Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
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Arc Raiders devs wanted to make it an adventure game more than a shooter: 'We saw more potential in allowing…
Embark's Arc Raiders has pivoted from a shooter-focused experience to emphasize adventure and player exploration. Production director Caio Braga stated that the team saw more potential in allowing players to explore the game's sandbox environments rather than solely focusing on combat.
Remedy's FBC: Firebreak won't get more content updates, but a Friend's Pass and price reduction should help the game find players "for years to come"
Remedy Entertainment has announced that FBC: Firebreak will not receive further content updates, marking the end of its development cycle less than a year after launch. To encourage player engagement, the game will feature a Friend's Pass for free multiplayer access and a permanent price reduction to $19.99 for the base game. The studio acknowledged the game's performance as a valuable learning experience, especially as their first self-published online multiplayer title.
Sony Reportedly Issuing Automatic Refunds For Additional Content Bought For Short-Lived Live Service, Highguard - IGN
Sony is automatically refunding players for additional content purchased for the short-lived live service game Highguard, which shut down on March 12. The game, developed by Wildlight and backed by Tencent, experienced a rapid decline in player numbers after its January launch. This follows a similar pattern to another PlayStation flop, Concord, which also shut down shortly after release.
Ubisoft names general managers of Creative Houses 3 and 5, Creative Network
Ubisoft has appointed Julien Bares as general manager of its new Creative Houses 3 and 5, focusing on live service, mobile, and casual games. Thomas Andrén has been named general manager of the newly-created Creative Network arm, designed to provide production support across studios. These appointments are part of Ubisoft's ongoing restructuring efforts.
Arc Raiders boss says Marathon has "done a really good job" fixing things after "heavily criticized" technical test: "That's unusual. So credit to that team"
Patrick Söderlund, CEO of Embark Studios, praised Bungie's handling of feedback following Marathon's technical test. He noted that the team has effectively addressed criticisms and improved the game, highlighting the unusual speed of these changes. Söderlund expressed hope for Marathon's success in the competitive live-service market.
Five Reasons Gaming Can Help With Addiction Recovery - Unigamesity
The year 2026 is anticipated to be a significant period for the video game industry, marked by technological advancements, evolving gameplay mechanics, and a focus on narrative-driven experiences. Innovations in AI, procedural generation, and streaming technologies are expected to enhance immersion and accessibility. Live-service models and cross-platform play will continue to dominate, fostering community engagement and long-term player investment across various genres and platforms.
Games Inbox: Is Requiem the best Resident Evil game?
Readers discuss their thoughts on Resident Evil Requiem, with some considering it among the best in the series, though slightly behind remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 4. The article also touches on Microsoft's lack of live service games, the potential of Crimson Desert, early gaming memories, and the advancements in graphics technology like ray tracing and upscaling.
Destiny 2’s Player Count Crashes 91% Since Edge of Fate Launch
Destiny 2 has experienced a significant decline in its player count, with a 91% drop since the launch of the Edge of Fate expansion and a 97% decrease since The Final Shape. This analysis explores potential reasons for the exodus, including content droughts, the delay of the Shadow and Order update, and Bungie's focus on developing Marathon alongside maintaining Destiny 2. The article questions the sustainability of the current live-service model for Destiny 2 and suggests a fundamental rethink may be necessary.
Ghost of Yōtei: Legends Review – In the Presence of a Legend
Ghost of Yōtei: Legends offers a fun and content-rich co-op experience, building upon the foundation of Ghost of Tsushima: Legends. The mode features four distinct classes, a straightforward gear grind, and numerous unlocks without microtransactions. Despite some balancing issues and a steep difficulty curve, the core combat remains satisfying, and the campaign provides variety, with potential for future growth.
Gotham Knights Dev Warner Bros Montreal Reportedly Hit by Layoffs
Warner Bros. Games Montreal, the studio behind Gotham Knights and Batman: Arkham Origins, has reportedly experienced layoffs, with several employees announcing their job searches on LinkedIn. While Warner Bros. has not officially confirmed the cuts, the news follows a broader trend of industry-wide layoffs and comes after a period of financial struggles for Warner Bros. Games, marked by the underperformance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus.
Marvel Rivals Wants Some Characters To Make You Say "Wait, Who?'"
Marvel Rivals executive producer Danny Koo discussed the game's character roster strategy, stating that approximately 70% are 'greatest hits' characters, 25% are curveballs, and 5% are deep cuts. Koo emphasized that the game aims to introduce characters as if it's the player's first encounter with them, making the art style appealing to a wider audience.
Marvel Rivals' Staying Power Comes Down To One Key Strategy
Marvel Rivals, a free-to-play live-service game, is maintaining momentum through a strategy of constant updates and community monitoring, according to executive producer Danny Koo. Koo believes there is ample space for both live-service and single-player games to coexist and that adaptability is key to success in the evolving video game industry. The game is also planning events throughout 2026 to tie into upcoming Avengers movie releases.
Have Gamers Become Too Comfortable With Sequels and Remakes?
The article discusses the increasing prevalence of sequels and remakes in the gaming industry, questioning if gamers have become too comfortable with familiar titles. While acknowledging that some sequels and remakes push innovation, the author notes a decline in the number of new intellectual properties being developed and risks taken by major publishers due to rising development costs and the desire for guaranteed audiences.
Marathon Review In Progress: Just getting started
This review of Marathon is in its early stages, with the author focusing on the broader context of gamer reactions to game development and live service titles. The piece criticizes what it perceives as excessive negativity and hate directed towards various games, regardless of their single-player or live service nature.
Marathon Launch Review: Bungie’s extraction shooter is a hostile beast worth taming | VGC
Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, is described as a hostile but rewarding experience. The article touches on the broader gaming landscape, criticizing excessive negativity towards both live service and single-player titles, and uses examples like Destiny, God of War, and The Last of Us to illustrate points about game development and player reception.
GTA Online’s $1.5M Community Showcase Reveals Rockstar’s Creator Economy Strategy
Rockstar Games is implementing a new strategy for GTA Online by heavily featuring its Community Series Showcase, offering substantial in-game bonuses to players and spotlighting user-generated content. This approach emphasizes the creator economy, mirroring trends seen in games like Fortnite and Roblox, and suggests a long-term plan for player engagement and content creation within the GTA ecosystem, potentially influencing future titles.
Overwatch director celebrates no longer being "the lowest-rated game on Steam," but admits he's "not sure what it would take for us to move up to a positive score at this point"
Overwatch game director Aaron Keller expressed satisfaction that the game is no longer the lowest-rated on Steam, though he is unsure what it would take to achieve a positive score. He compared running a live-service game to a relationship, emphasizing the team's efforts to involve players in development.
Amidst high profile live service failures, Arc Raiders production director says he hopes other studios are 'given the same chance we had, because it's so hard to put a game out'
Embark Studios' production director Caio Braga stated that many live service games fail because they are not given enough development time to pivot and reinvent themselves, unlike Arc Raiders. He hopes other studios receive similar creative freedom to adjust their projects, as game development is not an exact formula and often requires significant changes to succeed.
"They're not good enough," joke devs behind the "self-feeding" horror giant still in the Steam Top 50 while Friday the 13th, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Evil Dead multiplayers rot
Developers behind the long-standing asymmetrical survival horror game Dead by Daylight attribute its continued success to strategic choices and player freedom, contrasting it with the struggles of newer titles like Evil Dead: The Game and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. They suggest that while licensed games offer deep dives into universes, Dead by Daylight's flexibility with original content and collaborations allows for broader appeal and sustained engagement.
Epic design lead says V-Bucks price increase is a necessary evil, but players aren’t impressed: ‘We need to fight this hard’
Epic Games is increasing the price of V-Bucks, Fortnite's premium currency, by approximately 20%, a move defended by lead designer Andre Balta as necessary for continued development. Players have reacted negatively, with some calling for a boycott and expressing concerns that the focus has shifted from gameplay to microtransactions and collaborations.