Dean Hall, the creator of games like DayZ and Icarus, believes Valve hasn’t received enough criticism for helping to make controversial monetization practices popular in gaming. In an interview with Eurogamer, Hall specifically criticized the use of gambling-like systems in games and thinks gamers should hold Valve more accountable.
Hall believes Valve doesn’t receive enough criticism for its practices. He strongly opposes gambling features in video games, stating they are completely inappropriate.
He also criticized other developers who don’t believe predatory monetization is harmful. Hall urged them to share raw data with researchers so they can investigate whether these practices are actually problematic and need to be fixed.
Look, as a gamer, I’m really hoping developers will listen to this: if they honestly don’t think loot boxes or whatever else is an issue, they should let researchers study the data. Universities are begging for it, and it could really help us understand what’s going on.
Valve has been a major influence on how games make money over the last ten years. While not the first to use them, Team Fortress 2 made loot boxes popular, and this system became even more central to the economies of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2. Likewise, Dota 2 was key in introducing the idea of the Battle Pass.
Hall admitted that his game, Icarus, has received multiple downloadable content packs since its 2021 launch. He described this approach – releasing several expansions after the initial game – as the ‘Paradox model,’ named after the publisher known for doing so. He believes this is the strategy RocketWerkz needs to adopt to ensure the game’s continued success.
“I share the frustration many feel about releasing downloadable content this way,” Hall admitted. “I wasn’t a fan of the Icarus method either, but it was necessary for the game’s survival.”
Many gamers don’t seem to realize that most game developers are actually unhappy with the current state of the industry. Studios like mine are just trying to survive and continue creating the games we’re passionate about, but we’re not thrilled with how those games are being sold or how money is made from them. It feels like everyone’s losing except for a very small number of companies.
RocketWerkz’s next game, currently called Kitten Space Agency, will have a different way of making money than their previous titles. Inspired by Kerbal Space Program, the game will let players build and launch rockets and spacecraft into space. The developer, Hall, believes Kitten Space Agency should be free to play, with players having the option to contribute financially if they enjoy the game and want to support its ongoing development.
Hall expressed a desire to explore a new approach. He felt they needed to take action and experiment, and believed a game like Kerbal Space Program would be a perfect place to start. He explained that Kitten Space Agency’s philosophy centers around the idea that games should be inspiring and that inspiration should be accessible to everyone. Ultimately, Hall believes the game has potential and should be made freely available.
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2025-10-28 17:12