Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
Latest coverage
Marvel Rivals lookalike Project Comet is another free-to-play game coming soon
A leaked trailer for Project Comet, a new free-to-play action RPG from Scopely, has surfaced, suggesting a game similar in style to Marvel Rivals. The mobile title, which may also come to PC with crossplay, features characters like Spider-Man and Doctor Strange teaming up. This follows NetEase's earlier mobile title Marvel Mystic Mayhem, which was shut down.
The Naughty Dog news has me optimistic about the PS5 again - Reader's Feature
A reader expresses optimism about the future of PlayStation following Naughty Dog's confirmation of multiple new game projects, including two The Last of Us titles and a new Uncharted game. The author criticizes Sony's recent focus on live service games and high budgets, which they believe has led to a decline in game quality and reliability on the PlayStation 5.
End Of Abyss Patch Fixes Most Of My Complaints Just One Day After Launch
Section 9 Interactive has released a patch for End of Abyss, addressing most of the issues that were highlighted in recent reviews, including map inaccuracies. This rapid post-launch update has made parts of the game's initial reviews quickly outdated, a rare occurrence for a single-player title.
2XKO needed 'hundreds of thousands' of daily active users to survive, says Riot Games CPO
Riot Games' fighting game 2XKO required hundreds of thousands of daily active users to remain sustainable before its discontinuation. CPO Marc Merrill stated that the game's retention and engagement metrics did not meet the high bar needed for its cost structure. He compared its potential success to Street Fighter 6, noting that 2XKO's chances might have been better if released earlier, but internal strategic misalignment also contributed to its downfall.
Riot needed absurd player counts 'in the high hundreds of thousands, if not millions' for 2XKO, dooming it…
Riot Games has canceled the development of its fighting game 2XKO, with co-founder Merrill stating that the game would have required "high hundreds of thousands, if not millions" of monthly active users to sustain as a live service. This target is deemed unrealistic compared to successful titles like Street Fighter 6 and Guilty Gear: Strive. The decision has led to layoffs and raises questions about Riot's market research and confidence in niche genres.
2XKO would have needed an MAU base "in the high hundreds of thousands, if not millions" to succeed
Riot Games CPO Marc Merrill stated that 2XKO would have required hundreds of thousands to millions of monthly active users to succeed as a live service game. The game, which ended active development in August, was too costly to operate relative to its stagnant engagement. Merrill also cited the release of Street Fighter 6 as a factor, suggesting 2XKO might have fared better if launched earlier.
Why Shorter Games Are Finding a New Audience Among Modern Players
Modern players are increasingly valuing shorter, more focused game experiences over lengthy, open-world titles due to time constraints and the abundance of entertainment options. This shift in player preference is influencing game design, with developers prioritizing concise gameplay loops, clear endings, and manageable commitments. While not replacing larger games, shorter titles offer a distinct value proposition of completion and memorable experiences.
PUBG extraction shooter Black Budget canned less than a year from reveal, after Krafton decide it won't "deliver an experience players could enjoy over the long term"
Krafton has cancelled the development of PUBG: Black Budget, an extraction shooter spin-off, less than a year after its reveal. The company cited a lack of confidence that the game's current direction would provide a long-term enjoyable experience for players. PUBG Studios stated that lessons learned will be applied to future projects.
PUBG: Black Budget Cancelled, Krafton Pulls The Plug Over Engagement Concerns
Krafton has cancelled the development of PUBG: Black Budget, an extraction spin-off of PUBG: Battlegrounds, citing concerns about long-term player engagement. The studio is reportedly shifting focus to other projects, including the Subnautica franchise, while acknowledging the competitive landscape of live-service games.
ARC Raiders head dev admits maintaining work-life balance and live service updates have been challenging
Embark Studios executive producer Aleksander Grøndal admitted that the development team for ARC Raiders is experiencing burnout due to the challenges of maintaining a live service game and meeting content demands. The studio is re-evaluating its approach to prioritize developer well-being and improve update quality. Grøndal also discussed ongoing efforts to combat cheating and matchmaking abuse.
PUBG: Black Budget Canceled, Joining Live-Service Graveyard
Krafton has canceled the development of its extraction shooter spin-off, PUBG: Black Budget, citing that it wasn't fun enough for long-term player engagement. This marks the second PUBG spin-off to be shut down, following PUBG: Blindspot. The publisher believes the live-service genre is challenging to succeed in, with many games failing to retain players.
Big Walk made more money than Counter-Strike and Warcraft in August
New data from August reveals that Big Walk and Star Wars Zero Company achieved significant revenue on PC, outperforming established titles like Counter-Strike and World of Warcraft. Big Walk sold over a million copies in its first six days, while Star Wars Zero Company, despite a late launch, also performed strongly. Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls showed mixed results, with a decent console performance but a disappointing PC launch.
PC and console revenue charts led by new releases in August | Newzoo charts
New releases like EA Sports Madden NFL 27 and Big Walk led August's revenue charts, while established titles like Fortnite and Helldivers 2 saw significant growth in monthly active users. Collaborations and cross-media tie-ins, such as those in Fortnite and Marvel's Spider-Man 2, were key drivers for audience expansion.
Games Inbox: Will Naughty Dog make a new Uncharted game?
Readers discuss Naughty Dog's potential future projects, including a new Uncharted game or The Last of Us Part III, alongside speculation about upcoming console generations. Other topics include criticisms of Football Manager's engine change, Grand Theft Auto VI's lack of theme park parody, and the state of the video game industry.
Sony’s Helldivers Movie Has Been Pushed Back
Sony Pictures has delayed the release of the Helldivers movie from November 10, 2027, to June 9, 2028. While the delay might indicate confidence, it raises questions about the game's relevance by then, especially for a live-service title. Alan Ritchson is set to star, replacing Jason Momoa, with Justin Lin directing.
Arc Raiders' executive producer explains how he 'wasn't completely prepared for how hard' a live service game would be and warns against the dangers of burnout
Embark's executive producer Aleksander Grøndal admits the studio underestimated the difficulty of developing a live service game like Arc Raiders, leading to team burnout and player dissatisfaction. He warns against prioritizing content speed over developer well-being and suggests a more sustainable, long-term approach is necessary for creating a better game.
Dune Awakening's creative director on copying Hollywood, in-game advertising, and why style beats photorealism
Funcom's Chief Creative Officer Joel Bylos discusses Dune Awakening's development, including its relationship with Legendary and the shift towards more stylized graphics over photorealism. He also touches on evolving business models in live service games and the future of gaming hardware.
"Ultimately, we asked 'why are we doing this?'": the creators of Arc Raiders wildly underestimated how hard it is to make a live service game
Embark Studios executive producer Aleksander Grøndal admitted the team significantly underestimated the difficulty of creating a live service game for Arc Raiders, leading to team burnout and unsustainable update schedules. The studio has since shifted to larger, biannual content drops to improve quality and team well-being, drawing on lessons learned from Grøndal's past experiences with burnout at Electronic Arts.
ARC Raiders Stopped Monthly Updates to Avoid Developer Burnout, Says Executive Producer
Embark Studios has stopped monthly updates for its live-service shooter ARC Raiders due to developer burnout. Executive producer Aleksander Grøndal stated that the team was overshooting capacity and that a change in workflow is necessary to improve quality and ensure long-term sustainability. Grøndal also shared a personal experience with burnout at Electronic Arts.
Naughty Dog is working on new The Last Of Us 'projects'
Naughty Dog has announced that it is working on new projects within The Last of Us universe, which will expand the existing canon. Studio director Neil Druckmann stated these are in the very early stages and did not specify if they are standalone games or expansions. The studio is also developing a new ambitious science fiction game titled Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, with details expected in 2027.
