Should game developers compensate players for trophies lost due to bugs?

But as a former casino game veteran developer, I’d like to say yes – developers should refund players’ rewards lost from bugs, because players have earned those rewards through investment of both money and play-time, and it’s not their fault if a bug has wiped it all out. This is even truer for casino games that involve real money.

So far, I've seen evidence that players want some sense of justice: if they lose stuff as a result of a bug, they usually get some kind of restitution. Some developers will drop loot in your inventory or credit your account; others don't, and end up making a lot of enemies.

Video games: In-game currencies, badges, and trophies? Sure, some players have lost them, too. Support tickets can help here, though they’re hardly foolproof. Game developers should be transparent about what is (and isn’t) covered under game protection, such as no reimbursement if the user was at fault. But for glitches? If you made the bug, you fix it!

game developer: Yes, developers can (and should) restore rewards lost due to a game-breaking bug. Things like trophies and collectibles are valuable to players. The consensus on every game wiki or forum you’ll ever visit is that when the game messes up, the developer should put things right – including player compensation. I have seen items deleted and rewards wrongly reclaimed as a result of bugs. Typically, developers will replace them or offer some form of restitition. Not all bugs are caught but, rule of thumb, the developer doesn’t get to keep your stuff if he screws up.

Sure, devs should pay for losses caused by bugs – particularly when the player bore no responsibility. Don’t blame me if a bug eats your trophy, item, or gold that I worked hard to earn. I’ve seen entire subreddits explode over this. There are so many posts on Steam and wikis of people losing rare skins or progression to bugs. Some devs just refund you; others try to fight it. Read the game’s EULA, but really? If it’s not your fault, you deserve compensation. Trustworthiness means doing the right thing.

Indeed, game developers need to compensate players whenever a bug causes them to lose a legitimate reward – particularly in games that involve gambling mechanics, where players expect fair play. Gamers demand compensation on forums, and wiki experts recognize developers who comply. And yes, some players have lost unique items to glitches – and it’s usually a good idea to offer a refund or replacement. After all, one man’s bug is another man’s feature.

devs/casinos should reimburse you for losses resulting from a bug. You see this all the time on player forums/Wikis: people can be super-pissed if you lose an achievement or in-game reward/currency. Occasionally a news article will crop up about it; in one case that I read about there was a forum post of someone losing a rare item because of a programming error. The game company reimbursed some people but not others. It comes down to what is fair vs. how the developers want to protect their reputation. If you lost something, you deserve compensation.