The Context of the ‘Dead Games’ Discourse
John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, community manager for Palworld developer Pocketpair, has once again addressed the controversial ‘dead games’ discourse. Speaking in a recent interview with the YouTube channel Going Indie, Buckley countered the notion that a game’s success should be measured solely by its player count. Buckley first spoke out against the ‘dead game’ moniker back in February, when Palworld’s player base fell from millions to tens of thousands, still a respectable number for most Steam games.
The Problem with the ‘Dead Games’ Label
In his latest remarks, Buckley criticized the impulse to declare a game dead simply because its player count drops. He described this narrative as ‘lazy’ and stated it is harmful to both gamers and developers. ‘I don’t think it really serves anyone to push gamers to play the same game, day in and day out,’ Buckley explained. He urged players and critics alike to reconsider their expectations and to understand that not all games are designed for endless engagement.
Reevaluating Game Lifecycles
Buckley’s statements emphasize the unrealistic expectations imposed on modern games. According to him, if we continuously demand that games maintain high player engagement indefinitely, we will see more transient live service games that fail within a year. This dynamic, he argues, is not sustainable for the industry. Buckley suggested that spending money on indie games, even if they have a small player base, can contribute to a healthier gaming ecosystem.
Conclusion: A Call for Change
Buckley’s insights highlight the need for a shift in how games are perceived and evaluated. According to him, it is essential to appreciate the natural lifecycle of video games without attaching dire implications to declining player counts. As a step towards change, supporting indie games with smaller communities could be a beneficial starting point, offering more diverse and fulfilling gaming experiences. While this might not completely alter industry norms, it is a constructive approach to begin with.
