The phenomenon of video games being released in an unfinished state and then elying on updates over time is a unique aspect of gaming culture. Something other forms of art and media like film, music, or literature would never really rely upon.

In these more traditional forms, the expectation is that once a work is released, it is a finished product, with little room for major changes post-release. You would never expect a director to release a movie, only to say, “we’ll fix the CGI in a few months,” or a musician to drop an album with the promise of better mixing later.

1. Interactive Complexity

Video games are inherently interactive, meaning that they have to account for a wide variety of player inputs, actions, and decisions. Unlike movies or albums, which follow a linear path from start to finish, games tend to be designed as complex systems with a multitude of possible outcomes, mechanics, and technical interactions. So finding bugs is a task relayed to the audience instead. Game developers use the player base as a form of mass testing, fixing issues after the game is in the hands of millions. This concept is almost unheard of in other media. Imagine a musician saying, “I’ll release my album and let my listeners help me figure out which tracks need reworking.” In gaming, however, this kind of iterative process has been normalized

2. Live Service Model

Many modern video games, especially in the AAA space, operate under a live service model, meaning that they are designed to evolve over time with regular updates, new content, and gameplay improvements. This model has fundamentally changed player expectations, as many gamers are accustomed to games receiving long-term support. In contrast, a movie or book is generally regarded as a finished product upon release, with no expectation that it will be materially altered afterward. This is part of being an interactive software I suppose and an option that comes from having a history of

3. Economic and Time Pressures

Game development is a labor-intensive, time-consuming process, often requiring years of work by large teams. Due to intense competition, marketing hype, and financial pressures from investors or publishers, many developers feel compelled to release games before they are fully polished. This is the excuse I hear most often and I have to say … so are movies.