GOG Issues Apology After Newsletter Accidentally Features Nazi Runes in Slavic Fantasy Game Promotion
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Digital storefront GOG has apologized after a promotional email for the Slavic fantasy game The End of the Sun mistakenly featured symbols resembling Nazi SS runes, prompting an internal review and clarification from both GOG and the game's developers.
Digital storefront GOG has issued a formal apology following a promotional email for the upcoming Slavic fantasy game The End of the Sun that featured symbols closely associated with Nazi imagery. According to a report by Rock Paper Shotgun, the subject line of the newsletter included ancient runes meant to represent the sun, but the visual placement resulted in a double Siegrune, which is recognized as the symbol of the Nazi SS. The blunder quickly drew sharp criticism and confusion across social media platforms.
GOG admitted to a cascade of internal failures in a public statement, noting that they placed the runes incorrectly, used an outdated logo for the game, failed to test how the email rendered on mobile devices, and did not properly translate feedback from their German quality assurance team. A representative later explained on Reddit that the intention was purely to reference the historical sun motifs central to the game's lore, while acknowledging that the execution created an unacceptable association and confirming that the campaign was blocked from reaching their German audience.
The developers of The End of the Sun, a Polish indie team consisting of Kinga and Kuba, also addressed the situation to distance themselves entirely from the mistake. They clarified that their game contains no extremist symbols, emphasized that they had no editorial control over GOG's marketing materials, and expressed frustration that the storefront's oversight overshadowed their work. GOG has stated that they are overhauling their review processes to prevent similar promotional mishaps in the future, highlighting the critical need for better cross-platform testing and cultural awareness in digital marketing.
Tags: GOG, Industry News, The End of the Sun, PC Gaming, Marketing
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun