Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
Latest coverage
'Morale has been terrible' at EA, workers claim, saying that AI mandates and mismanagement have left the company 'a cold dead place that's slowly decaying as leadership pilfers every last cent'
Employees at Electronic Arts have reported extremely low morale, citing mismanagement, mandates to work on unsuccessful live service games, and the push towards generative AI. Sources claim leadership is detached, with executive pay remaining high while development teams face layoffs and difficult working conditions. The article highlights specific issues at BioWare and the perceived disconnect between executive decisions and the reality on the ground.
Games Inbox: What is the best game of 2026 that’s not GTA 6?
This collection of reader letters discusses potential Game of the Year contenders for 2026, the possibility of Grand Theft Auto 6 having a troubled launch, and concerns about AI's impact on game development. Readers also debate Resident Evil's narrative consistency and the underutilization of Jill Valentine, while expressing a desire for improved Zelda remakes.
"Taking several years with several thousand people… It's almost impossible" – PlayStation creator Ken Kutaragi on the current state of gaming
PlayStation's 'father,' Ken Kutaragi, expressed concerns about the current state of the gaming industry, citing the excessive cost and time required for modern game development as 'meaningless.' He believes platforms have become prohibitively expensive and suggests the future of entertainment may lie beyond traditional video games, potentially merging with AI and robotics.
"We basically rewrote the entire State of Decay game": Undead Labs spent years trying to make State of Decay 3 into a full-blown zombie apocalypse MMO
Undead Labs spent years developing State of Decay 3 as a full-scale zombie apocalypse MMO, a vision initially held by founder Jeff Strain. After a significant pivot in late 2022, the studio rewrote the game to return to the scale of its predecessors. This pivot, coupled with Xbox cutting ties, led to layoffs but allowed the studio to secure new publishing support.
Project Titan's end 'immediately instilled a culture of humility' in the Overwatch team which has helped…
The cancellation of Blizzard's MMO Project Titan instilled a culture of humility and resilience within the Overwatch development team, which has helped them navigate challenges over the past decade. Despite a difficult start and the pressure to create a revenue-generating game, the team has managed to bring Overwatch back on track and is proud of its current state.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 585: BioWare dies, SWTOR lives on
The Massively OP Podcast episode 585 discusses the closure of BioWare by EA, alongside updates on MapleStory Classic World, Dragon Nest Classic, WoW Forever, Elder Scrolls Online Season 2, and EverQuest Legends. The hosts also explore the concept of offline MMOs and spotlight Tower Unite.
Dead By Daylight Store Losing Some Horror Icons
Dead by Daylight is losing several licensed horror characters, including Chucky, Pinhead, Michael Myers, and Laurie Strode, as their licensing agreements expire. Behaviour Interactive aims to keep licenses permanently but acknowledges that this is not always possible for live-service games. While some characters depart, new ones like Art the Clown from Terrifier are being added, highlighting the precarious nature of relying on external intellectual property.
UKIE calls on government to modernise Video Games Expenditure Credit ahead of Autumn Budget
UKIE is urging the UK government to modernize the Video Games Expenditure Credit (VGEC) and establish a new fund to address the growth capital gap for domestic studios. The trade body argues that these reforms are crucial for the UK to remain competitive in attracting investment and talent against countries with more favorable tax incentives.
After less than 6 years, Pokemon Unite is shutting down, but it's getting a feature that'll let you hold onto your progress even after the servers are dead
Pokemon Unite, the free-to-play MOBA, will shut down on March 23, 2027, after nearly six years. New purchases of in-game currency and the Unite Club membership have already ceased. A final update on November 12 will introduce a special event and a feature allowing players to access certain records and in-game content, such as Holowear and Unite licenses, even after the servers are offline.
Why There Won’t Be A Helldivers 3 Anytime Soon, If Ever
Arrowhead Game Studios' Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt stated that a sequel to the popular Helldivers 2 is unlikely in the near future, as the studio prefers to focus on continuously updating the existing game rather than forcing players to start over. Pilestedt believes the live-service model, when done correctly by valuing the community, is more sustainable than relying on sequels. He also noted that the biggest competitor to a potential Helldivers 3 would be Helldivers 2 itself, suggesting a sequel would need to be significantly different to coexist.
Helldivers 3 Isn’t On The Cards at the Moment, Per Arrowhead’s Chief Creative Officer
Arrowhead Game Studios' Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt stated that Helldivers 3 is not currently in development, with the vast majority of the team focused on Helldivers 2. He believes that continuing to evolve Helldivers 2 as a 'lifelong hobby' is more beneficial than a sequel that would reset player progress.
Why private equity acquisitions like the one that just claimed BioWare are so dreaded
The closure of BioWare and subsequent layoffs at Electronic Arts highlight the detrimental impact of private equity acquisitions on game studios. This article details how leveraged buyouts, often involving significant debt and aggressive profit extraction strategies, can lead to the demise of companies and widespread job losses, even when the acquired entities have strong intellectual property.
Helldivers 3 "only makes sense" if it’s so unlike Helldivers 2 "that both games can exist side by side", says Arrowhead boss, discussing their new prototype game
Arrowhead Game Studios' Johan Pilestedt stated that a Helldivers 3 would only be developed if it significantly differed from Helldivers 2, to allow both games to coexist. He emphasized that 95% of the studio is focused on improving Helldivers 2, viewing it as a long-term community platform rather than a product needing an immediate sequel. Pilestedt also commented on the broader industry trend of live service games, suggesting that a strong existing player base negates the need for a sequel.
BioWare Veteran Defends Team Behind Dragon Age: The Veilguard Following Studio Closure
BioWare veteran James Ohlen defended the development team behind Dragon Age: The Veilguard, stating that most individuals had little influence on the game's criticized aspects. He also shared personal views on modern entertainment and political messaging. The article touches on the game's development history, including pivots between single-player and live-service models under EA's direction, and notes that while reviews were positive, player reception was mixed.
Ubisoft reportedly wasted 3 years turning Beyond Good & Evil 2 into a live-service Fortnite killer, but now it's a single-player-focused game with co-op
Ubisoft's Beyond Good & Evil 2 has reportedly undergone multiple significant shifts in development, transitioning from a live-service game inspired by Fortnite and Destiny to a single-player focused title with optional co-op. The game has allegedly been in pre-production for years, with its creative direction constantly changing, leading to uncertainty about its eventual release.
Farewell BioWare, you inspired so many of us, and you deserved so much better than this
BioWare, the acclaimed developer behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Baldur's Gate, has been closed by Electronic Arts. The studio's closure follows a history of critical and commercial disappointments like Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem, despite its significant contributions to the RPG genre. The article laments the loss of a studio that shaped industry trends and created deeply emotional experiences for players.
EA says it's 'bringing together our Respawn and DICE studios to collaborate on a future project' that is…
Electronic Arts is consolidating its Respawn Entertainment and DICE studios to collaborate on a future project, widely reported to be Star Wars Battlefront 3. This move comes as EA restructures, shutting down BioWare and laying off 400 employees, including canceling work on Mass Effect 5. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to live-service titles like Apex Legends and upcoming games such as Marvel's Iron Man and Star Wars Jedi 3.
Over '30 million rounds of PvE were played' over the last week in Arc Raiders but Embark still needs 'a bit of time to understand what the data is telling us'
Embark Studios has concluded a week-long Player versus Environment (PvE) test for Arc Raiders, during which over 30 million rounds were played. The developer is now analyzing the extensive data and player feedback to determine the future of PvE in the game. While the test has been described as polarizing, the recent Frozen Trail update and the PvE test have significantly boosted player counts and positive sentiment for Arc Raiders.
Marvel’s Wolverine Proves You Shouldn’t Always Trust What You See On Social Media
Marvel's Wolverine has achieved significant sales success, topping September's charts and setting a new record for Sony-published games. Despite mixed player reception and a 'fun but forgettable' review score, the game's strong performance is highlighted by new data, which also indicates a rise in PlayStation 5 hardware sales.
Report explores how Roblox can maintain older players as it becomes most-played game by total hours in H1 2026
A new report indicates Roblox has become the most-played game by total hours in H1 2026, attracting a valuable audience over 16 who are more likely to spend money on games. The analysis examines how Roblox can maintain this maturing player base by investing in improved graphics and age verification, while also noting the platform's potential implications for traditional game publishers.
