Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
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Someone already beat Marathon's pinnacle three-player Compiler boss solo, just to rub salt in the wound of everyone…
A player known as TheSnazzzyRock has achieved the world's first solo completion of the Compiler boss in Marathon's Cryo Archive map, completing the challenging feat in just eight attempts. This accomplishment comes shortly after the game's release and highlights the player's expertise in tackling difficult live service game challenges. Bungie is also implementing a fix to ensure subroutine spawns are guaranteed.
"It was clear to us we needed to get spookier" - how Warframe's next update started as Prop Hunt, but ended up survival horror
Warframe's upcoming update, The Shadowgrapher, introduces its first survival horror game mode, Folie's Hunt. Initially conceived as a Prop Hunt-style experience, the mode evolved significantly to incorporate horror elements, focusing on player vulnerability and an invincible killer clown. Developers Pablo Alonso and Megan Everett discussed the challenges of making a fast-paced sci-fi MMO scary and the iterative design process that led to the final concept.
'We've Sportified Steam Charts' — Warframe Creative Director Rebecca Ford Reveals How Digital Extremes Is Keeping the Live Service Dream Alive
Warframe Creative Director Rebecca Ford discusses Digital Extremes' focus on tracking player engagement through Steam charts and maintaining the live service model. She also touches on upcoming updates for the game and its version on the Nintendo Switch.
Red Storm Entertainment Was Working on 10 Games Before Development Team Was Laid Off – Rumor
Ubisoft's Red Storm Entertainment reportedly had 10 games in development before its development team was laid off, with projects ranging from support for live-service titles like Brawlhalla and Rainbow Six Siege to unannounced concepts. The studio has been refocused to support the Snowdrop Engine and serve as a global IT team following the layoffs, which affected 105 employees.
Overwatch Defies Gaming Physics With 100K+ Player Retention After Surge
Overwatch is demonstrating remarkable player retention, maintaining over 100,000 players a month after a significant surge, a feat unusual for a decade-old game. This sustained engagement is attributed to consistent updates, new content, strong community bonds, and the game's polished, stable experience compared to newer, less complete titles.
Top 12 Most Expensive Video Game Buyouts Of All Time
This article lists the top 12 most expensive video game buyouts, with Microsoft's $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard topping the list. Other major deals include EA's $55 billion sale to an investor consortium and Take-Two's $12.7 billion purchase of Zynga. The analysis highlights trends of industry consolidation and significant investment from entities like Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
BF6 gets a new for fun mode called Shell Shocked, that wasn’t on the roadmap either
EA has surprise-released a new 32-player mode for Battlefield 6 called Shell Shocked, which was not previously on the game's roadmap. The mode features 4 defenders preparing for a minute before facing 28 attackers armed with defibrillators for melee kills, with defenders using sidearms. This new mode aims to add more content for players and leverage user-generated content possibilities within the live service framework.
Epic Explains Its Blend Of Blockbusters And Smaller Games For Weekly Freebies
The Epic Games Store utilizes a mix of blockbuster titles and smaller indie games for its weekly free giveaways, aiming to highlight overlooked games and help studios gain visibility. Participating titles have seen significant increases in player counts on other platforms, and the program has a 16% conversion rate for players who claim a free game and then make a purchase. Epic is also planning to offer free themed cosmetics for Fortnite based on popular games.
Overwatch 2 Players Launch Boycott Against Repetitive Character Skins
Overwatch 2 players are organizing a boycott against Blizzard Entertainment due to perceived favoritism in character cosmetic skins, primarily for Kiriko and Mercy. The community is urging players to "speak with their wallets" by not purchasing skins for these popular heroes, aiming to influence Blizzard's monetization strategy for live service games. This movement highlights player dissatisfaction with the distribution of in-game cosmetics and seeks a more equitable approach across all characters.
The Hunt Is On: Marvel Rivals Season 7 Stalks Into Action Today
Marvel Rivals has launched Season 7: The Hunt Is On, introducing new content and updates to the superhero battle arena. The developers released Dev Vision Vol. 15, offering insights into upcoming features and the game's direction. This season aims to address player feedback and evolve the live-service hero shooter experience.
'Is Marathon a success? Unfortunately, no, not yet' — Former Xbox exec says Bungie's new extraction shooter was built at a scale and cost that the current market 'simply isn't rewarding'
Former Microsoft executive Laura Fryer believes Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon, despite having a dedicated player base, has not yet achieved success due to its high development cost and scale not being rewarded by the current market. She notes that while player numbers are decent for a $40 game in a crowded genre, the studio faces a significant challenge to justify the investment, especially considering Sony's acquisition of Bungie and the underperformance of Destiny 2.
Controversial Space Marine 2 DLC has been made free: 'It's obvious this DLC has failed to meet your…
Saber Interactive has made the controversial Chapter Voice Pack 1 DLC for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 free for all players and is issuing refunds. The $5 DLC, which added new voice lines and face options, received overwhelmingly negative reviews on Steam due to issues and its perceived poor value. The developers apologized for failing to meet player expectations.
US regulator won't follow Europe's lead and stick higher age ratings on games with loot boxes and daily quests, since it might confuse parents
The ESRB in the US will not follow PEGI's lead in assigning higher age ratings for games with loot boxes or daily quests, citing potential confusion for parents. PEGI plans to update its rating criteria to include these features, while the ESRB will continue to base ratings solely on content and context. Both organizations acknowledge the difficulty in balancing informative ratings with parental understanding.
"So that we don't flood the game with amazing loot": Marathon director defends Cryo Archive's weekend-only release in the name of balance, queue times and player prep
Marathon game director Joe Ziegler defended the decision to release the new Cryo Archive map as a weekend-only event, citing the need for player preparation, maintaining game balance by preventing an 'overpowered loot' economy, and ensuring consistent player pools for faster matchmaking. While acknowledging player frustration, Ziegler stated that Bungie is open to future iterations and adjustments for the live service game's content releases.
Bungie admits Marathon's weekend-heavy endgame means 'there are likely some who cannot participate'
Bungie has acknowledged player feedback regarding Marathon's weekend-exclusive endgame activities, Ranked mode and Cryo Archive. Game director Joe Ziegler explained the design choices behind the schedule, which aim to manage gear loss, economy, and player queues. While the team is iterating and open to future adjustments, Ziegler noted that the current structure inherently limits participation for those unable to play during the weekend.
How A Failed Multiplayer Game Just Set The Standard For All Live-Service Games
Despite FBC: Firebreak underperforming commercially, Remedy is keeping the multiplayer game online indefinitely with a final update and a friend pass system. This approach sets a new standard for live-service games, contrasting with the common practice of delisting and shutting down servers for underperforming titles. The article highlights this as a positive development for game preservation and player access in the industry.
To make video games for Gen Z, be authentic
Former Hollywood executive Sharon Tal Yguado stated that while Gen Z and Gen Alpha are not engaging with traditional $70 AAA games, they are actively playing titles like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite. Yguado emphasized that authenticity and community are key to reaching these younger demographics, who prefer influencer recommendations over polished marketing. Astrid Entertainment is developing a co-op game with creative tools specifically for this audience.
Ubisoft Laying Off 100+ Staff and Ending Game Development at Ghost Recon Studio Red Storm Entertainment - IGN
Ubisoft has laid off over 100 employees at Red Storm Entertainment, a studio known for its work on Tom Clancy titles like Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six. The company is also ending game development at the studio, which will now focus on technical work. This is the latest in a series of cost-cutting measures and layoffs across Ubisoft, which has also recently canceled multiple games and closed other studios.
KPop Demon Hunters Tour? Netflix's Gaming Gamble is Wil... | TAG
Several gaming news items are covered, including the announcement of Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness coming to Nintendo Switch Online, Netflix's plans for a KPop Demon Hunters world tour, and Aspyr denying the use of generative AI in Tomb Raider Remastered. Additionally, reviews for Crimson Desert are mixed, Crystal Dynamics faces another round of layoffs, and updates are discussed for Fortnite and Counter Strike 2.
I can finally make the UI of my Series X bright pink after the new Xbox dashboard update
Microsoft is rolling out significant updates to the Xbox dashboard, starting with Xbox Insiders. Key features include enhanced folder creation for up to 10 groups, extensive color customization for the interface, and the ability to disable Quick Resume on a per-game basis. These changes aim to improve user interface customization and ease of use, with most features expected to reach Xbox One consoles as well.
