When Complaining About a Game You Pirated Backfires
A Steam user recently learned a tough lesson about pirating games. They were vocal about issues in Farthest Frontier, a medieval city-builder sim with farming and survival elements. The game, developed by Crate Entertainment, has been well-received since its October release.
The Incident
The user, BigBadAss33, had been complaining about various aspects of the game for weeks. They disliked:
- The forest-heavy maps
- The trading system
- The inventory management
The final straw was when the game started crashing unexpectedly.
The Developer's Response
On December 21, the user took their concerns directly to the developers. However, their request for a fix was met with a sharp response. A developer named Zantai quickly pointed out that the user was running a "non-Steam version" of the game, which doesn't exist. This revealed that the user was pirating the game.
Zantai's response was clear:
"Please purchase the game instead of running a 'non-Steam version.'"
The thread was then locked.
Broader Discussion on Piracy
This interaction sparked a broader discussion about how developers handle piracy.
Methods Used by Developers
- Anti-piracy software like Denuvo
- Creative approaches (e.g., Rockstar made pirates of Grand Theft Auto 4 play with a drunk character)
- Adjusting pricing based on region
The general consensus is that piracy can't be stopped, only managed.
Zantai's Perspective
Zantai explained on Reddit that they knew the user was a pirate because they mentioned using a "non-Steam version." The developer believes that if someone doesn't support their work, they shouldn't participate in the community. However, Zantai also acknowledged that piracy is complex and that some pirates eventually buy the game.
Zantai has seen cases where pirates try the game illicitly and later purchase it, sometimes apologizing for their actions. These players, according to Zantai, deserve a second chance. The developer also noted that some people pirate games because they can't afford them, which isn't a lost sale.
Previous Encounters
Despite Zantai's measured response, the developer received reports to Valve calling them a rude harasser. This isn't Zantai's first encounter with pirates. For their previous game, Grim Dawn, they coded issues specifically for pirates, like:
- The inability to turn in quests
- Losing levels
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, Zantai believes that if a game brings joy, players should support the developers. If they can't afford it, they should at least not complain in the forums. This incident highlights the ongoing debate about piracy and the ethical responsibilities of both developers and players.
