Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
Latest coverage
Blizzard’s Record Revenue Year Makes Diablo 5 a Matter of When, Not If
Blizzard Entertainment has achieved its third-best fiscal year for revenue, largely driven by Diablo 4 and Overwatch. The company, now part of Microsoft's Xbox division, is reportedly the top-performing studio. This financial success, coupled with continued support for Diablo 4 through expansions, suggests that a Diablo 5 is highly probable in the future, though an announcement is not expected for several years.
Lifting together: How Warframe became one of the world's best multiplayer games
Warframe has evolved from a middling 2013 release into a highly successful live service game, maintaining a strong player base and positive reception through continuous development and community engagement. Digital Extremes' philosophy of taking risks, iterating based on player feedback, and fostering a strong community has been key to its resilience and ongoing popularity, even as other multiplayer games struggle.
Battlefield 6 player claims to have received Steam refund after 470 hours due to surprise mode removal
A Steam user claims to have received a full refund for Battlefield 6 after 470 hours of playtime due to the surprise removal of popular game modes, including Rush. This action, taken by Battlefield Studios to consolidate player bases, has led to significant backlash and negative reviews on Steam.
Overwatch’s Battle Pass Overhaul Will Let You Swap Out Skins You Don’t Want
Overwatch is overhauling its battle pass system for Season 4, introducing a multi-track system that allows players to replace unwanted legendary skins. Product director Chris McCabe explained that players can "hack" one legendary skin per premium battle pass purchase to replace it with a curated selection of past shop and loot box skins. This change aims to give players more control over the rewards they unlock, with the battle pass being divided into six choosable tracks instead of a single linear progression.
Overwatch's old battle passes are finally coming back permanently starting next month, but some of the rewards will…
Blizzard Entertainment is permanently reintroducing old battle passes into Overwatch starting next month, aligning the game with other live service titles. While specific details are pending, a past battle pass will become available halfway through each season, though premium currency, player titles, and Mythic skins will be excluded. This change aims to reduce FOMO and allow players to unlock cosmetics for heroes they actively play.
Blizzard Is Reportedly Xbox’s New Top Studio
Blizzard Entertainment has reportedly been named Xbox's top-performing studio for the past fiscal year, according to internal emails from Blizzard president Johanna Faries. The studio achieved its third-highest revenue in history, driven by strong performance from Diablo 4 and Overwatch, and has seen consecutive years of growth since 2017. This news comes ahead of BlizzCon in September, where further announcements about Blizzard's future are expected.
EA FC 27 isn’t in trouble yet, but the warning signs are everywhere
Despite Electronic Arts's continued sales success with the EA Sports FC franchise, warning signs suggest potential future trouble. A shift in player sentiment, particularly among younger demographics, indicates a growing fatigue with the series's focus on Ultimate Team and microtransactions, potentially impacting long-term engagement and revenue.
Deadlock isn't even 'out' yet, but Valve's new game is a true monster in the making
Despite not being officially released, Valve's new game Deadlock is already attracting significant player numbers on Steam, with daily highs of 75,000 players. This hero shooter MOBA hybrid, set in an alternate-history New York, blends elements of games like Overwatch and Dota 2 with a unique aesthetic and third-person shooter mechanics. The game is currently in early development with limited access, but its engaging gameplay, diverse hero roster, and approachable design suggest it's poised for major success upon its full launch.
Will GTA 6 save the video games industry or destroy it? - Reader’s Feature
A reader speculates on the immense impact Grand Theft Auto 6 will have on the video game industry, considering both its potential to revitalize gaming and the risk of overshadowing all other titles. The article discusses how a highly successful GTA 6 could either elevate the entire industry or lead to a market dominated by a single game, potentially impacting the creation and consumption of other game genres.
Titan Quest 2's new class is a dream for lovers of the Diablo Necromancer
Grimlore Games has released update 0.7.0 for Titan Quest 2, introducing the new Spirit Mastery, which allows players to summon minions and manipulate souls, similar to a Necromancer class. The update also implements a new crafting system with various options for item enhancement and rebalancing across existing masteries. Base movement speed has been increased to address player feedback.
GTA Online will still be supported alongside GTA 6, but don't expect to hear about a new version soon
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed that Grand Theft Auto Online will continue to be supported alongside the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6. While Rockstar Games has not detailed plans for a new iteration of the online component, Zelnick stated that significant resources are dedicated to its ongoing development and support. Pre-order numbers for Grand Theft Auto 6 are reportedly exceptional, though Zelnick urged caution until the game's official release.
Sea of Thieves decouples feature sets from seasons to make sure new ideas are finished before release
Sea of Thieves is changing its development approach to decouple feature releases from seasonal schedules, aiming to ensure new ideas are fully realized before launch. Production Director Drew Stevens explained that future seasons will not be tied to specific feature sets, allowing them to roll out as they are completed. This shift follows a period where the game was described as being in a 'rough place,' with the team now focused on revitalizing the sandbox and giving new features adequate development time.
Dragon Age was always "too niche, too backwards, too old-school" in EA's eyes, former BioWare lead argues
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah argues that Electronic Arts never truly understood the Dragon Age franchise, viewing it as "too niche, too backwards, too old-school" compared to Mass Effect. This alleged misunderstanding led to reported corporate intervention and development shifts, including the eventual reboot of Dragon Age 4 into what became Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which reportedly did not meet sales expectations.
Warframe of Mind: The problem with Warframe’s Dog Days of summer
This article discusses the recurring issue with Warframe's limited-time events, particularly the 'Dog Days' summer event, and how they fail to provide long-term engagement for veteran players. While the game is designed for players to take breaks, the current content update strategy lacks sufficient depth and variety, leading to a feeling of mandatory breaks rather than optional ones. The author hopes future updates will offer more substantial content with longer-lasting appeal.
Investors hate Roblox’ new direction – but a reversal may be impossible | Opinion
Roblox's stock has significantly declined as investors question its shift away from aggressive growth strategies towards more sustainable practices, a move more suited for a mature company. This transition is partly driven by increasing global regulatory scrutiny, particularly concerning child safety and online platform responsibilities, forcing Roblox to adapt despite the impact on its growth-oriented valuation. The company is likely to be valued as a games company rather than a tech firm in the future.
Unsurprisingly, GTA 6 Has Take-Two Predicting A Massively Profitable Year Ahead
Take-Two Interactive is predicting a highly profitable financial year, running from April 2026 to March 2027, with revenue expected to reach $8.2 billion, largely driven by the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6. The publisher anticipates Rockstar Games will contribute 37% of this revenue, with Zynga and the 2K Games label making up the rest. The company also highlighted the continued success of its mobile games and annual sports titles, as well as microtransaction sales from established franchises like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2.
The video games industry is in the hands of monsters and EA is the latest victim
Electronic Arts has been taken private in a $20 billion deal involving debt financed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, a move criticized for its potential negative impact on customers and employees. This acquisition highlights a trend of consolidation in the video game industry, driven by short-term profit motives and leading to job losses and a narrowing focus on profitable franchises like EA Sports FC and Madden NFL.
Why is everyone playing Call of Duty: Black Ops in 2026?
Despite missing features and technical issues, the recent ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II have seen a surge in popularity. The article suggests this resurgence is driven by a desire for the series' simpler, pick-up-and-play gameplay and a nostalgic look back at a less contentious era of online gaming, rather than remakes or updates. It contrasts this with the complexities of modern live service games and acknowledges the problematic aspects of older online communities.
What happens after GTA 6?
The article argues that the era of the Western blockbuster game, heavily reliant on pushing graphical fidelity and realism, is ending, with Grand Theft Auto 6 potentially being the last of its kind. It suggests that while GTA 6 will be a massive success, its focus on hyper-realism may not resonate as strongly with players as it once did, especially as hardware costs rise and other games find success through unique art styles and gameplay innovation. The author posits that future game development may shift towards more diverse and complex experiences rather than an endless pursuit of graphical realism.
Marvel Rivals Season 9.5 update will shrink the game by up to 40GB thanks to a texture revamp from NetEase
NetEase is releasing a Season 9.5 update for Marvel Rivals on August 7 that will significantly reduce the game's file size. The update will shrink the game by up to 40GB on PC and 15GB on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S through texture compression and asset repackaging. While the initial update download will be larger, the final installed size will be considerably smaller.
