Izzando

I am saddened to see the decision to layoff the incredibly passionate and talented team at @amazongames and the ending of @playnewworld. And it seems with the recent announcements from Zenimax and Netease cancelling development on their MMOs, western MMO development has taken another hard hit. The industry isn’t in the best place right now, and the passionate people who make these glorious worlds suffer most from decisions often beyond their control, and in many cases, despite their success. When I started Intrepid, it was with a desire to lift the veil on MMO development, in the hopes that my fellow gamers could see and share in the process of building one of the most complex, costly, and challenging endeavors a team can take on. As players, we often don’t see the blood, sweat, and tears that go into creating the games we love. But behind every project are real people who grew up just like us, playing, dreaming, and falling in love with this genre. It’s always easier to criticize. Easier still to doubt. But true heroes are those who dare to dream… who build, create, and push forward through uncertainty and fear, even when the current feels against them. Negativity, whether in boardrooms or comment sections, only stifles innovation and squanders opportunity. There is no easier job than to play the cynic, and no harder one than to keep pushing forward when faith wears thin. A lot of talented developers lost their jobs today. Whether you’re an executive, a creator, or a player, when the time comes to show support for those who take the risks to make the games we all fell in love with, remember: your voice can mean the world. To all those affected, stay strong, keep your heads high, and above all else… just keep swimming. ❤️