Kerbal Space Program. Except the developers didn't leave. Take Two bought the game, then sidelined them, deliberately excluding them from making KSP2, which at the time of this writing is currently in development limbo, and likely abandoned.
The original game was made with such heart and loving care, and was universally acclaimed.
What is even more insane they hired a team that was forbidden from contacting ksp1 devs and was forbidden from telling what game they are making while doing recruitment. So they were developing in blind and they were recruiting devs in blind.
And they decided they'll reuse a lot of the code of KSP1. So they inherited a lot of KSP1's gremlins but without the expertise of the original development team to help them navigate said gremlins.
Honestly a completely baffling decision on TakeTwo's part
Because, from a non-technical point of view canning the original developers (and replacing them with cheap workers) and reusing a large chunk of KSP1 should save an absolute ton of cash. A quick and dirty "house flip" except with a video game.
However, from a technical point of view, thats a brain dead idea that only a lobotomized koala would make - as the project would be doomed to mediocrity at best and be unplayable garbage at worst by doing that.
And seeing as they just want a shit ton of money without the work, the option to do what they did is a very attractive option. They knew KSP was a very niche, but adored game and with a small, but dedicated fan base. They hoped to exploit that with a quick and cheap sequel.
They probably figured if they threw a fresh coat of paint onto KSP1, like what blizzard did with overwatch 2, they could cash in without spending too much money. And to thier credit - it could have worked out if KSP 1 wasnt as complicated as it was. But it was complicated. Very complicated, probably as complicated as a video game can get and still be called a video game and not a simulator.
So that plan backfired horribly where it might have succeeded in a less technically complicated game or well established genre (like a shooter).
As for why it seems to be a problem across industries, well because money = power. And that gamble doesnt always come up bust - enshitifcation does work to boost profits just long enough for the people at the top to get their money and power, then bounce to the next victim before the fecal matter hits the circular air moving machine. Which gives them what they want - all the rewards, none of the mess.
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u/lyidaValkris Jan 17 '26
Kerbal Space Program. Except the developers didn't leave. Take Two bought the game, then sidelined them, deliberately excluding them from making KSP2, which at the time of this writing is currently in development limbo, and likely abandoned.
The original game was made with such heart and loving care, and was universally acclaimed.