I see that the store page for The Sinking City has disappeared.
Does this mean it won't be released on GOG later this year, did the publisher back out?

The game still hasn't left the epic store, so who knows?
Maybe the pubs decided to enforce even more DRM?

Maybe the game became an Epic exclusive? I would ask the devs what happened if possible.

Epic sellouts: https://steamcommunity.com/games/750130/announcements/detail/1821050404983574362

Nice (albeit unfortunate) observation; I'm curious to hear if anyone finds out any updates.

WTF, I've been waiting for this

The one-year exclusivity started on June 27, 2019 so it shouldn't be out for another 3 months anyway.

It seems they won't see my money then. Good for them.
Could just as easily download the game from a pirate site, but I have better things to do. Like playing games which I bought from publishers who support GOG.

While I do share the dislike on Epic colossal behavior failure and devs who lack the integrity to stay on course with their chosen platforms (meaning also to flip off Epic if they send in their exclusive demands) I'd think it send a stronger message to buy it on Gog when/if it arrives if you want to play it instead of copyright infringing it.

It doesn’t though does it. It just shows them they can get away with that practice, get the sales on one main platform, then get secondary sales on other platforms. It doesn’t actually show them anything.
On the other hand, if no one brought it on epic and everyone downloaded it, then that would be a clear message. It’s not going to happen of course, and that is where all these things fall apart. There will always be a majority who don’t care and buy it there, and a fair few who would always illegally get it regardless. So it will carry on without end.

I never stated that I'm gonna pirate the game. I wrote that I could easily do it if I wanted to. I know where to get it from, 100% free of virus or malware.
But I prefer to buy and play games which I legally purchased on GOG.

Still, the sad fact is that pubs don't really care wether you pirate the game or not. Their main intention is to boycott projects like GOG store or other DRM-free places in order to enforce stricter DRM upon the dumb customers who keep supporting such practices.

Fact is: time passes and people still refuse to "vote with their wallets". Just like in real world politics, when citizens allow crooks to become politicians and enforce their policies everyone loses in the end.
Yes!

A pity. I was actually considering this one to overcome my usual aversion to horror games. Their loss.

Yeah this has happened to other games as well such as Mechwarrior 5, Shenmue 3 where the devs and publishers sold out to Epic. Borderlands 3 is finally out on Steam though which is good news.

Wtf? It has... sunk.