Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
Latest coverage
Final Fantasy 14 fans celebrate a huge win: finally, we can kick Lalafells in the face and send them flying into the…
Final Fantasy XIV players are celebrating the addition of new emotes, particularly 'Blown Away,' which allows for humorous roleplaying scenarios involving characters being dramatically launched or kicked. The community has embraced these emotes, creating viral clips and engaging in playful interactions, often involving the Lalafell character race. This trend highlights the community's engagement with the game's live service elements and its capacity for creative expression.
Former Dragon Age lead says product placements could help combat "overreliance on microtransactions" and I agree because every game should make you pick a watch colour
Former Dragon Age director Mike Darrah suggests that product placement could offer an alternative revenue stream to combat the industry's overreliance on microtransactions. The article agrees, proposing that integrating branded items, like watches, could help fund single-player games and diversify monetization strategies beyond live-service models.
California lawmakers advance a bill to protect online games from forever deletion
California lawmakers have advanced AB 1921, also known as the Protect Our Games Act, which aims to protect live service games from permanent deletion. The bill passed a floor vote and now moves to the State Senate, requiring studios to provide 60 days' notice before ending support, offer an offline mode, or issue refunds.
Former BioWare producer says we could be saved from a world where there's 'no AAA games that aren't live…
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah suggests the AAA gaming industry could learn from Hollywood's business models to avoid a future dominated solely by live service games. He argues that the current reliance on microtransactions and live services discourages innovation and the exploration of diverse game genres. Darrah proposes that adopting strategies like tiered release windows and more varied subscription models could lead to a healthier and more sustainable industry.
Destiny 2 outlines upcoming gear changes while details about internal plans to right the ship come to light
Destiny 2 is set to receive significant gear updates before entering maintenance mode, including new exotic catalysts, weapon tier upgrades, and archetype tweaks. Bungie is also streamlining the artifact system and making more gear available from vendors. Meanwhile, internal discussions at Bungie reportedly explored rebranding to Destiny Infinity or a third game, but these were deemed too costly. Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek expressed concern over Sony's apparent lack of interest in long-term multiplayer game support.
How to earn a Link Skill in Forza Horizon 6
This guide explains how to earn Link Skills in Forza Horizon 6, a challenge requiring players to perform the same action as another player simultaneously. It suggests participating in Stunt Parties or Horizon Play races to easily achieve this, even without direct collaboration with friends. Completing the 'Link Skiller' daily challenge rewards players with Festival Playlist points and in-game credits.
"The live-action Smurfs movie paid for itself entirely through product placement" - Former Dragon Age boss suggests games can be funded another way
Former Dragon Age and Anthem executive producer Mark Darrah suggests that live service games could be funded through product placement, a model more common in film. He argues this approach could be more sustainable than current monetization strategies and prevent the overemphasis on certain genres. Darrah highlights the Smurfs movie as an example of a project fully funded by product placement.
Product Placement Can Help Save The AAA Games Business, Former BioWare Dev Says
Former BioWare veteran Mark Darrah suggests that product placement could be a viable solution for the financial sustainability of AAA game development, arguing that an over-reliance on live-service models and microtransactions is limiting. He points to existing examples in games and other media, and questions why it isn't a larger part of the gaming industry's revenue streams. Darrah also expressed concerns about the impact of subscription services like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass on game design.
Former Dragon Age producer thinks product placement could replace microtransactions
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah suggests product placement as a potential alternative to microtransactions in video games. He argues that relying heavily on in-game purchases can lead developers to design games around high-spending players rather than the overall player experience. Darrah believes product placement could help fund projects without pushing every game towards a live service model, potentially fostering more variety in game development.
Dragon Age and BioWare veteran says games could learn a thing or two from how the movie business makes money
BioWare veteran Mark Darrah suggests the video game industry could learn from the movie business's diverse revenue streams beyond initial sales. He argues that an over-reliance on microtransactions and live services stifles other genres and proposes exploring avenues like product placement to diversify income and prevent a future dominated solely by live service AAA games.
Pokemon Champions dev explains the limited roster and comments on timing to bring new Pokemon to the game
Masaaki Hoshino, producer of Pokemon Champions, explained that the limited initial roster was to make the game more understandable for new players. He confirmed that more Pokemon and changes to held item restrictions are planned for summer, approximately three months after launch. Future updates will continue to add content gradually, with a focus on ease of understanding, especially with the upcoming smartphone version.
‘It’s a bit sappy and sentimental but that’s how we’re feeling’: Bungie gets emotional in latest Destiny 2 blog post
Bungie shared an emotional blog post discussing the final patch for Destiny 2, reflecting on the game's journey. The sentiment expressed is described as sappy and sentimental, indicating a significant emotional moment for the development team as they conclude this chapter.
A toast to the wild west weirdos of the MMO goldrush—from the game that unleashed pandora's lootbox, to a deeply strange mess based off a 1996 science fiction novel
This article reflects on the unique and often strange MMOs from the genre's goldrush era between 2005-2015, highlighting games like Zhengtu Online, which pioneered lootboxes, and The Matrix Online, an ambitious early example of live service elements. It contrasts these experimental titles with the more risk-averse nature of modern game development, suggesting that such creative and peculiar games are unlikely to emerge today.
Valve veteran worries for Bungie's future following Destiny 2's final update: "I don't think Sony…
Valve veteran Chet Faliszek expressed concern over Bungie's future following the announcement that Destiny 2's final update will be released on June 9, with no Destiny 3 currently in development. He believes Sony may have lost interest in Bungie's live-service ambitions after Marathon's underperformance, leaving the studio in a precarious position with limited viable paths forward.
Spider-Noir star Nicolas Cage has revealed his favorite live-action Spider-Man, and it's not who I was expecting
Actor Nicolas Cage revealed his favorite live-action Spider-Man is Andrew Garfield, praising his performance in The Amazing Spider-Man films. Cage, who has a history with superhero roles and plays Spider-Noir, believes Garfield's portrayal was the best in cinema, a view that contrasts with common fan rankings.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is 2026's top new release by revenue to date | Newzoo charts
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream topped Newzoo's revenue charts for new releases in 2026 and overall console revenue in April, attributed to Nintendo's install base. New titles like Pragmata and Windrose also saw strong debuts, though displacing established live-service games remains challenging.
Destiny 2 Relaunch Was Discussed at Bungie Before End of Support – Rumor
Bungie reportedly discussed internal options for Destiny 2's future, including a potential relaunch called 'Destiny Infinity,' before deciding to end support after The Final Shape expansion. These discussions intensified following the poor commercial performance of the Renegades expansion. The studio is now focusing on the success of Marathon, with Destiny 2's final content update scheduled for June 9th.
etc., etc.
Destiny 2's final update aims to re-engage players with its public zones, marking a return to form for the live service game. This update is expected to provide players with new reasons to explore the game's existing environments.
New Details Emerge About Bungie’s Decision To End Destiny 2, Including Plans To Relaunch As Destiny Infinity
Bungie has ended support for Destiny 2, with no plans for a Destiny 3 due to high development costs and the underperformance of recent expansions. The company is now shifting its focus to Marathon for future success, despite concerns about its appeal to console players. Discussions about renaming Destiny 2 to 'Destiny Infinity' were also reportedly considered but ultimately abandoned.
"I don't know where GTA Online performance goes after the release of GTA 6," Take-Two boss says, but he…
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that Grand Theft Auto Online will continue to operate even after the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, though he is unsure of its specific future performance. He believes the existing online mode has a strong community and will continue to be supported by Rockstar Games, potentially existing alongside a new online component tied to Grand Theft Auto 6.
