Why is that? If you buy the game off Steam or something, this implies that the creators/publishers/platforms have gotten their due compensation. The cracks and files on ThePirateBay are done on a volunteer basis, meaning that it’s not costing the game developers any money.

Maybe lay off the eggnog or before reading HN so that you don't comment this poorly w/o reading the thread... They've bought it, the Dev. Got whatever pittance the publisher seems worthy, they just want an experience unadulterated by crappy launchers or corrupted by overzealous DRM.

I was reasonably certain that this thread was specifically speaking in regard to the latter case.

> It is costing a developer money — someone who downloads the pirated game would’ve otherwise bought it. Game devs make money on sales.

Source? No research ever managed to prove that.

Is there any chance you misunderstood? They said they wouldn't feel bad morally about pirating things they had in fact already paid for? Does your ethics require you to stick to the letter of the terms and conditions including allowing people to keep your money and take back the value they promised you?