BrainKing in 2026

As I wrote in the shorter version of this announcement, the operation of the BrainKing game server will be terminated on December 31, 2026. This was not an easy decision, and it was preceded by many attempts to modernize or stabilize the system on which the server runs. However, it turned out that it is not possible to maintain the unsustainable indefinitely. I am convinced that announcing this a year in advance is one of the better ways to bring the whole matter to a close. This is not, however, a complete and final end of everything - read on.

So what is the reason for shutting down BrainKing in its current form?

You have certainly noticed that over the past year the server has become more unstable than would be normal under ordinary circumstances. At times there were outages lasting several hours, pages often got stuck while loading, and the overall situation gave the impression that BrainKing was beginning to degrade. This state has several causes related to the end of official support nine years ago. In particular, the database is losing performance, the BrainKing application itself is written inefficiently, and it turned out that the only long-term solution would be to completely rewrite all components required to run the server. Such work would require time that I simply don't have, and to be honest, I also wouldn't have the right motivation for a project of that scope.

In addition to the mentioned technical difficulties, there are other types of problems as well, because running a public server hides far more pitfalls and hazards than it might seem at first glance. BrainKing contains relatively outdated code, which means it cannot be run in a modern way - namely, in the cloud. A complete rewrite of all source code would be absolutely necessary. Moreover, such a server is constantly under attack by bots using increasingly sophisticated attempts to breach defenses or at least overload the application. In other words, anyone who wants to operate a game server must make it a full-time job, which is exactly what I can no longer - and do not want to - do.

If that's the case, why don't you sell BrainKing to someone who could take care of it?

I am convinced that such an investment would not pay off for anyone. The BrainKing source code and database structure are in such a state that the server would be practically unusable in any other environment. I would almost say that it would be easier to simply program a new server from scratch and avoid in time all the mistakes I made during the design 23 years ago.

Does this mean a complete end? Will the domain brainking.com stop working on January 1, 2027?

Not at all. The domain will continue to function, and I will most likely launch something like a blog dedicated to board games and other games there. In addition, I intend to create a new form of BrainKing that would be able to run even without a central server. I have already started this project, and it will most likely be a multiplayer game that would be free to download on Steam and would allow true real-time play with live opponents - something that was probably missing the most in the original BrainKing. An application of this type should be much better secured, easily extensible with new games including games for more than two players, and significantly more performant. Moreover, these are technologies I have been actively interested in for several years now, so motivation should not be an issue either.

What will happen to paid memberships that do not expire by December 31, 2026?

As I stated in the last announcement on BrainKing, membership fees will not be refunded, so anyone who pays for a higher membership level in 2026 agrees that they are not entitled to a refund under any circumstances. This is nothing new; this policy has been in place since 2018. In exceptional cases - for example, if someone accidentally pays for an annual membership one month before the shutdown - I may agree with that person on a refund. However, this is not guaranteed, and I truly recommend not paying for anything.

And what about those who purchased permanent lifetime memberships in the past?

Yes, there are several dozen accounts on BrainKing whose owners paid in the past for the so-called Black Rook, or Rook-level membership, which never expires. Its price corresponded to ten times the annual membership fee, and the last purchase took place 15 years ago, so it could be said that players received more than adequate compensation for this investment. BUT! If I ever introduce a paid version in the new gaming system, it will be automatically granted to all these players for free.

Can we therefore expect a new BrainKing to be available for free download on Steam in January 2027?

I will do everything I can to make that happen. But we all know that every project has its pitfalls, and unforeseen circumstances can delay or force the postponement of even the easiest work. So I say that I promise nothing 100%, but I will try.

Once the original BrainKing no longer exists, how can we contact you or follow new information?

On the website Filip.Rachunek.com I run a personal portfolio of all my projects. It also serves as a hub with links to social networks and Discord, so there are plenty of ways to get in touch. In addition, a blog on BrainKing.com will also be running, so I will definitely mention the new project there as well.