Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
Latest coverage
Arc Raiders devs "were super unhappy" and "super tired" after the shooter's huge launch, lead says, causing Embark to change direction to avoid burnout
Embark Studios' executive producer Aleksander Grøndal revealed that the development team behind Arc Raiders experienced significant burnout and unhappiness due to the pressures of maintaining a live-service game. The studio is now shifting its approach to avoid developer exhaustion and improve work-life balance, drawing on past negative experiences from Electronic Arts.
Diablo IV will keep adding seasons even after Diablo V launches – as long as players keep showing up
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that Diablo IV will continue to receive seasonal content updates as long as the player community remains active, similar to Diablo II and Diablo III. Game director Brent Gibson stated that this approach offers narrative freedom and that player engagement will determine the longevity of seasonal content.
Diablo IV ska fortsätta att få säsonger även efter Diablo V-släppet
Blizzard Entertainment plans to continue supporting Diablo IV with seasons as long as players remain engaged, even after the release of Diablo V. While no further expansions are planned for Diablo IV beyond Lord of Hatred, the game will not be abandoned. Director Brent Gibson stated that seasons will continue to roll out, similar to Diablo II and Diablo III, potentially shifting to a rotation of past seasonal content.
I perished in the flesh pipes of Darktide's Depths of the Damned update, and you will too
Fatshark has released the 'Depths of the Damned' update for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, introducing a large new mission set in Tertium's water treatment facility. The update also includes new weapons and features, continuing the game's live service model with challenging new content.
'We were constantly overshooting our capacity:' Arc Raiders exec says success resulted in burnout
Aleksander Grøndal, executive producer at Embark Studios, discussed the intense challenges of live service game development, particularly for Arc Raiders. He revealed that the team is exhausted from the constant pressure to produce content for over 16 million players, leading to burnout and a need to re-evaluate workflows. Grøndal also shared a personal story of severe burnout during his tenure at Electronic Arts, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance for long-term success.
Marvel’s Wolverine Is Holding Its Own Against PlayStation’s Live-Service Giants
Marvel's Wolverine has achieved commercial success despite mixed critical reception and facing competition from live-service giants. The game ranked seventh in weekly active users on PlayStation charts, indicating strong engagement for a single-player title. While its long-term commercial tail is expected to be shorter than that of Marvel's Spider-Man, brand recognition and future marketing beats are anticipated to drive continued sales.
PHYSINT Reportedly Alters Budgets Following Xbox Switch
Reports suggest that Hideo Kojima's new Xbox game, Physint, has a significantly smaller budget than initially rumored, potentially around $150 million, compared to the $400 million figure speculated for Sony's involvement. This comes amid Xbox's efforts to improve its image and Sony's struggles with live-service titles, with sources indicating Physint is behind schedule.
Bedah Patch Baru Genshin Impact & Honkai: Star Rail: Karakter Bintang 5 Baru, Ekspansi Wilayah, & Fitur QoL 2026
HoYoverse has released a major update for Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, introducing new 5-star characters, expanded exploration areas, and significant Quality of Life improvements. The update, slated for 2026, also includes adjustments to game mechanics and endgame content, aiming to enhance player experience and streamline resource management.
The Last of Us Has Two “Very Exciting New Projects” in the “Very Early Stages,” Says Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog president Neil Druckmann confirmed that two new projects for The Last of Us series are in the very early stages of development. These projects aim to expand the established canon beyond the first two games. The studio also previously cancelled an online-only title for the series, shifting focus back to single-player, narrative-driven experiences.
Diablo 4 seasons will continue after Diablo 5 launches "similar" to Diablo 2 and 3, Blizzard confirms
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that Diablo 4 will continue to receive seasonal updates even after the launch of Diablo 5. Game director Brent Gibson stated that seasons will be supported as long as the community remains engaged, drawing parallels to the ongoing support for Diablo 2 and Diablo 3. This approach suggests Diablo 4's seasonal content will shift to a maintenance mode with rotating themes once Diablo 5 becomes the primary focus.
"It's a nice story to tell": How DICE bounced back from Battlefield 2042's disastrous launch to release the blockbuster Battlefield 6
DICE VP and GM Rebecka Coutaz details how the studio recovered from the disastrous launch of Battlefield 2042 to achieve success with Battlefield 6. The turnaround involved reorganizing development, listening to player feedback, and empowering teams across multiple studios, leading to Battlefield 6 selling seven million units in three days.
Diablo 4's 30th anniversary event is "pretty distasteful," Path of Exile co-creator says: "Games should have respect for their core storylines"
Chris Wilson, co-creator of Path of Exile, has criticized Blizzard's handling of Diablo 4's future and its 30th-anniversary event, Season of Hell's Legacy. Wilson believes the strategy disrespects the game's core storylines and antagonists, citing the return of Deckard Cain and the casual treatment of Diablo himself as examples. He expresses tentative hope for Diablo 5.
We will never get anything like Final Fantasy 7 Remake again
The Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy is an extraordinary achievement in modern game development, delivering hundreds of hours of content across three ambitious titles in just seven years. However, the article argues that such a feat is unsustainable due to ballooning budgets and industry trends favoring safe bets and live-service models, making it unlikely for similar large-scale projects to emerge.
Games companies should try to appeal more to older people - Reader’s Feature
A reader argues that game publishers should focus more on appealing to older adults, given the rising average age of gamers, rather than solely targeting younger demographics. The author suggests that current industry trends, particularly the focus on live service games and microtransactions, alienate this larger, older audience who may not be as interested in these models.
Celebrate Delta Force’s 2nd Anniversary With New Ways to Play, Exclusive Rewards, and More
Delta Force is celebrating its second anniversary with the launch of Season Reorientation, introducing new gameplay features, exclusive rewards, and a focus on player feedback. Game Director Shadow Guo highlighted changes aimed at improving the player experience, such as enhanced matchmaking, streamlined loadout systems, and new map content like Layali Grove 2.0 and Polaris Patrol. The anniversary celebration, starting September 26, will also feature daily tasks for limited-time tickets and new cosmetic items, alongside the continuation of its esports scene with RISE Series Season 2 and the Delta Force Invitational.
The future of Marathon includes a fungus-filled Perimeter, a social hub, and a shift "beyond extraction"
Bungie is shifting the future of Marathon away from a purely extraction-based shooter towards a broader live service model. Upcoming updates will include new PvE modes, a Team Deathmatch PvP option, a visually overhauled Perimeter zone with a fungus infection, and a new social hub. The developer aims to broaden the game's appeal beyond its initial cutthroat PvPvE focus, a move that is met with some frustration given the current market for live service games.
Call Of Duty Is Finally Giving Players What They Want
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will introduce a new filter allowing players to choose whether to see immersive, thematically appropriate operator skins or the more outlandish cosmetic skins from previous titles in Warzone. This highly requested feature aims to bridge the gap between players seeking immersion and those who prefer vibrant, non-traditional cosmetics. The filter will be off by default and only affects the user's personal game view.
It's 24 years since Xbox bought Rare and things have only got worse for everyone
This article analyzes the 24th anniversary of Microsoft's acquisition of Rare, arguing it was an ominous sign for Xbox's current struggles. The piece details Rare's history, its shift from Nintendo exclusivity to Xbox, and the subsequent decline in quality and sales, culminating in its current state under Activision and focus on Sea of Thieves.
Rainbow Six Siege Dev On Competing With GTA 6 And Why There Are No Plans For Siege 2
Ubisoft's Joshua Mills, creative director for Rainbow Six Siege, acknowledges that Grand Theft Auto 6's November 2026 release will impact player numbers but expects the effect to be temporary. He stated that the team will focus on rewarding existing players and has no current plans for a 'Siege 2', opting instead for updates like 'Siege X' due to the significant undertaking of a full sequel. The Rainbow Six universe will also expand with the turn-based tactical game, Rainbow Six Siege Tactics, in 2027.
Arc Raiders’ Battle Pass Won’t Be Totally Free Anymore, But It’ll Pay For Itself
Embark Studios is changing the battle pass system for Arc Raiders with the upcoming 'Frozen Trail' update on October 8. While the update is free, the new 'Reward Pass' will feature a premium track costing approximately $10 USD, though it is designed to pay for itself by offering more Raider Tokens upon completion. The update also introduces new maps, enemies, gameplay mechanics, and customization options.