Steve Fowler Consulting

Can True Open Development Succeed?

Steve Fowler
Dec 06, 2024By Steve Fowler

PLAYERUNKNOWN Productions has just laid down the gauntlet in Open Community Driven Development

PLAYERUNKNOWN Productions’ latest announcement today on GamesBeat is a bold, 10-year vision for building one of the most ambitious survival games ever created.


This isn’t business as usual. PLAYERUNKNOWN (the mind behind PUBG, which didn’t just launch a game but an entire genre) is taking a radically progressive approach: true open development.

They’ve already released an early tech demo on Steam (PREFACE: Undiscovered World), not as a teaser or a marketing play, but as a genuine call to action for community feedback. Next year, they’ll roll out a second Steam experience, doubling down on transparency and player involvement. This isn’t just about developing for the community—it’s about developing with them.

Here’s why this approach is a model for the future of game development:

  • Radical Transparency: They’re not hiding behind NDAs or polished press releases. This is game development in real-time, with all its challenges, pivots, and breakthroughs laid bare which builds trust with players.


  • Player-Centric Design: By engaging players this early, they’re ensuring the end product resonates deeply with the community it’s built for.


  • A Long-Term Commitment: A 10-year timeline signals something we don’t see often: prioritizing quality and vision over quick returns.
     

Having spent 25 years in the games industry, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative these kinds of risks can be. PUBG redefined the battle royale space, and PLAYERUNKNOWN Productions seems poised to do the same for survival games.


For those of us in the industry, this project is a fascinating case study in what open development can look like at scale. It challenges us to think differently about how we approach game design, community engagement, and long-term planning.


As someone who’s been on both sides of the equation—crafting games and building communities around them—I can’t help but applaud this level of ambition and innovation. This is the kind of project that moves the industry forward, and I’m excited to see how it evolves.