diff --git a/docs/adding games.md b/docs/adding games.md
index 1c59f256..24d9e499 100644
--- a/docs/adding games.md	
+++ b/docs/adding games.md	
@@ -341,3 +341,4 @@ The various methods and attributes are documented in `/worlds/AutoWorld.py[World
 [world api.md](https://github.com/ArchipelagoMW/Archipelago/blob/main/docs/world%20api.md),
 though it is also recommended to look at existing implementations to see how all this works first-hand. 
 Once you get all that, all that remains to do is test the game and publish your work.
+Make sure to check out [world maintainer.md](./world%20maintainer.md) before publishing.
diff --git a/docs/contributing.md b/docs/contributing.md
index 4e90db95..899c06b9 100644
--- a/docs/contributing.md
+++ b/docs/contributing.md
@@ -10,3 +10,5 @@ Otherwise, we tend to judge code on a case to case basis.
 For adding a new game to Archipelago and other documentation on how Archipelago functions, please see 
 [the docs folder](/docs/) for the relevant information and feel free to ask any questions in the #archipelago-dev 
 channel in our [Discord](https://archipelago.gg/discord).
+If you want to merge a new game, please make sure to read the responsibilities as
+[world maintainer](/docs/world%20maintainer.md).
diff --git a/docs/world maintainer.md b/docs/world maintainer.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9cd7a378
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/world maintainer.md	
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+# World Maintainer
+
+A world maintainer is a person responsible for a world or part of a world in Archipelago.
+
+If a world author does not want to take on the responsibilities of a world maintainer, they can release their world as
+an unofficial [APWorld](/docs/apworld%20specification.md) or maintain their own fork instead.
+
+
+## Responsibilities
+
+Unless these are shared between multiple people, we expect the following from each world maintainer
+
+* Be on our Discord to get updates on problems with and suggestions for the world.
+* Decide if a feature (pull request) should be merged.
+* Review contents of such pull requests or organize peer reviews or post that you did not review the content.
+* Fix or point out issues when core changes break your code.
+* Use the watch function on GitHub, the #github-updates channel on Discord or check manually from time to time for new
+  pull requests. Core maintainers may also ping you if a pull request concerns your world.
+* Test (or have tested) the world on the main branch from time to time, especially during RC (release candidate) phases
+  of development.
+* Let us know of long unavailabilities.
+
+
+## Becoming a World Maintainer
+
+### Adding a World
+
+When we merge your world into the core Archipelago repository, you automatically become world maintainer unless you
+nominate someone else (i.e. there are multiple devs).
+
+### Getting Voted
+
+When a world is unmaintained, the [core maintainers](https://github.com/orgs/ArchipelagoMW/people)
+can vote for a new maintainer if there is a candidate.
+For a vote to pass, the majority of participating core maintainers must vote in the affirmative.
+The time limit is 1 week, but can end early if the majority is reached earlier.
+Voting shall be conducted on Discord in #archipelago-dev.
+
+
+## Dropping out
+
+### Resigning
+
+A world maintainer can resign. If no new maintainer steps up and gets voted, the world becomes unmaintained.
+
+### Getting Voted out
+
+A world maintainer can be voted out by the [core maintainers](https://github.com/orgs/ArchipelagoMW/people),
+for example when they become unreachable.
+For a vote to pass, the majority of participating core maintainers must vote in the affirmative.
+The time limit is 2 weeks, but can end early if the majority is reached earlier AND the world maintainer was pinged and
+made their case or was pinged and has been unreachable for more than 2 weeks already.
+Voting shall be conducted on Discord in #archipelago-dev. Commits that are a direct result of the voting shall include
+date, voting members and final result in the commit message.
+
+
+## Handling of Unmaintained Worlds
+
+As long as worlds are known to work for the most part, they can stay included. Once a world becomes broken it shall be
+moved from `worlds/` to `worlds_disabled/`.