Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
Latest coverage
Sega Cancels Super Game And Shifts Focus From Live Service Games
Sega has canceled its ambitious "Super Game" initiative and shifted focus away from live service and free-to-play development towards full game development. This decision follows underperformance of several mobile titles and the earlier cancellation of the live service shooter Hyenas. The company aims to increase profitability by prioritizing established IPs for new releases.
Sega Cancels Super Game Initiative as It Shifts Away From Live-Service Focus
Sega Sammy Holdings has canceled its Super Game initiative and is shifting away from live-service games due to underperforming free-to-play titles. The company will now focus on premium releases based on its established intellectual properties, reassigning some developers to work on core franchises. Upcoming titles include Persona 4 Revival, Stranger Than Heaven, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, and the new Virtua Fighter.
Sega’s earnings report shows the F2P live service model is running out of road
Sega's latest earnings report indicates a significant downturn for the free-to-play and live service game model, with the company reporting a substantial loss despite increased net sales. This has led to drastic cutbacks on F2P titles, including the cancellation of its 'Super Game' project, and a major devaluation of its acquisition, Rovio. The report suggests a shift in player preference towards higher-quality, standalone titles with DLC over ongoing live service monetization.
SEGA Has Cancelled Its Super Game Project, And Is Moving Away From Live-Service
Sega has officially canceled its five-year-old Super Game Project, reallocating resources from free-to-play and live-service development to focus on full game releases. The company plans to launch eight full games by fiscal year 2028, shifting approximately 100 employees from F2P to full game development teams. This strategic shift comes after significant investment in the Super Game project, which aimed to blend arcade expertise with emerging trends like cloud gaming and NFTs.
Sega kills ‘super game’ initiative and abandons live service plans
Sega has officially scrapped its 'super game' initiative and abandoned its broader live service plans, citing struggles with free-to-play titles like Sonic Rumble Party and the unsuccessful integration of Rovio. While the future of projects like Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi remains uncertain regarding their live service elements, Sega is reallocating over 100 developers to focus on mainstay IPs and traditional game development.
SEGA Cancels Super Game Project and Moves Away from Live Service
SEGA has canceled its ambitious "Super Game" project, which aimed to create large-scale live service titles, and is reducing its focus on Games as a Service. This decision comes after five years of development and will see over 100 employees reassigned to full game development teams. While the Super Game is scrapped, reboots of classic franchises like Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, and Streets of Rage are still in development, potentially under the new SEGA Universe program.
Former Dead Space Producer Says The “Numbers Just Aren’t There” For a New Game in the Series
Former Dead Space producer Chuck Beaver stated that Electronic Arts is unlikely to greenlight a new entry in the series due to insufficient sales numbers, despite the success of the recent remake. Beaver indicated that EA now expects around 7 million units sold for a single-player game to be viable, a benchmark that the Dead Space franchise has not consistently met. While some developers at EA might hope for the IP to be sold, the company currently has no plans for the franchise.
Sega’s Super Game Project Has Been Cancelled
Sega has officially cancelled its ambitious "Super Game" project, which was initially announced in 2021 with the goal of creating online, globally-focused titles that would transcend conventional game frameworks. While details were scarce, the company had indicated multiple titles were in development. Sega is now refocusing on reviving its classic IPs, including Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Shinobi, Streets of Rage, and Golden Axe, with some already confirmed for new entries or remakes.
Fortnite Dev Understands The Fear That "AI Is Going To Take All Our Jobs"
Epic Games is exploring AI tools to improve game development efficiency, not to replace human jobs, according to senior external development manager Stephanie Arnett. While some in the Fortnite community are concerned about generative AI in art, Epic's focus is on speeding up tasks. Other companies like Activision, Take-Two Interactive, and Sony's Naughty Dog are also investigating AI for game development.
Dead by Daylight’s 10th anniversary is coming up: Which iconic killer should mark this special occasion?
As Dead by Daylight approaches its 10th anniversary, the article discusses which iconic horror killer should be featured to mark the occasion. While Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th is a popular fan request, licensing issues make his inclusion unlikely. Predator and Pennywise from Stephen King's IT are presented as more feasible options, with Bioshock's Big Daddy and characters from Twin Peaks also suggested as potential collaborations.
Valve's Gabe Newell always understood what Steam does better than every other PC and console store: "The thing that we've been successful with are the Steam sales"
Valve boss Gabe Newell has long understood that Steam's success stems from its effective sales strategy, making game purchases an entertaining experience rather than just a transaction. This approach, which encourages impulse buys and treats the digital library as a collection of potential experiences, remains a key differentiator for the platform, even as the gaming landscape shifts towards live service titles.
5 Open World Games That Leave You Alone (2026) | TAG
This guide highlights five open-world games designed to respect solo play: Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, and Horizon Forbidden West. These titles minimize social popups and integrated multiplayer, focusing instead on the player's individual experience. The article also discusses why modern open-world games often push social features, citing retention metrics and live-service monetization as key drivers.
Arrowhead addresses the Helldivers 2 community as recent Steam reviews slump to Mostly Negative: 'We want to be clearer about what we're working on and what's coming next'
Arrowhead Studios has addressed community concerns regarding Helldivers 2, which has seen a slump in recent Steam reviews. The developer acknowledged feedback on Warbonds and stated plans for new stratagems, better Galactic War rewards, and more beta tests. The studio aims to improve clarity on upcoming content and balance unlockable items.
Helldivers 2 will receive "core" improvements by summer as Arrowhead works on making the Galactic War "more reactive" with multi-week campaigns and better rewards
Arrowhead Game Studios is planning significant improvements for Helldivers 2, focusing on core game stability, progression, and making the Galactic War more reactive with multi-week campaigns and better rewards. The studio aims to increase transparency with players and will offer more beta testing opportunities. Despite these plans, some players have expressed skepticism due to recent community sentiment and a decline in Steam ratings.
Is Bungie Sony's Worst Ever Acquisition After $765 Million Write-Down?
Sony has reported a $765 million impairment loss on its acquisition of Bungie, significantly devaluing the developer since its $3.6 billion purchase in 2022. This write-down, partly due to the underperformance of games like Marathon and Destiny 2's declining player base, raises questions about whether Bungie is Sony's worst acquisition. The article also touches on Sony's broader struggles with live service games and other studio acquisitions.
Destiny 2 players pick out a grave as Bungie confirms it's got nothing to say and Sony admits it's down $765 million on the studio: "There's no way this game keeps getting DLC"
Sony reported a $765 million impairment loss on its acquisition of Bungie, while the studio admitted to having no significant updates. Destiny 2 is experiencing declining player counts and criticism for its recent 'Edge of Fate' expansion, and the new game Marathon is also struggling to retain players. Bungie's future trajectory under Sony is uncertain, with potential for executive changes and further layoffs amidst broader industry difficulties.
2K Lays Off Staff at Project Ethos Dev 31st Union
2K has laid off employees at its studio 31st Union, which is developing the free-to-play roguelike shooter Project Ethos. Studio head Ben Brinkman stated the cuts are necessary to align with the game's development, despite expressing confidence in its future. The exact number of employees affected and the game's current development stage remain unclear amidst concerns about the viability of live-service titles.
Videogame 'beta versions' are anything but, says veteran RPG dev—real games are 'sh***y, sh***y, sh***y, sh***y, slightly less sh***y, and it skyrockets' at the end
Lead designer Prokop Jirsa of Warhorse Studios argues that public 'betas' for upcoming video games are misleading, as they are significantly more polished than internal alpha and beta builds. He highlights the long development times and the challenges of releasing polished games, referencing the development of Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
I love that Crimson Desert's latest updates have effectively transformed it into a birdwatching simulator
Crimson Desert has introduced a bird-taming feature, allowing players to collect over 170 different species, including legendary ones like the Phoenix and a Blue Parrot. This addition has transformed the game into a birdwatching simulator, with players actively sharing locations and showcasing their tames on Reddit, highlighting the immersive qualities of Pearl Abyss's world design.
Helldivers 2's galactic war will include more "multi-week themed campaigns" and "branching outcomes" starting this summer, Arrowhead reveal
Arrowhead Game Studios has announced upcoming changes to Helldivers 2's Galactic War, including multi-week themed campaigns with branching outcomes starting this summer. The developer also addressed community concerns regarding exosuit unlocks, confirming that new vehicles will still be available through gameplay in addition to Warbonds. Further updates will include new stratagems, ship evolutions, and an increased player progression cap.
