Maciej Gołębiewski, managing director of GOG, has sounded a note of caution about the future of game development in an era increasingly focused on permanent online support. He suggests that if developers and publishers are expected to keep every title online indefinitely, it could discourage them from creating new games in the first place.
This perspective taps into ongoing debates around game preservation and the demands placed on studios to maintain server infrastructure long after launch. While players might appreciate always being able to access multiplayer features or online content, Gołębiewski highlights the risk that this expectation could stifle creativity or reduce the willingness to take risks on projects that may not sustain long-term online engagement.
GOG’s ethos has always leaned toward preserving games as finished products, playable at any time without relying on live servers. That philosophy stands in contrast to the growing industry trend toward games as constantly evolving services. Gołębiewski’s warning underscores the tension between these approaches and raises important questions about what expectations developers can reasonably meet without compromising future innovation.
Source: gamesindustry.biz
