What happens to GOG accounts when the owner dies
GOG sp. z o.o. (Michal Kicinski) has a formal process for transferring accounts after an account holder dies
GOG Support
GOG does not publish a timeline for processing court-ordered account transfers. Account deletion (once confirmed by email) has a 14-day cancellation window before permanent erasure. GOG does not publish an inactivity deletion policy -- accounts persist indefinitely without login activity, which gives estates more time to act than platforms with dormancy deletion.
(General customer service)
The GOG User Agreement classifies GOG accounts and content as personal and non-transferable. Separately, GOG has publicly stated a willingness to transfer a deceased user's account to heirs when presented with a court order. In June 2024, GOG spokesperson Zuzanna Rybacka stated: "If you can obtain a copy of a court order that specifically entitles someone to your GOG personal account, the digital content attached to it, taking into account the EULAs of specific games within it, and that specifically refers to your GOG username or at least email address used to create such an account, we'd do our best to make it happen." Each request is handled case-by-case with no dedicated bereavement portal. Independently of the account question, GOG's DRM-free model means downloaded offline installers function without any account, client, or server, so already-downloaded game files are practically transferable regardless of account status.
How to request a transfer
To request a transfer of GOG accounts after an account holder's death, follow these steps:
- •Specifically entitle the named heir or executor to the decedent's GOG personal account
- •Cover the digital content attached to the account, taking into account the EULAs of specific games within it
- •Reference the GOG username or at least the email address used to create the account
Required Documents
- Court order specifically referencing the GOG username or email (for account transfer)
- Certified copy of the death certificate (for account closure)
- GOG username and/or email address on file with the account
- Government-issued photo ID of the executor or heir submitting the request
Timeline
GOG does not publish a timeline for processing court-ordered account transfers. Account deletion (once confirmed by email) has a 14-day cancellation window before permanent erasure. GOG does not publish an inactivity deletion policy -- accounts persist indefinitely without login activity, which gives estates more time to act than platforms with dormancy deletion.
Frequently asked questions
GOG has publicly stated it will transfer accounts when presented with a qualifying court order. Per GOG spokesperson Zuzanna Rybacka (June 2024), the order must specifically entitle the named person to the GOG account, cover the attached digital content, address the EULAs of the specific games in the library, and reference the GOG username or account email. Each request is reviewed case-by-case. Separately, GOG's DRM-free offline installers work without any account, so already-downloaded game files are practically inheritable regardless of account status.
Per GOG's public statement, the court order must (1) specifically entitle a named person to the decedent's GOG account, (2) cover the digital content attached to the account and acknowledge the EULAs of specific games in the library, and (3) reference the GOG username or at least the email address used to create the account. GOG states it "cannot independently establish that someone is related to a particular user or that a user has passed away," which is why the court order standard is strict.
Per the GOG Wallet FAQ, wallet funds are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and have no value outside GOG services. Funds cannot be gifted, sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of between users. Whether a court order can direct wallet fund disbursement is not addressed in any published GOG article. While the account is accessible, funds can be spent on GOG.com -- any games purchased become DRM-free installers the estate can download and keep.
If the executor has credentials, sign in and use Settings > Privacy & Security > Delete Account. GOG emails a confirmation; the account enters a 14-day cancellation window, then the deletion becomes irreversible. If credentials are unavailable, submit a ticket to GOG Support (https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) with the account username, email on file, and a certified death certificate. Before closing, the executor should download offline installers for every game in the library -- GOG offers no recovery of account contents after deletion.
Sign in at https://www.gog.com/, open Library, click each game, and select "Download offline backup game installers" for the main installer plus "Bonus content" for goodies. Installers are standalone .exe (Windows), .sh (Linux), or .pkg (macOS) files. The GOG Galaxy client is optional and not required for installation or play. Store the installers on an external drive for a complete, transferable backup of the decedent's library.
After the transfer is complete, the recipient can use the accounts according to the program's standard terms. Document the deceased account holder's details to make this process easier for your executor or family.
Sources
Data sourced from GOG sp. z o.o. (Michal Kicinski) primary sources (8 pages reviewed). How we research.
GOG Support
GOG does not publish a timeline for processing court-ordered account transfers. Account deletion (once confirmed by email) has a 14-day cancellation window before permanent erasure. GOG does not publish an inactivity deletion policy -- accounts persist indefinitely without login activity, which gives estates more time to act than platforms with dormancy deletion.
(General customer service)
