With the loss of Shadow of Mordor dev Monolith Productions, I'm reminded how important DRM-free stores like GOG are for preserving games we love
Feb 27, 2025, 05:18 IST
industry layoffs aren't slowing down, as Warner Bros. canceled Monolith Productions' Wonder Woman game and shuttered the studio, also cutting two more studios at Player First Games and Warner. Bros Games San Diego.
Yeah, it's always a gut punch when a studio like Monolith Productions, which created some truly iconic games, gets shut down. It highlights just how fragile game preservation can be, especially with digital-only releases and always-online DRM.
GOG and other DRM-free platforms play a huge role in ensuring games don't just disappear when servers go offline or licenses expire. Without them, even single-player games can become unplayable over time. It’s frustrating to see how often great games get lost due to corporate decisions rather than lack of interest from players.
Were there any specific Monolith games you're worried about losing access to? Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War still seem to be on Steam for now, but who knows what the future holds.