Crooked Dice Game Studios shut down Deceive Inc., its asymmetrical multiplayer heist game, but refused to let it vanish entirely. The studio pivoted to community servers, allowing players to host their own instances before the official shutdown completes.
Deceive Inc. launched in 2023 as a live service title where one team of thieves attempted heists while another team of guards defended objectives. The game found a dedicated audience but couldn't sustain the player base needed for a live service model. Rather than abandon the community, Crooked Dice chose preservation over deletion.
The studio's decision reflects a growing pushback against the disposable nature of live service games. When publishers shut down servers, they effectively erase the game from existence. Players lose access to something they purchased and invested time into. Crooked Dice rejected this model outright, stating they didn't believe Deceive Inc. should quietly disappear.
By releasing server infrastructure to the community, the studio enabled players to maintain the game indefinitely through fan-run servers. This approach mirrors what happened with games like Team Fortress 2, where community servers kept the title alive long after official support waned.
The move carries real industry weight. As more live service games fail, studios face mounting pressure to preserve titles rather than kill them completely. Crooked Dice demonstrated that a shutdown doesn't require erasing player investment or community legacy. The game survives because the studio prioritized player agency over corporate convenience.
This decision won't revive Deceive Inc.'s commercial prospects. The studio still closed. But it transforms the shutdown from total loss into controlled transition. Players retain access. The community retains agency. For a game that earned genuine affection from its players, that distinction matters.