Randy Pitchford Talks About Game Preservation and The End of the Universe

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has weighed in on the Stop Killing Games initiative, a discussion coinciding with the upcoming launch of Borderlands 4. This initiative arose due to calls for better game preservation methods. Its creator, Ross Scott, aims to push developers to ensure that games remain playable even after official support ends, promoting community or private servers to prevent games from becoming unplayable.

In an interview with The Gamer, Pitchford shared his mixed feelings on the movement. He acknowledged personal losses of beloved games and commended the effort to safeguard them. However, he expressed concerns about the implications for live-service games, stating, “If we’re going to have any games that are sincere live services, it seems mutually exclusive to have something that’s going to be a living thing that can’t be allowed to die. I don’t know how to get around that.” He contemplated life and death, reflecting on how humans strive against this inevitability, suggesting that in the future, “games could live even longer.”

Pitchford’s remarks align with sentiments from others in the gaming industry. Ubisoft’s CEO has echoed similar thoughts, emphasizing that no game is eternal. This dynamic raises significant questions about the practicality of adapting every live-service game for continued accessibility, as well as considerations about the potential reduction of live-service titles if developers are aware that such support is necessary. The issue remains complex and contended, as advocates in the gaming community continue to seek meaningful changes while navigating inherent challenges.