Early (not-so-legal) versions of Stellaris used to run on my Win7-32 system. Now I see 64-bit only on game's pages on GOG and Steam.

Is it true that this DirectX 9.0 game that could run fine even on 2Gb RAM now is '64-bit only'?

Current Linux version comes with a 64-bit binary only. I don’t know about the Windows one.

thats correct Stellaris 2.3 onwards is a 64 bit app meaning it will only run on a 64 bit OS.

read the full list here
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/stellaris-all-versions-patch-note-archive.1140085/

if you want to play the old 32 bit builds then just use the Paradox launcher ... (your key is in the web browser of the gog game page)

How typical of them. I never liked Paradox much in the past, and now I dislike them even more.

So what about those who bought this game when it just appeared and who have 32-bit systems? They are forced now to transfer to 64 OS just to play the game they bought to play it on 32 OS?

I'm glad I didn't spend my hard-earned money for such a dubious purchase.

You didn’t buy it, you said so yourself.
People who did are entitled to complain about this, and try to reach an agreement with Paradox. You’re not.

I do not complain. Why should I? But is it so unusual to think of other people and to sympathize with them?

Yes, I didn't buy it, and now I'm twofold glad I did not.

Windows 7 is spinning down the drain in its death spiral so the current options for OS are Windows 10 or Linux [yer right] + the current version of Stellaris has so much crap that its buggy on my Ryzen beast so its not like Paradox had any real choice in the matter