Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
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The next Mass Effect would have had 'a level of autonomy and choice that no other game has been able to…
A former cinematic supervisor at BioWare, Tony de Waal, has spoken about the ambitious plans for the now-canceled Mass Effect 4, which aimed for unprecedented player autonomy. The studio's closure, part of a restructuring at EA following its acquisition by Saudi Arabia's PIF, has led to layoffs and a shift towards live service games, leaving many talented developers seeking new employment.
PS6 and Project Helix Could Set a Worrying New Price Benchmark
Rumors suggest that the upcoming PlayStation 6 and Xbox's Project Helix consoles could see significant price increases due to rising hardware component costs, potentially reaching $1,200 to $1,800. This marks a worrying trend for the accessibility of next-generation gaming hardware, with potential delays also indicated.
BioWare shut down and new Mass Effect cancelled two months after EA sale
Legendary RPG developer BioWare is closing down, and early development on the next Mass Effect project has been cancelled, following Electronic Arts' sale to private investors. The closure results in approximately 50 layoffs at BioWare and 400 across EA, attributed to the significant debt incurred from the acquisition. This move marks the end of an era for a studio known for narrative-driven titles like Baldur's Gate and Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic.
EA closes Mass Effect, Dragon Age creator BioWare after 30 years of game development
Electronic Arts has announced the closure of BioWare, the acclaimed studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, after 30 years of development. The closure is accompanied by significant layoffs across EA, including 50 employees at BioWare working on a new Mass Effect title, which has now been canceled. This decision follows a recent acquisition of EA and a strategic review of the company's portfolio.
"Players want to engage with brands, not just consume them" – Mattel on its new Game Studios arm, why it's releasing on Roblox, and what it learnt from NetEase
Mattel has launched Mattel Game Studios to develop games based on its intellectual property, aiming to extend physical play into the virtual world. The company, which acquired its joint venture with NetEase, will focus on internally developed titles and strategic partnerships, emphasizing sustained engagement and authentic brand experiences. Mattel sees gaming as a core pillar of its entertainment ecosystem, with a long-term vision for its new studio to become a leading entertainment-based game developer and publisher.
Former Marathon director says Bungie had "a lot of disagreements" about what to do with the game, which it is…
Former Marathon game director Joe Zeigler revealed that Bungie experienced significant internal disagreements regarding the game's direction. He described the studio as operating in two worlds: one with immense legacy pressure and another characterized by an egoless pursuit of improvement. Zeigler's comments come after Marathon's mixed reception and subsequent layoffs at Bungie.
Dune: Awakening studio faces layoffs as it restructures following console release
Norwegian developer Funcom is undergoing layoffs and restructuring following the console release of Dune: Awakening. Long-time CEO Rui Casais is stepping down, replaced by Scott Junior, as the company shifts from peak development to live service operations. This transition necessitates a reduction in the development team size, impacting employees who worked on Dune: Awakening.
The Outlast Trials' initial playtests went poorly: Designer says 6-year development took 'a f**king long…
Red Barrels co-founder Philippe Morin revealed that The Outlast Trials underwent a six-year development cycle filled with numerous prototypes and a struggle to balance replayability with the core Outlast experience. Despite initial playtest failures, the game has found success as a live service title, though player reception to its use of AI-generated imagery is mixed.
Evil Empire "will always miss Dead Cells," but it's already working on its dream collab
Evil Empire's CEO Thomas Pfeiffer and Head of Business Ben Laulan reflect on their studio's origins supporting Dead Cells and discuss future projects. While they express nostalgia for Dead Cells, they are excited about their current work on The Rogue Prince of Persia, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, and a secret dream collaboration they are already developing.
No Publisher Wanted Outlast. 60 Million Players Later, The Horror Juggernaut Is Doing Just Fine.
Red Barrels' horror series Outlast, which began as a debut effort from a 10-person team with no publisher interest, has now attracted over 60 million players. The studio's founders, who left AAA studios, self-funded the first game and learned publishing on the fly, eventually finding success with the signature night-vision camera and unflinching gore. The latest entry, The Outlast Trials, has become their most successful game, embracing live-service elements while staying true to the series' core horror identity.
Funcom is laying off yet more developers as it pivots to supporting Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles
Funcom is undergoing a restructuring that will lead to layoffs as the company pivots to focus solely on supporting its existing live service games, Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles. CEO Rui Casais will depart after the reorganization, with Scott Junior set to take over. This shift follows Dune: Awakening's move away from MMO elements and the addition of solo and PvE modes.
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has cut all ties with the game
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan stated in a recent interview that he has completely cut ties with the game and has not played or looked up anything related to it in the five years since leaving Blizzard Entertainment. Kaplan cited the immense pressure from Activision as a factor in his departure.
All The Records GTA 6 Will Break, We Think
Grand Theft Auto 6 is poised to break numerous sales records upon its November 19 release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Building on the immense success of Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption II, analysts project record-breaking revenue and preorder numbers, potentially exceeding $2 billion based on early estimates. Despite Take-Two Interactive's cautious approach to disclosing preorder figures, the game's higher price point and the enduring popularity of the franchise suggest unprecedented commercial success.
Wardogs devs rush to fix XP exploit allowing players to quickly unlock tanks and stomp competition on Season 2's first day
Wardogs developers Bulkhead and Team17 have fixed an exploit that allowed players to quickly unlock tanks on the first day of Season 2. The exploit involved earning excessive XP through a progression bug, which has now been patched. Players who abused the exploit extensively will receive 24-hour bans, while the developers acknowledged mistakes and addressed other balance issues.
Control Resonant becomes the fastest-selling game in Remedy's history, outpacing Alan Wake 2 and the original Control
Control Resonant has become Remedy Entertainment's fastest-selling game, surpassing 1 million copies sold in just three weeks. CEO Jean-Charles Gaudechon called it a "very strong start" for the studio's first large-scale self-published title, highlighting its success despite a competitive release window. The game is connecting with both existing fans and new players, strengthening the long-term potential of the Control franchise.
'There is no secret sauce' to a successful live service game according to Overwatch's associate game director, but knowing your audience is a good start
Overwatch's associate game director Alec Dawson and game director Aaron Keller discuss the challenges and strategies behind maintaining a successful live service game. They emphasize that there is no single 'secret sauce,' but rather a consistent focus on making good decisions daily, understanding player needs for novelty and variety within a competitive framework, and ensuring players feel in control of their actions.
Looking back on 10 years of Overwatch, the promises kept, and where Team 4 goes from here
Overwatch celebrates its 10th anniversary, reflecting on its journey as a live service game. Despite past challenges like content droughts and the disappointment surrounding Overwatch 2's PvE, the game is now considered to be in its best state, with developers Aaron Keller and Alec Dawson highlighting the team's passion, commitment to player feedback, and a renewed focus on the core experience. The developers are planning content years in advance, aiming to keep the game fresh and engaging for its dedicated player base.
Funcom to lay off staff as it pivots to focusing solely on Conan Exiles and Dune: Awakening
Funcom is undergoing a significant restructuring, pivoting to focus exclusively on the live operations of Conan Exiles and Dune: Awakening. This decision will result in staff layoffs, with CEO Rui Casais departing at the end of the year to be replaced by Scott Junior. The company aims to support and grow these two titles and their communities for the foreseeable future.
Despite Huge Changes For The Series, Halo Fest 2026 Is Going Forward, And News Is Coming Soon
Halo Fest 2026 is proceeding as planned from December 11-13 in Seattle, despite significant layoffs at Halo Studios and the transition of future game development to Activision. Halo Studios director Tashi confirmed that news regarding the event and "relevant game info" for existing titles will be shared this week. The event will celebrate the Halo community and its 25th anniversary, featuring appearances from voice actors Steve Downes and Jen Taylor.
Xbox CEO: We Must Rely On The Past, But We Cannot Rely On The Past
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma emphasized the need for Microsoft's gaming division to balance reliance on major franchises with the creation of new intellectual property for long-term survival. While acknowledging the importance of established titles like Halo and Gears of War, Sharma stressed that innovation and new IP are crucial to reaching new audiences and preventing stagnation.