GOG Managing Director Concerned Always-Online Games Could Lead to Fewer Releases

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Maciej Gołębiewski, the head of GOG, recently shared his thoughts on the gaming industry, particularly the growing trend of games that always require an internet connection. He emphasized the importance of figuring out how to preserve older games and what should happen when games are no longer supported.

Many multiplayer games now require a constant internet connection to play. Unfortunately, this means that when game servers don’t perform as well as developers hoped, those games can be shut down, even if people are still playing them. A recent example is Anthem, which Electronic Arts (EA) took offline seven years after its release. EA explained that because Anthem was built to always be online, it’s no longer possible to play the game.

GOG’s Managing Director Expresses Concern

GOG, a digital game store known for its commitment to preserving older games, started a preservation program in 2024. Recently, GOG’s Maciej Gołębiewski spoke with Eurogamer about the challenges of preserving games today, particularly those that require constant internet connections. He expressed concern that the need to maintain game servers for many years could ultimately mean fewer classic games will be playable in the future.

As a gamer, I’m a little worried about all this talk of regulations. I get that things need to be fair, but if it gets too hard for developers to release games – if they have to worry about funding not just the game itself, but also keeping it running and updated for years because of rules – they might just stop making games altogether. And that would mean fewer cool experiences for us! I don’t think anyone has all the answers right now, but it’s definitely a conversation we need to be having.

To help players continue enjoying the game, The Crew 2 was recently updated with a new hybrid mode and the ability to play offline. You can find more details about the update here.

We’re curious to hear your thoughts on what it’s like when online games you enjoy, such as Knockout City or Rumbleverse, lose server support and become unplayable. Share your opinions in our Discord server! And be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter for more updates.

Written by

Robert DeFelice

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2026-01-17 23:18