A video game database has a new premium tier, and it lets developers claim their credits — but only under strict supervision. MobyGames launched MobyGames Professional in beta in June, with a full 1.0 version due this autumn. The tier lets developers verify their identities and build personal portfolio pages on the site, though it stops short of letting them add themselves back to game credits they were dropped from entirely.
The feature is a bureaucratic answer to a recurring problem in the industry: developers getting cut from game credits after years of work. The beta has already drawn thousands of signups, and the company is now talking openly about how it works.
Verification Works Through Two Steps
MobyGames Professional works through a two-part verification system. First, the site runs a human-driven check to confirm that a developer is who they say they are. That part is manual and happens behind the scenes.
The second part is where things get interesting. The actual credit listings on MobyGames are not touched by this process. The site says its credit verification system has not changed since Atari acquired the company in March 2022, and it has no plans to change it.
Product manager Reece Denzel explained the setup to GamesIndustry.biz at Gamescom. He broke it down into two parts. “One is making sure that people are who they say they are, and that’s a human-driven verification process that we run in the background,” he said. “When it comes to making sure that credit history is reflected appropriately, the actual way that we do credits and credit verifications has not changed: It’s not changed since Atari has been involved, it’s not changed in a long time, and we have no plans to change that process.”
He added: “It’s very important for us to note that that does not give them the ability to edit any of the structural information about things like their credits. What it does give them the opportunity to do is to go in and edit some details about themselves that are then listed as coming from the verified source of that developer.”
The distinction matters. A developer can verify their identity and build a portfolio page, but they cannot add themselves back to a game’s credits if they were cut from them.
Why Credits Get Dropped
The problem MobyGames Professional addresses is real, and it has a long history. Developers have told stories for years about being dropped from game credits after working on a title for many years.
One example comes from Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, whose credits were missing the original game’s development staff. In 2023, former Retro Studios engineer Zoid Kirsch said he was “let down” by the lack of individual credits in Metroid Prime Remastered.
Translators contracted from firms outside of Nintendo have also raised concerns. They voiced disappointment at not being credited for work on high-profile games.
The pattern is consistent across the industry. Developers see their names disappear from the final credits after years of work.
Verification System’s Long History
The credit verification system at MobyGames dates back to before the company was acquired by Atari. The site says its credit verification system has not changed since Atari acquired the company in March 2022, and it has no plans to change it.
That system remains frozen in place, untouched by the new tier. The actual credit listings on MobyGames are not edited through the verification process, according to Denzel.
The Premium Price
The Professional tier costs $14.99 a month, or $11.99 a month with an annual subscription. There is currently a 45-day free trial period.
Signups have been strong. Denzel said that thousands of developers have already claimed their pages.
The beta’s popularity suggests the feature is meeting a real need. Developers want control over their online presence, even if that control is limited.
Verification Process Details
The verification process is human-driven, which sounds thorough. But it only confirms identity, not credit history. The credit listings themselves remain frozen in place, untouched by the new tier.
- Verification: Human-driven identity check, credit listings not changed since Atari acquired the company in March 2022
- Premium tiers: $14.99 a month, $11.99 a month with annual subscription
- Free trial: 45 days
- Signups: Thousands of developers have claimed their pages
Industry Examples
- Donkey Kong Country Returns HD: Credits missing the original game’s development staff
- Metroid Prime Remastered: Former Retro Studios engineer Zoid Kirsch said he was “let down”
- Translators: Contracted from firms outside of Nintendo, voiced disappointment at not being credited
The feature is live in beta and will reach full 1.0 this autumn. It gives developers a verified home on the site, but it does not solve the problem of credits that disappear.
The feature is a signal that developers care about credits enough to pay for them, even if the tool only goes so far. It is modest, but it is a step — and for now, that is the story MobyGames is telling.
Source material: “MobyGames video game database now lets developers claim their game credits,” Eurogamer.
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