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"Mark Darrah, producer of Anthem, shares his thoughts on the Stop Killing Games movement as his own project prepares for permanent closure"

If Darrah suggests that halting violent video games requires certain sacrifices, these could potentially be justified.

,   and  ASMedia
3 min read
"Mark Darrah, known as the producer of Anthem, expresses his perspective on the Stop Killing Games...
"Mark Darrah, known as the producer of Anthem, expresses his perspective on the Stop Killing Games movement as his current project is about to conclude permanently"

"Mark Darrah, producer of Anthem, shares his thoughts on the Stop Killing Games movement as his own project prepares for permanent closure"

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In the world of gaming, the removal of popular titles from digital libraries can be a source of disappointment for players. This was the case for Aidan Lilienfeld, a former reporter for Japan's Asahi Shimbun, who recently expressed his dismay over the removal of The Crew from his Steam library.

The challenge of maintaining live service games like The Crew and Anthem after developer support ends is not a small one. The main hurdles include infrastructure costs, server stability, security risks, and sustaining player engagement without new content.

Live service games rely on backend servers for multiplayer and real-time features. Without developer support, ongoing costs for server hosting, maintenance, and security become difficult to justify, leading to risks of downtime or poorer performance. Stabilizing backend infrastructure and optimizing costs is crucial but challenging.

Even after official content updates stop, maintaining active communication and empowering the player community can keep a game somewhat alive. Transparency about the game’s future and encouraging community-run events or mods can extend longevity.

Planning for a graceful wind-down or long-term sustainability after official support ends is key. This includes a roadmap for updates and an event calendar to sustain player interest. Without this initial planning, games deteriorate faster once development halts.

Ensuring minimal downtime despite reduced hands-on developer intervention requires robust automated backend systems, redundancy, and perhaps handover to a dedicated live-ops or maintenance team. Live casino streaming infrastructure offers a useful analogy: these systems require 24/7 uptime and multi-device compatibility fueled by real-time analytics and alerts—concepts that could be adapted to live service games post-dev support.

Mark Darrah, executive producer of Anthem, acknowledges the real risk of a live service game like Anthem becoming unstable or failing to meet player expectations due to lack of updates and backend upkeep. He emphasizes that ongoing support is vital for a positive player experience and that without developers actively involved, games easily decline. Adopting community support models and outsourcing some backend maintenance might be partial solutions.

Data protection and player trust are also crucial considerations. Post-developer support, risks of backend failures causing data corruption or security breaches increase if not managed properly, further eroding player trust.

Ubisoft removed The Crew from Steam libraries in March 2024, a move that Lilienfeld suggests might not have been necessary if compromises were made. Lilienfeld, an avid PC gamer and racing enthusiast, enjoyed driving from New York to LA in The Crew, despite occasional delays like getting stuck in the Grand Canyon.

Anthem, a MMO-lite game released in 2019, will shut down in early 2026 after a seven-year run. Players will no longer be able to play Anthem, regardless of previous spending. Darrah questions if the industry wants games to vanish without warning.

The Stop Killing Games initiative is gaining momentum in gaming, aiming to address the issue of game removal and encourage more sustainable practices. Darrah compares the situation to not allowing chemical companies to dispose of toxic waste, stating that there are consequences and costs involved.

Darrah believes that everything comes with a cost, and Anthem could have been built differently to avoid its sunsetting. He suggests that compromises might be necessary to prevent games from disappearing. Destiny's peer-to-peer hosting system is mentioned as an example of a potential infrastructure that could have allowed Anthem to continue after sunsetting.

For Darrah, it's a special kind of pain for a developer to see their own work erased like a sand castle at high tide. He implies a sense of responsibility towards the games they create and the communities that enjoy them. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, finding sustainable solutions for live service games will undoubtedly remain a pressing concern.

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