Anthem Is the Latest Video Game Casualty. What Should End-of-Life Care Look Like for Games?

Recently, the once-promising video game ‘Anthem’ has been officially declared dead, with developers pulling the plug on future updates and content. This has left many players and fans wondering what should happen to games once they reach the end of their lifecycle.

End-of-life care for games is a complex issue that raises questions about preservation, accessibility, and the legacy of digital entertainment. Should games be preserved for future generations to experience, or should they be left to fade into obscurity?

One potential solution is for game developers to release the source code of older games to the public, allowing fans to create their own updates and mods to keep the game alive. This has been seen with games like ‘Doom’ and ‘Quake’, which have thriving modding communities decades after their release.

Another option is for developers to remaster or remake older games, updating them with modern graphics and mechanics to appeal to a new generation of players. This has been successful with games like ‘Final Fantasy VII’ and ‘Resident Evil 2’.

Ultimately, end-of-life care for games should prioritize preserving the cultural significance and historical value of these digital artifacts. Whether through open sourcing, remastering, or other means, games should be given the opportunity to live on in some form, rather than simply being forgotten.

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it is crucial for developers and publishers to consider the legacy of their games and how they can be preserved for future generations. While ‘Anthem’ may be the latest casualty, it is not the last, and the issue of end-of-life care for games will continue to be a pressing concern.