Warframe, the sci-fi shooter that has been expanding for 13 years, stands out in the digital gaming world. Developed by Digital Extremes, the game has received numerous updates and expansions over the years, introducing new missions, areas, storylines, and characters for players. Much of the original design remains, though developers continually refine and update the content. However, less popular PvP raids have been removed, while other elements have been enhanced or completely rebuilt.
The Warframe team is currently focused on the Banshee character, who has been part of the game since its 2013 launch. At the Tennocon expo, Scott McGregor, the original design director, stated that the team plans to reintroduce raids but is primarily focused on improving existing elements or replacing them with better options. The game's future, however, remains uncertain, as there is no offline mode or local server support. This means that if Digital Extremes ceases to support the game for any reason, players could lose access.
In an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, McGregor admitted that the team hadn't planned for the game's long-term preservation. This issue has become increasingly significant in recent years as the 'live service' game market has become saturated, with many games disappearing quickly. The organization Stop Killing Games (SKG) has launched a campaign to prevent publishers from arbitrarily shutting down online games and to mandate offline modes and local server support.
SKG has proposed several legislative measures in California, the European Commission, and the UK Parliament, though they have received little political backing so far. Industry lobbyists, such as the Electronic Software Association, oppose these initiatives. Recently, Sony announced it would halt the sale of physical PlayStation games, further increasing digital publishers' control over players.
Meanwhile, there are positive examples of game preservation. The studio Might & Delight added an offline mode to its RPG Book of Travels, while the Otherside development team is working on peer-to-peer multiplayer support for Thick as Thieves, allowing players to continue enjoying the game even after servers shut down.
Thus, Warframe's future is uncertain, especially if Digital Extremes stops supporting the game. Maintaining the connection between players and developers and ensuring the long-term preservation of games is crucial. Publishers must take responsibility for the future of games and ensure they do not disappear forever.
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