Raph Koster
@raphkoster.bsky.social
Videogames: ULTIMA ONLINE, STAR WARS GALAXIES, METAPLACE, STARS REACH (coming soon!), among others. Tabletop: WADDLE. Books: THEORY OF FUN, POSTMORTEMS, SUNDAY POEMS. Music: AFTER THE FLOOD. Also at @[email protected]
The full EDGE piece on game industry challenges is out now, has a lot of smart people in it (and me) & I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the games biz. knowledge.edge-online.com/p/the-game-i...
The game industry is broken – can we fix it?
knowledge.edge-online.com
September 19, 2026 at 5:18 AM
The full EDGE piece on game industry challenges is out now, has a lot of smart people in it (and me) & I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the games biz. knowledge.edge-online.com/p/the-game-i...
Reposted by Raph Koster
Stars Reach feels like it might be a giant leap for MMORPGs.
Read Eddie's thoughts on the upcoming game here:
Read Eddie's thoughts on the upcoming game here:
‘Stars Reach’ Shoots For The Stars With Exploration And Player Expression
Stars Reach feels like it might be a giant leap for MMORPGs.
Read Eddie's thoughts on the upcoming game here:
butwhytho.net
July 25, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Stars Reach feels like it might be a giant leap for MMORPGs.
Read Eddie's thoughts on the upcoming game here:
Read Eddie's thoughts on the upcoming game here:
This is a good talk. It also echoes some things I have been saying for years (I stole @bruces.bsky.social 's line about musicians long ago, probably back when we hung out in Austin)... Back in 2005, I wrote a blog post called "The Future of Content" that ended with:
I posted my History of Games keynote:
- A materialist reexamination of the canonical game crises from a developer's POV
- Thoughts on the ongoing game industry restructuring
- Indiepocalypse, AAApocalypse, deprofessionalization, games at the knitting stage
www.molleindustria.org/HistoryOfGam...
- A materialist reexamination of the canonical game crises from a developer's POV
- Thoughts on the ongoing game industry restructuring
- Indiepocalypse, AAApocalypse, deprofessionalization, games at the knitting stage
www.molleindustria.org/HistoryOfGam...
A History of Games Through Mass Extinctions
A transcript of Paolo Pedercini’s History of Games Conference keynote (2026).
www.molleindustria.org
July 21, 2026 at 7:38 PM
This is a good talk. It also echoes some things I have been saying for years (I stole @bruces.bsky.social 's line about musicians long ago, probably back when we hung out in Austin)... Back in 2005, I wrote a blog post called "The Future of Content" that ended with:
Reposted by Raph Koster
🚨NEW DOC ALERT🕹️
The History & Evolution of Massively Multiplayer Games
We talk to @raphkoster.bsky.social about the history of group play, how MUDs became MMOs and the evolution of online worlds.
WATCH HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHu7...
The History & Evolution of Massively Multiplayer Games
We talk to @raphkoster.bsky.social about the history of group play, how MUDs became MMOs and the evolution of online worlds.
WATCH HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHu7...
The History & Evolution of Massively Multiplayer Games (with Raph Koster) - /noclip
YouTube video by /noclip
www.youtube.com
July 21, 2026 at 4:17 PM
🚨NEW DOC ALERT🕹️
The History & Evolution of Massively Multiplayer Games
We talk to @raphkoster.bsky.social about the history of group play, how MUDs became MMOs and the evolution of online worlds.
WATCH HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHu7...
The History & Evolution of Massively Multiplayer Games
We talk to @raphkoster.bsky.social about the history of group play, how MUDs became MMOs and the evolution of online worlds.
WATCH HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHu7...
Reposted by Raph Koster
[EARLY ACCESS] The History & Evolution of Massively Multiplayer Games
For Early Access Patrons (our 2nd most popular tier) is our second video with @raphkoster.bsky.social, about the history of play, and the evolution of MMOs.
Support /noclip and give it a watch.
www.patreon.com/noclip/posts...
For Early Access Patrons (our 2nd most popular tier) is our second video with @raphkoster.bsky.social, about the history of play, and the evolution of MMOs.
Support /noclip and give it a watch.
www.patreon.com/noclip/posts...
[EARLY ACCESS] The History & Evolution of Massively Multiplayer Games | /noclip
[EARLY ACCESS] The History & Evolution of Massively Multiplayer Games by /noclip on Patreon. Join /noclip's community for exclusive content and updates.
www.patreon.com
July 10, 2026 at 5:23 PM
[EARLY ACCESS] The History & Evolution of Massively Multiplayer Games
For Early Access Patrons (our 2nd most popular tier) is our second video with @raphkoster.bsky.social, about the history of play, and the evolution of MMOs.
Support /noclip and give it a watch.
www.patreon.com/noclip/posts...
For Early Access Patrons (our 2nd most popular tier) is our second video with @raphkoster.bsky.social, about the history of play, and the evolution of MMOs.
Support /noclip and give it a watch.
www.patreon.com/noclip/posts...
This is out now and @noclipvideo has done their usual stellar job!
🚨NEW DOC ALERT🕹️
The "Jedi Problem" in Star Wars Galaxies is infamous, but what's the real story behind the legend?
Famed designer @raphkoster.bsky.social talks to @jeremybjayne.bsky.social about what this remarkable game design challenge can teach us.
WATCH HERE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAv0...
The "Jedi Problem" in Star Wars Galaxies is infamous, but what's the real story behind the legend?
Famed designer @raphkoster.bsky.social talks to @jeremybjayne.bsky.social about what this remarkable game design challenge can teach us.
WATCH HERE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAv0...
The Story Behind Star Wars Galaxies' Notorious Jedi Problem - /noclip
YouTube video by /noclip
www.youtube.com
June 23, 2026 at 7:07 PM
This is out now and @noclipvideo has done their usual stellar job!
Reposted by Raph Koster
‘Stars Reach’ Shoots For The Stars With Exploration And Player Expression
‘Stars Reach’ Shoots For The Stars With Exploration And Player Expression
I’m skeptical of the proposed technology behind Stars Reach, but what I saw feels like the next big step in cultivating a virtual life in online gaming.
The post ‘Stars Reach’ Shoots For The Stars With Exploration And Player Expression appeared first on But Why Tho?.
dlvr.it
June 12, 2026 at 3:08 PM
‘Stars Reach’ Shoots For The Stars With Exploration And Player Expression
Reposted by Raph Koster
I also got to play a bit of Stars Reach, and see its impressive simulation elements. It's exceedingly hard to preview an MMO, always has been, but I genuinely dig what I've seen and heard www.consolecreatures.com/stars-reach-...
Stars Reach Wants to Bring MMORPGs Back to Their Sandbox Roots, and It's Got All the Right Ideas | Console Creatures
Stars Reach is an ambitious new MMO from the creator of Ultima Online that hopes to bring the genre back to its more creative and open-ended roots.
www.consolecreatures.com
June 16, 2026 at 3:24 PM
I also got to play a bit of Stars Reach, and see its impressive simulation elements. It's exceedingly hard to preview an MMO, always has been, but I genuinely dig what I've seen and heard www.consolecreatures.com/stars-reach-...
Reposted by Raph Koster
Stars Reach put out an update that improves clouds, underwater rendering, and more. youtu.be/22bfaxMWfdc
@playstarsreach.bsky.social #starsreach #mmo
@playstarsreach.bsky.social #starsreach #mmo
Stars Reach Pre-Alpha: Better Clouds & Water
YouTube video by Controlled Chaos Gaming
youtu.be
June 18, 2026 at 12:42 AM
Stars Reach put out an update that improves clouds, underwater rendering, and more. youtu.be/22bfaxMWfdc
@playstarsreach.bsky.social #starsreach #mmo
@playstarsreach.bsky.social #starsreach #mmo
Reposted by Raph Koster
Hands-On Preview: Stars Reach Represents The Dream MMOs Have Promised For Decades, And I Can't Contain My Excitement www.mmorpg.com/previews/han...
June 17, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Hands-On Preview: Stars Reach Represents The Dream MMOs Have Promised For Decades, And I Can't Contain My Excitement www.mmorpg.com/previews/han...
Reposted by Raph Koster
“It Isn’t the Way You Influenced the Next Designer to Do What You Did, It’s How You Influenced Those Who Got to Play” — Raph Koster on the Legacy of Star Wars Galaxies, the State of MMOs, and His Ambitious New Game
Interview: www.consolecreatures.com/raph-koster-...
Interview: www.consolecreatures.com/raph-koster-...
"It Isn't the Way You Influenced the Next Designer to Do What You Did, It's How You Influenced Those Who Got to Play" — Raph Koster on the Legacy of Star Wars Galaxies, the State of MMOs, and His Ambi...
We talk to Raph Koster, the creator of Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, about his ambitious new MMO and how the genre at large can survive.
www.consolecreatures.com
June 18, 2026 at 10:18 PM
“It Isn’t the Way You Influenced the Next Designer to Do What You Did, It’s How You Influenced Those Who Got to Play” — Raph Koster on the Legacy of Star Wars Galaxies, the State of MMOs, and His Ambitious New Game
Interview: www.consolecreatures.com/raph-koster-...
Interview: www.consolecreatures.com/raph-koster-...
I did this interview a while ago and had forgotten it was coming out!
[noclip EARLY ACCESS] How the Jedi Took Down Star Wars Galaxies
We speak to iconic game designer Raph Koster about the design of Star Wars Galaxies and the “Jedi Problem” that contributed to the MMO’s downfall.
www.patreon.com/posts/158281...
We speak to iconic game designer Raph Koster about the design of Star Wars Galaxies and the “Jedi Problem” that contributed to the MMO’s downfall.
www.patreon.com/posts/158281...
[EARLY ACCESS] How The Jedi Took Down Star Wars Galaxies | /noclip
[EARLY ACCESS] How The Jedi Took Down Star Wars Galaxies by /noclip on Patreon. Join /noclip's community for exclusive content and updates.
www.patreon.com
May 16, 2026 at 8:05 PM
I did this interview a while ago and had forgotten it was coming out!
As usual I have signed all the copies of my books at the @officialgdc.bsky.social bookstore!
March 9, 2026 at 9:06 PM
As usual I have signed all the copies of my books at the @officialgdc.bsky.social bookstore!
Today I came across a project that rebuilt all of Tatooine from SWG in VRChat, and another that is recreating all of UO as a Valheim mod. Kind of wild to see.
December 21, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Today I came across a project that rebuilt all of Tatooine from SWG in VRChat, and another that is recreating all of UO as a Valheim mod. Kind of wild to see.
Reposted by Raph Koster
My obsession for a decade: Parts of games are real, not fiction.
Like, you are not really becoming a powerful knight when you gain a virtual level. That's fiction, fantasy.
But you DO gain real skills. In manipulating buttons, game tactics etc.
In multiplayer games, the friendships are real.
Like, you are not really becoming a powerful knight when you gain a virtual level. That's fiction, fantasy.
But you DO gain real skills. In manipulating buttons, game tactics etc.
In multiplayer games, the friendships are real.
BTW, Spirit Crossing is coming to Steam. The goal is to create a major Cozy MMO with a huge population of folks making friends in a safe and welcoming space.
I deeply believe we can make the world a better place.
If this interests you, please wishlist!
store.steampowered.com/app/2321960/...
I deeply believe we can make the world a better place.
If this interests you, please wishlist!
store.steampowered.com/app/2321960/...
Spirit Crossing on Steam
Befriend bears, aid lost spirits, ride fluffalo, and build a thriving village with other players in this multiplayer life-sim from the creators of "Cozy Grove." Find endless opportunities to...
store.steampowered.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:13 PM
My obsession for a decade: Parts of games are real, not fiction.
Like, you are not really becoming a powerful knight when you gain a virtual level. That's fiction, fantasy.
But you DO gain real skills. In manipulating buttons, game tactics etc.
In multiplayer games, the friendships are real.
Like, you are not really becoming a powerful knight when you gain a virtual level. That's fiction, fantasy.
But you DO gain real skills. In manipulating buttons, game tactics etc.
In multiplayer games, the friendships are real.
Recommended posts, 2017-2025
It's been over five years since the last time I gathered up recommended posts in one place and added them to the menu above. I figured I was due. As usual this will include talks and interviews as well as articles. Just think of it as "my take on what the best stuff to…
It's been over five years since the last time I gathered up recommended posts in one place and added them to the menu above. I figured I was due. As usual this will include talks and interviews as well as articles. Just think of it as "my take on what the best stuff to…
Recommended posts, 2017-2025
It's been over five years since the last time I gathered up recommended posts in one place and added them to the menu above. I figured I was due. As usual this will include talks and interviews as well as articles. Just think of it as "my take on what the best stuff to look at on the site is."
www.raphkoster.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Recommended posts, 2017-2025
It's been over five years since the last time I gathered up recommended posts in one place and added them to the menu above. I figured I was due. As usual this will include talks and interviews as well as articles. Just think of it as "my take on what the best stuff to…
It's been over five years since the last time I gathered up recommended posts in one place and added them to the menu above. I figured I was due. As usual this will include talks and interviews as well as articles. Just think of it as "my take on what the best stuff to…
I never posted widely about the public health simulator design I wrote as Covid was shutting down the world. Until now.
Looking back at a pandemic simulator
It's been six years now since the early days of the Covid pandemic. People who were paying super close attention started hearing rumors about something going on in China towards the end of 2019 -- my earliest posts about it on Facebook were from November that year. Even at the time, people were utterly clueless about the mathematics of how a highly infectious virus spread.
www.raphkoster.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:42 PM
I never posted widely about the public health simulator design I wrote as Covid was shutting down the world. Until now.
Reposted by Raph Koster
Today we reveal our Stars Reach development roadmap. More than a timeline, this is a full-featured living document. Click on individual cards for more information. Watch as cards move between categories as development progresses. We want your feedback. starsreach.com/roadmap/
November 13, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Today we reveal our Stars Reach development roadmap. More than a timeline, this is a full-featured living document. Click on individual cards for more information. Watch as cards move between categories as development progresses. We want your feedback. starsreach.com/roadmap/
This update went in today. Can't wait to see what people do...
Tomorrow's game update is named GovBot Update. It's mainly focused on setting up township governments but also includes other fixes and changes. For details, see starsreach.com/govbot-update/
GovBot Update
The GovBot
The GovBot is a Transplanetary League construct that serves two purposes:
It’s a sequence of tasks that a group of planetary pioneers can use to establish a township on a new planet, and...
starsreach.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:48 PM
This update went in today. Can't wait to see what people do...
Reposted by Raph Koster
Stars Reach’s latest patch adds Star Wars Galaxies-esque player cities to the alpha
Stars Reach’s latest patch adds Star Wars Galaxies-esque player cities to the alpha
massivelyop.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Stars Reach’s latest patch adds Star Wars Galaxies-esque player cities to the alpha
Reposted by Raph Koster
In Stars Reach, every action or interaction with the planet affects its environment, fauna, flora, and players who play and live in it. But not everybody likes what you do…
youtu.be/nq92JvBVmoM
youtu.be/nq92JvBVmoM
The Servitors - 🧪 Stars Reach Lab #004
YouTube video by Stars Reach
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 4:42 PM
In Stars Reach, every action or interaction with the planet affects its environment, fauna, flora, and players who play and live in it. But not everybody likes what you do…
youtu.be/nq92JvBVmoM
youtu.be/nq92JvBVmoM
Reposted by Raph Koster
Time for the annual rewatch of the @raphkoster.bsky.social gdc talk on creativity
🎲✂️
🎲✂️
November 10, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Time for the annual rewatch of the @raphkoster.bsky.social gdc talk on creativity
🎲✂️
🎲✂️
This is unexpected. Not one, but three versions, and of course I am far from the only author whose quotes are for sale on canvas prints. Looks like three different manufacturers, and no, I do not get a cut. Fair use, I assume :D
November 10, 2025 at 5:12 AM
This is unexpected. Not one, but three versions, and of course I am far from the only author whose quotes are for sale on canvas prints. Looks like three different manufacturers, and no, I do not get a cut. Fair use, I assume :D
Haha, playing Geoguessr in UO. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG1I...
🌎I PLAYED GEOGUESSR... BUT IT'S IN ULTIMA ONLINE!!! #nostalgia #mmorpg
YouTube video by Blade Spirit
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Haha, playing Geoguessr in UO. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG1I...
Well, this landed on the front page of Hacker News! news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4584...
November 7, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Well, this landed on the front page of Hacker News! news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4584...