Steam Player Requests Game Fix, Faces Backlash for Piracy

When you hit a snag in a game, it’s totally normal to hop online for a fix. Some players might even go so far as to reach out directly to the developers for help. But would you dare to approach someone whose game you’ve pirated?

That seems to be the case for one audacious Steam user who has been vocal on the community page for Farthest Frontier. This medieval city-building sim, developed by Crate Entertainment—known for the 2016 action RPG Grim Dawn—offers a unique blend of city management and survival gameplay. With features like a detailed farming system, diseases reminiscent of Oregon Trail, and a real-time town simulation, Farthest Frontier has quickly garnered a “very positive” rating since its October launch.

User BigBadAss33 is among the many diving into Farthest Frontier, but their enjoyment is questionable. They’ve spent weeks airing grievances across various threads, criticizing the dense forests on the maps and the trading mechanics. Inventory management has also been a major pain point for them. “The constant MICRO-Managing of EVERYTHING is nuts,” they vented in one discussion.

By mid-December, BigBadAss33 encountered a frustrating issue: the game started crashing unexpectedly. “C’mon Devs please let us know!!!” they pleaded in a thread about seed generation. On December 21, the frustrated player went straight to the developers with a thread titled “Please fix your in-game time?”

Within an hour, Crate Entertainment developer Zantai responded sharply, “Please purchase the game instead of running a ‘non-Steam version.'” The thread was promptly locked.

On Reddit, Zantai elaborated on this response and their stance on piracy. They recognized the user as a pirate due to their mention of a “non-Steam version,” which doesn’t exist.

“So if they don’t plan to support our work, we don’t think that gives them the privilege to participate in our community,” Zantai commented regarding the interaction.

Developers have various strategies for dealing with piracy. Some invest in anti-piracy software like Denuvo, while others playfully include features that only affect pirates, such as Rockstar’s infamous drunk character in Grand Theft Auto 4. Many indie developers, lacking resources for such measures, believe that while piracy can’t be completely eradicated, it can be managed.

Some developers even seed pirated versions and engage with known pirates. While Zantai’s approach leans towards the stricter side, it’s notable that they chose not to ban the player. They understand that piracy is a nuanced issue and that punishing players isn’t always the best route. Zantai has seen instances where pirates eventually buy the game, sometimes with an apology. These players, they argue, deserve a second chance.

“There are many reasons people may pirate games, and sometimes it’s just the sad reality that someone literally cannot afford them,” Zantai noted. “That’s not a lost sale; that wasn’t going to be one to begin with. If you’re financially stable or doing it in ‘protest’ of Steam or some other nonsense, you can fuck right off though with your high horse.”

Despite their measured response, Zantai has faced backlash, with reports sent to Valve labeling them as a rude harasser.

This isn’t Zantai’s first encounter with game piracy. Grim Dawn was designed to thwart pirates with issues like unturnable quests and missing bosses. Ultimately, Zantai feels no obligation to cater to those who don’t appreciate their work.

“If [an indie developer’s] work brings you joy, help put food on their table,” Zantai advised. “And if you can’t afford to, at least don’t come to their forums to announce it.”