GOG apologizes – GOG said sorry after Slavic runes used in an email promoting a fantasy game were rendered in a way that resembled Nazi symbols. A GOG representative acknowledged the issue, saying two runes could create an “unfortunate association,” and that the material wasn’
GOG didn’t just send a promotional newsletter. It sent a Slavic symbol that some users say looked like it belonged to the Nazi regime.
The game being advertised is a fantasy title set in a universe based on Slavic mythology and culture. In the email, GOG included Slavic runes, including the Sowilō symbol, which means “sun.” But one of GOG’s multiple explanations is that some platforms—mobile phones included—rendered the rune as ϟ.
That mattered because the email apparently placed two such runes next to each other. A GOG representative, verified on Reddit, posted a statement acknowledging the risk. “I also recognize that placing two such runes next to each other could create an unfortunate association with symbols used by the Nazi regime. This was noticed before distribution. and out of respect for local sensitivities. the material was not sent to the German community.”.
Once the newsletter images circulated, users pressed on the gaps. If the issue was noticed before distribution and the content wasn’t sent to the German community, many questioned why the newsletter reached other localities at all—and why the symbol was doubled up in the first place.
The confusion didn’t stop with customers. The developers of the game also took to Reddit to say they didn’t understand how the newsletter ended up using the imagery. In their words: “We don’t know why GOG used symbols in their newsletter. Really. we were also totally surprised when we saw the logo in the newsletter (the old logo) and the symbols next to the newsletter title.”.
The sequence here is what has users unsettled: a rune meant to signal Slavic mythology was rendered differently on certain devices, the email included two of the symbols side by side, and—despite internal notice—distribution still went beyond Germany.
GOG apology newsletter Nazi symbols Slavic runes Sowilō ϟ Slavic mythology cybersecurity marketing Reddit verified rep
So basically their newsletter accidentally turned into Nazi stuff? Wild.
I don’t even get it, rune is rune right? If it looked like something else when phones changed it, then why did they put them together like that in the first place. Feels like PR damage control.
This is so confusing because they said it wasn’t even sent to the German community but somehow Germans (or whoever) still got it. Also people keep mentioning ϟ like that’s the whole story, but phones render things different all the time? Idk, just seems like they messed up and are blaming the device.
I saw this on Reddit and everyone’s acting like the developers personally worship Nazis or whatever. If the game is Slavic mythology, then the rune should’ve been safe, but putting two of them next to each other is definitely a choice. Also “noticed before distribution” yet it still went out… so like, what, they noticed it but didn’t change the email to different font? Sounds like marketing is asleep again.