Garriott Says Game Industry Has Lost Its Creators
Veteran developer Richard Garriott offered his view of the videogame industry at a Georgia Game Developers Association panel.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Gaming
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Veteran developer Richard Garriott commented on the state of the videogame industry at a panel hosted by the Georgia Game Developers Association. Garriott was one of several developers on the panel, where he described himself as the great-grandpa of the group.
Why it matters
Garriott's comments offer a perspective from a developer who has been part of the industry since the early days of Origin Systems. His remarks point to ongoing questions about how the industry shapes its games and its workforce.
Origin Systems canceled no projects before Garriott sold it to EA in 1992. After EA took control, the studio canceled more projects than it completed, according to Garriott's account at the panel.
The players
Richard Garriott
Richard Garriott is a veteran videogame developer best known as the creator of the Ultima series and a founder of Origin Systems.
Georgia Game Developers Association
The Georgia Game Developers Association is a regional trade group that hosts panels and networking events for game developers in Georgia.
The details
Garriott described a cycle in which a technological advance prompts developers to race to make simple games highlighting that advance, with demand for deeper games arising mainly in the gaps between leaps. He said machines are now fast enough that bells and whistles are no longer what's important, and that the industry lost many original creators tied to IPs and bigger companies.
Timeline
1992: Garriott sold Origin Systems to EA.
Industry Context
Garriott's remarks trace the industry's trajectory back to the 1992 sale of Origin Systems to Electronic Arts, a transaction he links to the later decline in cancellation rates and the loss of original creators. His account frames the current state of game development as shaped by that consolidation era.
For Georgia players and aspiring developers, Garriott's comments suggest the pace of technological change may shape which games get made and funded. Readers interested in the industry can follow local developer panels to hear firsthand how the field is evolving.
The takeaway
Garriott's account suggests that the industry's cycles of technological leaps shape what games get built, and that many creators have moved on over time. Developers and players alike may find it useful to watch how these patterns repeat as new hardware arrives.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in our Gaming section for related industry perspectives.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pcgamer.
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