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Are „Dead” Games a Good Thing? Palworld Dev Believes That Emphasis on „Endless Development” Is Bad for the Industry

Jul 31, 2024

Are „Dead” Games a Good Thing? Palworld Dev Believes That Emphasis on „Endless Development” Is Bad for the Industry

Table of Contents:

  • Soulless games-services
  • “Dead” Palworld is still a big hit on Steam
  • Developers’ aversion to CCU

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed by John “Bucky” Buckley and Tim Bender. The obsession with player numbers, or CCU (Concurrent Users), can often lead to the creation of soulless games-as-services that are here today and gone tomorrow.

In a recent statement, John “Bucky” Buckley, the community manager of Pocketpair studio, expressed his concerns about the dwindling player base, not only for their most successful game but across the industry, criticizing what seems to be an excessive fascination among players towards games that are no longer actively developed or updated. This is in reference to Palworld.

As a long-time gamer who has seen countless titles rise and fall over the years, I can attest to the fact that game declines are not only common but also a natural part of the industry’s lifecycle. Take Baldur’s Gate 3, for example, which peaked in CCU results just like any other successful game eventually does. This experience has made me realize that the “death” of games is not necessarily a negative phenomenon, but rather a sign of change and adaptation within the gaming landscape.

Soulless games-services

Throughout our discussion, it seemed like Buckley was merely echoing what he said in past months. The developer argues that constantly replaying the same game can be detrimental not only for players but also for developers, as it might lead to stagnation or even cause harm.

From my perspective as a gaming enthusiast, I’ve come to realize that advocating for games to keep players indefinitely might result in an overabundance of cold, unfeeling gaming services. These services often shut down within nine to twelve months after their launch due to insufficient revenue.

Buckley actively advocates for gamers to not only play but also invest generously in independent games, regardless of their popularity among a small group of just five individuals.

“Dead” Palworld is still a big hit on Steam

It’s important to clarify that suggesting Palworld has “died” is more of a hyperbole than a factual statement. The game hasn’t approached the success it initially had in the weeks following its debut, and it’s not currently featured among Steam’s top sellers.

Nevertheless, it remains a popular choice among gamers on the Valve platform, as evidenced by its 26th place ranking on Steam at the time of this article’s publication. Additionally, according to SteamDB statistics, the game is also among the top one hundred best-selling titles.

The continued interest in Palworld is further demonstrated by the significant surge in player numbers following the release of its largest update to date. Although the simultaneous play of nearly 150,000 players may not match the 2 million from February, it’s still a feat that even larger publishers might find themselves envious of Pocketpair.

Are „Dead” Games a Good Thing? Palworld Dev Believes That Emphasis on „Endless Development” Is Bad for the Industry

Developers’ aversion to CCU

On several instances, the Pocketpair team has voiced their disagreement with defining a game’s success solely by its player count, rather than considering peak user numbers. In February, Bucky suggested that fans try out various games instead of sticking to one, emphasizing that it’s perfectly fine to take a break from a specific title. Later, when fans started debating the future of Palworld, the developer encouraged them to disregard negative comments about the game’s supposed demise.

The obsession with ever-increasing player numbers (CCU) in games like Manor Lords and Against the Storm is causing numerous issues within the gaming industry. He also warned that this trend could potentially negatively impact early access game productions.

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2024-07-31 14:32