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AI Buys Game Servers, Leaving Players in the Dark
2 Apr
Summary
- AI companies are acquiring gaming infrastructure providers.
- Stormgate's multiplayer servers are shutting down due to an acquisition.
- This trend could affect other games like Splitgate 2.
AI companies are increasingly acquiring gaming infrastructure, raising concerns for players and developers alike. Stormgate, a crowdfunded real-time strategy game, will lose its multiplayer services because its server provider, Hathora, was purchased by Fireworks AI last month. Frost Giant Studios, Stormgate's developer, announced that online modes will cease by the end of April 2026, though offline play is planned.
Hathora's infrastructure also supports other games, including Splitgate 2, suggesting they may face similar disruptions. Fireworks AI, focused on open-source AI models, plans to repurpose Hathora's services for its own AI operations. This trend is part of a broader concern among gamers regarding AI's impact on hardware affordability and the proliferation of low-effort content.
Developers of multiplayer games are advised to develop contingency plans, potentially exploring older methods like player-to-player connections. The unforeseen consequences of AI's rapid expansion into various tech sectors are now directly affecting the gaming community, impacting service availability and potentially future game development.
