The head of digital storefront GOG, Maciej Gołębiewski, recently shared concerns regarding game preservation and its implications for future game development. Following the shutdown of Anthem, he highlighted that stricter regulations demanding the maintenance of games indefinitely could lead to fewer titles being created.
In an interview with Eurogamer, Gołębiewski emphasized the importance of the ongoing conversation about game preservation, particularly for online-only experiences. He pointed out that defining a fair end-of-life cycle for games is a complex issue that the industry needs to address.
"What does an end-of-life cycle look like in games? Should it just be buried and killed, or should there be a way for creators to access their work even after service ends?"
He mentioned the lobbying group Stop Killing Games, which emerged to advocate against the delisting of beloved titles. Gołębiewski expressed that while regulation might seem beneficial at first glance, it could inadvertently discourage developers from creating innovative games due to financial concerns about long-term maintenance.
“We want to make games live forever,” he stated. “However, imposing too many constraints could limit creativity and lead to a decrease in the number of exciting games available to players.”
This conversation is particularly urgent as we witness several games, like BioWare's Anthem and soon Amazon's New World: Aeternum, being removed from service. While some games maintain player interest, like the skating sim Skate, concerns remain about their long-term viability.
As industry leaders stress during meetings, support for all games has limits and nothing is guaranteed to last forever, prompting a crucial dialogue on how we treat digital gaming experiences.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!