When Is A Video Game Allowed To Die?

The article discusses the issue of when and how online video games should be allowed to "die" or shut down their services. It highlights the comments made by Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, who acknowledged that the support for online games cannot last forever. The article explores the consumer movement "Stop Killing Games," which rallies against the perceived "planned obsolescence" of online games. It also discusses the challenges faced by game developers in maintaining a "forever game" like Fortnite or Destiny 2, and the reality that even these games will eventually have to shut down. The article also examines the case of Splatoon 3, where Nintendo was upfront about the game's limited content updates, and the contrasting case of Mortal Kombat 1, where fans were unhappy with the perceived premature "death" of the game. The article suggests that developers could be more transparent about the lifespan of their online games, which could lead to more focused and impactful content during that period. It also discusses the legal and moral implications of completely shutting down online games, and the need for the industry to rethink its approach to end-of-life for video games.