Game Support: The Unrelenting Grind
Developer of Roboquest, a roguelite shooter game, has announced its termination following a ten-year run, citing an inability to produce content for players who have accumulated more than 1000 hours of gameplay.
Hey there, kid! Remember when post-game support was just something NASA did? Well, things have changed, and now it's every game developer's go-to!
We're not talking about fixing bugs here; we're talking about developers adding new content for months or years after a game launched! If you think that's not a biggie, just ask the folks at RyseUp Studio, makers of the chaos-filled, robot-blasting game, Roboquest.
These guys started working on Roboquest way back in 2010 and released it on Steam in early access in 2020. However, they didn't expect the game to be constantly supported like this. According to them, the initial game was designed to take 25-50 hours to finish. But with over 1,000 hours of gameplay from the player base, these developers have been on a treadmill, trying to keep up with player demands!
After almost a decade of hard work, they've finally decided to throw in the towel. In a recent Steam blog post, RyseUp Studio announced that they will no longer be adding any new updates, and the only remaining releases will be the PlayStation port coming at the end of May and a standalone spinoff, Roboquest VR.
Now, I have to admit, I feel a pang of sympathy for these developers. It's one thing for a big publisher to promise a $70 game will last a decade, but when a smaller team promises a more affordable game, are we asking too much?
If we consider the whole picture, we see that extended game support can be exhausting for developers. They're constantly expected to innovate and keep players engaged, even after years of work on a single game. Let's be honest; it's no walk in the park.
But it doesn't stop there. This continuous support also means developers can engage more closely with the player community, incorporating feedback and making improvements. Although it's great for building trust and loyalty among players, it also requires dedicated resources to be successful.
So next time you blast through a game and are disappointed when support stops, remember, these developers have put in years of work to bring you that experience. Maybe it's time to show them a little appreciation!
PS: If you're looking for the latest gaming news, reviews, and deals, don't forget to check out PC Gamer! Staffed by gaming enthusiasts like Rick Lane, who's been enthralled by PC games since he was a seven-year-old Doom renegade, we've got you covered!
- Game developers are expected to keep adding new content for months or even years after a game is launched, just like the developers of Roboquest have done since its release in 2020.
- Extended game support can be both exhausting and rewarding for developers; on one hand, it requires constant innovation and engagement with players, but on the other, it helps build trust and loyalty among the player community.
- despites the fact that they have put in years of work to bring you these gaming experiences, developers often face little appreciation from their players.
- The latest gaming news, reviews, and deals can be found on PC Gamer, a site staffed by gaming enthusiasts who are dedicated to providing top-notch content for all gamers.
