GOG Managing Director Warns of Potential Consequences of Forcing Game Developers to Maintain Titles Indefinitely

According to Maciej Gołębiewski, the Managing Director of GOG, the pressure to maintain games online forever could lead to a decrease in new game development, as the associated costs may deter investors. In an interview with Eurogamer, Gołębiewski emphasized that the financial burden of keeping a game online indefinitely could make it more challenging for game companies to secure funding. This concern arises amidst the ongoing debate about game preservation, sparked by the recent trend of companies taking service-based titles offline, such as Ubisoft's The Crew. Consumer-led campaigns, like Stop Killing Games, are advocating for legislation that would prevent publishers and developers from discontinuing online services for games. Gołębiewski believes that the industry needs to discuss what constitutes a fair end-of-life cycle for games, considering the impact on both game creators and players. While the goal is to make games accessible forever, excessive regulations may inadvertently lead to a decrease in game development, as creators may be discouraged by the long-term costs and responsibilities associated with maintaining a game online. The executive acknowledges that game preservation is a complex issue, involving intellectual property, technical, and commercial considerations. The news comes as EA recently shut down its service-based game Anthem, nearly seven years after its release, and follows GOG's acquisition by its original co-founder, Michał Kiciński, in a $25 million deal.