Require publishers to leave videogames (and related game assets / features) they have sold to customers in a reasonably working state when support ends, so that no further intervention whatsoever is necessary for the game to function, as a statutory consumer right.
I’ve been thinking the same thing. While I like the idea that publishers are responsible for maintaining the needed infrastructure, I can only see that resulting in even more predatory pricing to cover the costs and unreasonable pressure on smaller publishers leading them to fold and leave behind the greedy ones
I would argue that once the game is being planned to stop being maintained serverwise, a working version of the game server should be released so that people can make custom servers and keep the online functionality alive. This is how most of the online communities of old games survive anyway.
I’ve been thinking the same thing. While I like the idea that publishers are responsible for maintaining the needed infrastructure, I can only see that resulting in even more predatory pricing to cover the costs and unreasonable pressure on smaller publishers leading them to fold and leave behind the greedy ones
I would argue that once the game is being planned to stop being maintained serverwise, a working version of the game server should be released so that people can make custom servers and keep the online functionality alive. This is how most of the online communities of old games survive anyway.