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GOG Chief Warns Preservation Mandates Could Curb New Games After Anthem Shutdown

He says resurrecting online-only titles hinges on access to IP, significant technical work, and a viable business case.

Overview

  • EA and BioWare switched off Anthem’s servers on January 12, rendering the online-only game unplayable.
  • GOG managing director Maciej Gołębiewski told Eurogamer that forcing developers to keep games online indefinitely could deter funding and lead to fewer releases.
  • He described multiplayer preservation as a complex challenge involving ownership rights, server code, and whether restoration can pay for itself.
  • Consumer movements Stop Killing Games and Stop Destroying Games are pressing for EU rules that require end-of-life plans such as offline modes or community server tools.
  • Recent examples include Suicide Squad adding an offline mode and Knockout City providing private-server tooling, while Eurogamer reports Anthem had internal private-server support that would likely require EA to release code and assets for community use.