Molyneux responds to backlash against Curiosity server donations

Curiosity: What's Inside the Cube studio 22Cans only put up a donate button on its site in response to requests from fans, founder Peter Molyneux told CVG.

Upon Curiosity's launch last week, players flooded the product's servers, which led to widespread connection and performance issues that 22Cans has worked diligently to fix. The studio discussed the problems in a humorous video released shortly after launch.

According to Molyneux, 22Cans didn't plan to ask for money from Curiosity fans for servers, which run about £700 each. "I said on Twitter we were going to put on more and more of these expensive servers," Molyneux told CVG. "And a couple of people said we'd really love to donate, is there any way we could donate," so the company set up a PayPal account and tied it to a donate button on the website. (The message that was posted along with the donate button does note that it exists "due to popular demand.")

The button has resulted in criticism levied at Molyneux and 22Cans on the basis of his personal wealth and the studio's investment backing — the donate button irked those who believe Molyneux and his studio can afford to pay for servers.

Molyneux defended the button, pointing out that it exists because fans asked for it. "I'm not using Curiosity to ask for money," he added. "We don't have a big banner outside the office saying 'please donate.'"