In a surprising turn of events for the gaming community, GOG's newly introduced annual review feature, 'GOG Year 2025,' indicates that players on their platform are more prolific in earning achievements compared to Steam users. This insight emerges from GOG's detailed data analysis, which allows gamers to delve into their yearly statistics, including games played, achievements unlocked, and total hours invested in virtual worlds. While not a perfectly symmetrical comparison due to differing metrics, the findings highlight an interesting behavioral divergence between the two major PC gaming platforms.
GOG, now operating under new stewardship, recently unveiled its 'GOG Year 2025' feature, providing a comprehensive overview of individual player activities throughout the year. Beyond merely tracking played games, the report offers nostalgic details such as the age of a user's GOG account. For instance, one PC Gamer editor discovered their account had been active for six years, predating their career as a video game journalist and extending back to their university days.
Discussions among PC Gamer staff revealed a preference for GOG when it comes to classic and retro titles, citing examples like 'Dino Crisis' and 'The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall.' This focus on older games might contribute to the differing achievement rates observed. A notable statistic from the GOG report is an average of 14 achievements per player, which stands in contrast to Steam's median of 11. It is crucial to acknowledge that comparing average and median figures across large datasets is not a direct equivalence, yet this disparity remains an intriguing observation.
Conversely, Steam appears to surpass GOG in the total number of games played, with a median of four games per player compared to GOG's average of 2.4. This suggests that while Steam users might explore a broader range of titles, GOG players dedicate themselves to mastering fewer games, leading to higher achievement completion. Another key difference lies in playtime tracking: GOG provides explicit total playtime and an overall user average of 137 hours, whereas Steam primarily offers playtime as a percentage of total hours, potentially obscuring specific game commitment for privacy or other reasons.
The 'GOG Year 2025' report offers a personalized and insightful look into individual gaming habits. Users have the option to share their statistics with friends or maintain privacy, especially if they prefer to keep the extent of their dedication to certain games, such as crafting a corvette in 'No Man's Sky,' confidential.
The introduction of GOG Year 2025 provides a valuable lens through which to examine player engagement across digital storefronts. The data suggests that GOG players, perhaps drawn to the platform's emphasis on classic titles, tend to dive deeper into their games, leading to a higher rate of achievement completion. This contrasts with Steam's broader game consumption patterns, indicating distinct user behaviors and platform focuses. These insights are not only fascinating for individual gamers but also offer valuable data points for understanding the diverse landscape of digital game distribution and player interaction.
