{
  "id": 8316307,
  "title": "Industry vets behind Dishonored, Ultima Online, Her Story and more agree the games industry crisis goes beyond games: 'Ultimately, to fix what’s broken in the videogame industry, we might have to fix reality'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/industry-vets-behind-dishonored-ultima-online-her-story-and-more",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-18T21:35:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/industry-vets-behind-dishonored-ultima-online-her-story-and-more-agree-the-games-industry-crisis-goes-beyond-games-ultimately-to-fix-whats-broken-in-the-videogame-industry-we-might-have-to-fix-reality/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Numerous veterans of the video game industry have expressed their concerns about the current state of the industry, suggesting that the real problem extends far beyond the gaming world. In a Knowledge newsletter originally published in Edge magazine, the veterans shared their thoughts on the industry's troubles and potential solutions. Several speakers emphasized that the issue goes beyond the games themselves, indicating that the crisis is rooted in a much larger, complex system that has been manipulated by greedy forces. For instance, former Arkane Studios creative director Harvey Smith argued that if game developers had been allowed to keep their jobs, they might have produced more successful titles like Dishonored. He also noted that while investing in AI could be lucrative, it comes at the cost of the creative arts, which capitalism is not designed to nurture. Other developers echoed similar sentiments, stating that the existing financial models are not conducive to fostering art and entertainment. Raph Koster, a veteran of Ultima Online and Star Wars: Galaxies, pointed out that systemic dynamics are at play, leading to market concentration, cartels, and monopolies due to the lack of regulation. Sam Barlow, known for Her Story and Telling Lies, went even further, stating that fixing the broken video game industry might require fixing reality itself. Despite the pessimism surrounding the industry, Smith remained optimistic, believing that people will continue to create innovative and meaningful content as long as there are brilliant and creative individuals dedicated to producing high-quality work.",
  "summary": "A new Edge report features multiple industry veterans sharing their thoughts on the state of the game industry, and what can be done about it.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}