to the curated storefront.
“With Heaven’s Vault we’ve changed our mind after checking the final game, how it was perceived by gamers, and receiving numerous requests from our users suggesting to release it,” GOG global communications manager Marcin Traczyk told PC Gamer.
Being able to reach GOG’s audience has been critical for inkle, an indie studio of eight.
It’s not the first time that GOG refuses admission to a game even if they have previously collaborated with the same developer. Last year the storefront rejected Zachtronics’ Opus Magnum but had no problem selling earlier titles by the developer.
GOG prides itself (and rightly so) in “hand-picking the best in gaming” via human curation. This is something that sets it apart from the behemoth of digital distribution Steam. Valve’s struggle to improve games’ discoverability directly stems from the fact tons of shovelware get loaded on Steam everyday. So human curation is a nice alternative to that. But the situation with Heaven’s Vault underscores how it’s not perfect either – specifically because it’s human and thus not free of human error.
Do you think GOG can improve their selection processes to keep human interaction in check? You know? Who watches the watchmen. This kind of stuff.