What if Video Games Stopped Receiving Patches? (with Nic McConnell)

Update: 2025-11-12

Description

On a recent episode of Darren Hupke's podcast Pixels and Polygons (linked here), friend of the show Nic McConnell shared a "hot take" about video game patches. We'll let Nic share the nuances of his take in the show itself, but he was essentially expressing that he thought video games should not be patched as often as they are. We thought this was an intriguing idea worth unpacking even further—and one that was perhaps not quite as controversial as it was initially presented.

What is gained and lost when players can no longer access the original version of a game? Do we miss the jank found in many retro games, that today can get ironed out as soon as its discovered? And what does this all mean for Kirby? Join us for a patch-perfect episode of Kirby Conversations all about patches, updates, and version histories.

Questions or comments about the show? Feel free to reach out to us at mail@kirbyconversations.com.

Kirby Conversations is part of the Sound Stone Podcast Network, a collective of independent podcasters covering video game history. We are a founding show alongside above mentioned Pixels and Polygons and Flashback 64, and we encourage you to check out those shows as well!

Our guest Nic McConnell, when he isn't navigating the world of age ratings management at Riot Games, can be found streaming about video game manuals with his show Instruction Derby. Find it at https://www.twitch.tv/nicmcconnell or https://www.youtube.com/@NicolasMcConnell. Or find him on Bluesky at @mcconnell.bsky.social.

Our opening music is by Megan Kelz and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).

Join us online:

Kirby Conversations

Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social

IG: @kirbyconversations

Sound Stone Network

Bluesky: @soundstone.network

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@SoundStone-Network

Bridget

Bluesky: @kabulaqueen.bsky.social

Sean Douglass

Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social