Randy Pitchford Comments on Stop Killing Games Campaign

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The CEO of Gearbox Software, Randy Pitchford, has shared his thoughts on the Stop Killing Games movement, revealing a multi-faceted stance on the issue. This discussion comes at a time when Gearbox is preparing to release Borderlands 4, a topic that resonates deeply with the company.

The Stop Killing Games Initiative was instigated post Ubisoft’s delisting of “The Crew,” with discussions revolving around game preservation and accessibility. Ross Scott, who started the petition, aims to persuade developers to alter their approach when games reach the end of official support. His proposal includes making these games compatible with private or community servers, rather than allowing them to become completely inaccessible. This movement has garnered both criticism and acclaim from various corners of the gaming industry and among players. Now, Pitchford has expressed his opinion on the matter.

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

During a conversation with The Gamer, Randy Pitchford expressed mixed feelings about Stop Killing Games. He admitted to losing games he cherished himself, but appreciated the activism aimed at safeguarding them. However, he also pointed out that for games to offer authentic live services, they must be allowed to have an end or ‘death’. He wasn’t sure how to reconcile this paradox. Pitchford then delved into philosophical thoughts about life, death, and the ultimate heat death of the universe. He suggested that resisting the certainty of an ending, as humans do in their own lives, can lead to longer lifespans. Intriguingly, he speculated that one day, games too might live for extended periods.

In a reflective tone, Pitchford’s comments suggest a sense of melancholy regarding the preservation and longevity of games, including his own creation, Battleborn. He appears to value the desire for games to last indefinitely, and he draws a parallel between Battleborn and the last star in the universe before it all disappears due to entropy. He expresses disdain that “everything will eventually fade away.

In simpler terms, his ideas about certain aspects of game development, such as sunsetting games, have been shared by companies like Ubisoft. The CEO of Ubisoft stated that nothing is permanent, while Video Games Europe argued that ending support for games can be beneficial financially. This topic is quite intricate, leading to debates over whether it’s feasible to modify every live-service game so they can run on personal servers, and if there would be fewer live-service games produced if developers knew that supporting a title in this manner was necessary. However, the argument that everything will eventually cease is not well received by some gamers, as they don’t want games to be supported forever. At this point, no definitive solution has been reached, and it remains to be seen if their goal will be accomplished.

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2025-09-06 04:38