As per title, anyone nailed down how the "curation" happen?

Nobody really knows but GoG/curation themselves.

There's some consistency with almost anything Warhammer (40K)-themed (that's submitted or being offered to be added to the catalogue) getting an automatic free pass, as well as if the developer/publisher in question are fellow Polish countrymen.

It also seems easier to get the foot in the door if the game in question is published by a publisher that's already on board with other games.

Thanks for answering.

No one knows. Used to be "niche" was a big thing, but then unsure if niche really translates to sales $$$

It goes like this:

1. Some publisher or such contacts GOG that they'd like to release their game on GOG. Sometimes it may go the other way around that GOG contacts a publisher and asks whether they'd like to release their game on GOG.

2. If GOG is not familiar with the game, they check it out, like what kind of game it seems to be, how well it has sold on Steam (if it has been available there already) etc., to make the first judgement whether it makes sense to release it on GOG. Ie. whether they believe it will actually sell on GOG and bring money to CDPR, at all.

3. If ok, some bloke from GOG, let's call him Dobromierz, negotiates with the publisher on terms on the release, like what kind of Galaxy integration there will be, who does what and such. The fine details.

4. If both agree on these terms, then the game gets released on GOG. If not, then not.

5. If the game gets released on GOG, there will be a ruckus on GOG forums "Who releases shit like this on GOG? Who accepted this game to GOG?!? Who's responsible for curation?". If the game does not get released on GOG, then there will be a ruckus "Say what?!? Why isn't this game released on GOG? Who's responsible for curation?".

6. I don't think there is point 6, but I keep this as a placeholder.

I am sure that's absolutely not accurate, as there are many ultra-niche games on GOG that pander to a very certain demographic only, and which have surely sold far less than 100 copies on Steam, and no doubt they also sold less than 100 copies when they were released on GOG too.

GOG seems to have approved them solely for ideological reasons, and not because GOG thought they would sell well on GOG.

I'd say selection seems to be a combination of personal biases (be it game genres or ideology), ignorance (durr we reject this god-tier shooter because we've never heard of it) and a little pandering on the side when the price is cheap (the slew of identikit Kagura porn shovelware).

Which games? Give some examples so that I know what we are talking about.

I don't mind if GOG selects some poorly selling games for ideological reasons, as it is their (monetary) loss, not mine.

Thanks everyone for the insight.

Curious why the whole thread is low rated for no apparent reasons....

Random dart board hits, I'm sure. ;)