Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
Latest coverage
With Destiny 2 over, Bungie lays off employees 'to align the studio’s resources with its current priorities…
Bungie has announced a significant reduction in force, citing the need to align studio resources with current priorities following the conclusion of Destiny 2's development and the early stages of new projects. Sony's Hermen Hulst confirmed the decision was made after reviewing the studio's long-term direction and resource needs, emphasizing continued support for Marathon and future incubation efforts.
Vague Patch Notes: Who owns the eras of an MMO?
This analysis explores the concept of ownership in MMORPGs, questioning who truly owns specific eras or versions of a game that evolves over time. It argues that while players form strong attachments, the ultimate ownership and decision-making power rests with the development studio, such as Blizzard Entertainment for World of Warcraft. The article suggests that accepting this reality and engaging with the current version of a game is more productive than dwelling on past iterations.
Bungie Confirms Layoffs, “Most” Of Destiny Team Let Go
Bungie has confirmed company-wide layoffs, impacting a significant portion of its workforce, including most of the Destiny 2 team and some members of the Marathon development team. Studio leadership cited Destiny 2 falling short of expectations and the need to align resources with current priorities and future projects. This reorganization follows Sony's acquisition of Bungie in 2022, amidst a broader shift in PlayStation's focus away from live-service games.
Epic Games’ Tim Sweeney is trying to reinvent the metaverse (again) without calling it that
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney is discussing new technologies for massively multiplayer online games, aiming to support millions of concurrent players without complex programming. He also addresses industry challenges like high AAA development costs and player retention in live service games, proposing solutions involving cross-game social links and asset ownership, potentially utilizing blockchain technology.
How Video Game Monetisation Models Have Evolved Beyond Loot Boxes | Invision Game Community
Video game monetization has evolved significantly from a buy-to-own model to include battle passes, cosmetic stores, and premium currencies, largely driven by the shift away from loot boxes due to regulatory scrutiny. Games like Fortnite demonstrate the success of battle pass and cosmetic-focused models, generating substantial revenue and influencing the broader live-service game market. Sustainable growth in the industry now hinges on maintaining player trust through transparent and fair monetization practices.
Evening Reading - June 24, 2026
Shacknews presents its Evening Reading for June 24, 2026, featuring a review of Star Fox, an analysis of Destiny 2's decline, and details on Grand Theft Auto 6's pricing and lack of physical discs. The roundup also includes news on John Carmack's thoughts on Quake, a report of DayZ 2 development, and Micron's financial results.
007 First Light Is Making The Case For Shorter, Sharper AAA Campaigns
This article argues that shorter, focused AAA campaigns can offer superior value compared to bloated open-world or live-service titles. It highlights games like 007 First Light, Marvel's Spider-Man, and Titanfall 2 as examples of delivering quality experiences within reasonable playtimes. The piece suggests that despite rising development costs, publishers can still find success with well-crafted, linear narratives.
The Death of Destiny 2 - How the World's Best Live Service Game Became a Hauntology
This article analyzes Destiny 2's evolution into a 'hauntology,' a game defined by unrealized promises and lost content due to decisions like the Content Vault and seasonal models. The author argues that these choices, driven by the demands of live service games, have trained the community to accept impermanence, ultimately leading to a sense of loss and a departure from the game's original vision. Despite the ongoing fun, the article posits that Destiny 2 has been 'dead' for a while, with its future promises unfulfilled.
Don’t Expect The Chaos Caused By GTA 6’s Release Date To End This November
The release of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19 is expected to cause significant disruption in the gaming industry beyond its launch date. Developers are already avoiding releasing games near its launch, and potential future updates, ports, and a new Grand Theft Auto Online component will continue to impact player attention, media coverage, and storage space for other titles for years to come. This ongoing influence, even for single-player games, highlights the long-term industry impact of major releases.
'Don't blame yourselves' for Destiny 2's end, community lead tells players: 'No words can accurately depict how lucky we are to have shared these worlds with you'
Bungie communications lead Dylan Gafner, also known as dmg04, reassured Destiny 2 players that they are not to blame for the game's perceived decline. He expressed gratitude for the community's dedication and shared experiences over the years. Gafner's comments come as Destiny 2 reaches the end of its lifecycle, with the final update released and communication updates ceasing.
MMO Business Roundup: EA’s latest layoffs, Overwatch’s pricy cosmetics, and GAAS nuance
This business roundup covers recent events in the MMO industry, including layoffs at Electronic Arts affecting recruitment, customer support, trust and safety, and IT teams. Former Path of Exile developer Chris Wilson shared nuanced views on live service games, acknowledging drawbacks like problematic monetization and player demands. Additionally, Overwatch's high-priced Nyan Cafe cosmetic skins have drawn community backlash.
Arc Raiders and Marathon aren't "dead" just because their concurrent player count has dropped, Palworld lead says – but he's "not denying that some games do 'die'"
Pocketpair's John Buckley argues that games are not 'dead' simply because their concurrent player counts have dropped, emphasizing the importance of daily and monthly active users over peak concurrent numbers. While acknowledging that some live service games do fail, he believes many can sustain a healthy player base with just a few thousand daily players and criticizes the premature labeling of games as 'dead' for views.
GTA 6 is a 'singleplayer experience', leaving me to question what's going on with GTA Online
Rockstar has confirmed Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch as a singleplayer experience in November 2026, leaving uncertainty about the future of its lucrative Grand Theft Auto Online component. While a "top secret" feature for online lobbies was revealed in court documents, Rockstar has remained silent on GTA Online's fate, though historically multiplayer modes have launched post-singleplayer release. The article speculates on potential models for a new online service, including standalone releases or subscription expansions.
3 Ways AI Quietly Runs Modern Games
Modern applications across various sectors, including fitness, streaming, and shopping, increasingly incorporate principles from mobile game design, such as constant feedback loops, progression systems, and timed rewards. This shift, often referred to as gamification, aims to maintain user momentum and engagement by making interfaces more responsive and emotionally satisfying, moving away from purely utility-focused design. The rise of live-service game development has also influenced app development, with platforms continuously updated and tweaked based on user behavior.
Path of Exile used to think 'live service was entirely upside, in all cases', but 10 years of experience and games like Baldur's Gate 3 have shown him another way
Chris Wilson, co-creator of Path of Exile, has re-evaluated his stance on live service games, acknowledging their drawbacks after a decade of experience and observing titles like Baldur's Gate 3. While he initially saw live service as purely beneficial, he now recognizes the complexities of community feedback and the pressures of constant updates, noting that finished, single-player games offer a different, valuable experience.
‘Having Destiny was healthy for us:’ Warframe talks Protoframe romance and the loss of Destiny 2
Digital Extremes community director Megan Everett stated that the presence of Destiny 2 was healthy for the Warframe genre, and its current downtime is a loss for both games. She also discussed the recent Jade Shadows: Constellations update, explaining why the new Protoframes Vena and Ryoku cannot be romanced.
"Truthfully, it's heartbreaking": Warframe dev on the hole that Destiny 2 leaves behind
Warframe's community director Megan Everett expressed sadness over the end of new updates for Destiny 2, stating it's "heartbreaking" and not a victory for Warframe. She emphasized that healthy competition benefits the industry and that players should show support for Destiny 2's developers, Bungie, despite past criticisms. Everett also clarified that Warframe is not a PvP game and cannot fulfill that specific player itch.
Next Helldivers 2 Warbond "needs more time to cook," Arrowhead says, so it's getting indefinitely delayed
Arrowhead Game Studios has indefinitely delayed the next Warbond for Helldivers 2, stating it needs more time to ensure the quality of the release. This decision comes after leaks of the upcoming content divided the player base, with some expressing disappointment. The developer has committed to increased transparency with its community following past player frustrations.
Path of Exile co-creator "would have scoffed at something like Baldur's Gate 3" 10 years ago, but now he knows why live service isn't necessarily "the future"
Chris Wilson, co-founder of Grinding Gear Games, has re-evaluated his stance on live-service games, admitting he would have dismissed titles like Baldur's Gate 3 a decade ago. While Path of Exile exemplifies a player-friendly live-service model, Wilson now acknowledges the drawbacks of the monetization strategy and the pressures it creates, contrasting it with the appeal of complete, finished games.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney says new multiplayer games flop because everyone's "already formed solid human networks in Fortnite, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, and Apex Legends"
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney believes new multiplayer games are failing because players are too entrenched in established titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, and Apex Legends. He states that it's nearly impossible to migrate entire friend groups to new games, making only massive hits capable of community migration successful. Sweeney also cited other factors like exorbitant budgets and long development cycles contributing to game failures.
