Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
Latest coverage
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.
EA to Cut Costs by $700 Million Annually, Potential Mass Layoffs Inbound – Rumor
Electronic Arts is reportedly planning to cut $700 million in annual costs following its acquisition by the Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. This move is expected to lead to significant layoffs across the company, despite EA's current financial stability. New investors plan to leverage AI in game development, which could also impact staffing.
Marvel Rivals’ New Hero Looks Like He Walked Straight Out Of Chainsaw Man
Marvel Rivals is introducing a new character named The Hood for Season 9.5: The Mystery of Thebes, voiced by WWE star Damian Priest. The Hood's demon form draws comparisons to the Gun Devil from the popular manga and anime series Chainsaw Man. The game is also launching its Summer Festival event on August 13 and has implemented significant texture compression to reduce its storage size on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
There's no single-player video games in the top 20 most played PS5 games in July
Live service and sports games continue to dominate the most played lists on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with single-player titles absent from the top 20 in July. Fortnite remains the most popular game, with titles like Roblox, Minecraft, and annual sports sequels filling out the charts. Data from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella indicates a strong preference for ongoing multiplayer experiences over traditional offline games.
PlayStation and Xbox's most played games are, once again, exactly what you expect them to be
Analyst Mat Piscatella revealed that the most played games on PlayStation and Xbox remain dominated by long-running live service titles and annual sports games, with minimal changes year-over-year. Fortnite leads both platforms, followed by a familiar lineup including Roblox, Call of Duty, and Grand Theft Auto 5, with minor variations between the console ecosystems.
Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto 5 Continue to Top PS5, Xbox Series X/S Most-Played Charts in the US
Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto 5 continue to dominate the most-played game charts on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in the US, according to data from Circana's Mat Piscatella. The lists are largely comprised of long-running live-service titles and annual sports games, with only a few new releases like Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls and Shift at Midnight making brief appearances in the top 20.
Warframe and Anthem leads on the challenges of sustaining online games that go dark
Developers from Warframe and Anthem discuss the complexities of sustaining online games, particularly concerning server shutdowns and the challenges of making them playable post-closure. They highlight the significant technical, security, and financial hurdles corporations face in preserving these titles, contrasting with the demands of movements like 'Stop Killing Games'.
Halo: Campaign Evolved was the 4th most popular game on Xbox at launch in the US but only 29th on PS5, analyst says
Halo: Campaign Evolved saw a strong launch in the US, ranking fourth in daily active users on Xbox, with 8% of players engaging with the game. However, its performance was lower on PC (14th place, 2% of users) and PlayStation 5 (29th place, 1% of users). Analyst Mat Piscatella noted that while the game is a best-seller on PlayStation 5, the data highlights the challenge new titles face against established live service games.
What if Stop Killing Games win? Anthem, SpaceCraft and Warframe devs on the "massive undertaking" of reverse engineering an always-online game
The article discusses the challenges and importance of game preservation for live service titles, using Warframe as a primary example. It explores the difficulties of reverse engineering always-online games and the efforts of groups like Stop Killing Games to advocate for offline modes and legal requirements for game longevity. Experts like Scott McGregor and Mark Darrah weigh in on the technical and financial hurdles, while the piece also touches on the potential impact of such regulations on the future development of live service games.
Gears of War: E-Day Won’t Have Battle Passes: “No Tour of Duty, No Gimmicks, No B******t
Gears of War: E-Day will not feature battle passes or "gimmicks," with The Coalition stating that almost all cosmetic items will be earnable through gameplay, challenges, achievements, and in-game currency. While premium currency "Iron" will be available for seasonal packs and collaborations, the developers emphasize a fair system focused on player enjoyment rather than an arduous grind.
Final Fantasy 14 is great and all, but Yoshi-P would "tackle completely new game designs and values" if he…
Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida stated that if he were to develop a new online live service title from scratch, he would aim for completely new game designs and values. He explained that for the upcoming expansion Evercold, he chose to steer the MMORPG towards "change" to create more enjoyment and evolve further. Yoshida also mentioned that making sudden changes can be harmful to operations, comparing it to sharp turns while driving fast.
Final Fantasy 14, Monster Hunter, and Animal Crossing top new survey of games Japanese players have spent the most time…
A survey of 5,400 Japanese players revealed the games they have spent the most time playing, with Final Fantasy 14 topping the list. Other notable entries include Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, Animal Crossing New Horizons, and Minecraft, while surprisingly, no Pokemon titles made the top 20.
The Last of Us multiplayer mod has hit a 'big milestone' as it prepares for launch in September
A modder known as Speclizer has announced a significant milestone for their fan-made multiplayer mod for The Last of Us Part II on PC, with the project now supporting 4v4 matches and preparing for a September 2026 launch. This development comes after Sony's cancellation of the official The Last of Us Factions multiplayer game. The mod features a functional leaderboard, new maps, and aims to replicate Naughty Dog's animation quality.
What does GTA Online 2.0 even look like—and, more to the point, what do we even want from Grand Theft Auto 6…
This opinion piece speculates on the future of GTA Online, questioning what "GTA Online 2.0" might look like given the increasing focus on user-generated content and live service platforms. The author considers how Rockstar Games might evolve the multiplayer experience for Grand Theft Auto 6, drawing parallels with other games like Fortnite and Roblox, while also acknowledging the potential challenges in balancing creativity with the core essence of the Grand Theft Auto series.
Discussion time: Have you ever said goodbye to an MMO you've played for 1,000s of hours?
This article discusses the deep emotional and time investment players have in MMOs, using Destiny 2 as a primary example of a game that players eventually have to say goodbye to. It explores the unique bonds formed within these games and the difficulty of moving on, especially when a game doesn't have direct competitors. The author, Sean Martin, reflects on his own experience with Destiny 2 and poses questions to the community about their experiences with MMO farewells.
"The desire for a world you can escape to is stronger than ever": How MMORPGs are flourishing in a multiplayer…
Despite the volatility of the live service game market, MMORPGs continue to flourish by evolving and serving dedicated fanbases. Developers of long-running titles like Final Fantasy 14, The Elder Scrolls Online, and Warframe emphasize community engagement, transparency, and adapting to changing player lifestyles to ensure longevity. These games offer players a persistent world to inhabit and evolve with, a concept that remains highly attractive in the current gaming landscape.
Kids don’t like video games and that’s a massive problem - Reader's Feature
A reader expresses concern that children are not developing a healthy relationship with video games, often preferring mobile titles like Roblox and Minecraft over traditional console games. The author argues that parents' lack of engagement and introduction to age-appropriate titles leads children to associate gaming with low-rent, free-to-play experiences, potentially harming the future of the industry. This trend is seen as a contributing factor to publishers' focus on live service games over single-player experiences.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Secret Ending Seems To Tease A Halo 2 Remake
The secret ending of Halo: Campaign Evolved appears to tease a potential remake of Halo 2. Leaks have previously suggested that remakes of Halo 2 and 3 are in development by the newly rebranded Halo Studios, which is also reportedly working on a live-service title. Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to release on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC on July 28.
Black Flag Resynced beats annual sales expectations in two weeks
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has surpassed Ubisoft's annual sales expectations, selling 3.5 million copies worldwide within its first two weeks. This success contributed to Ubisoft's Q1 fiscal report, which showed net bookings slightly above guidance despite a year-on-year decrease, largely due to a strong performance from the mobile RPG Invincible: Guarding the Globe.
Meccha Chameleon ranks second behind Fortnite in PC revenue for June | Newzoo charts
Meccha Chameleon achieved significant success in June, ranking as the second-highest revenue-generating PC title behind Fortnite according to Newzoo. The indie hit, developed by Lemorion_1224 and Hagneiro, has sold over 15 million copies since its June 10 launch. Newzoo's report also highlighted the sustained commercial momentum of live-service titles and the impact of subscription services on game lifecycles.
