Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
Latest coverage
Where to find tank lattes in Forza Horizon 6
This guide details how to find and smash 20 tank lattes in the town of Ine, located in the Ito region on the east coast of Forza Horizon 6's map. Completing this challenge, part of the Series 3 Autumn series, rewards players with Festival Playlist points towards unlocking exclusive cars like the 2017 Abarth 124 Spider and the 2024 Lamborghini Temerario.
After 25 Years, Halo Is Finally On PlayStation
Halo: Campaign Evolved has launched in early access on July 23, marking the first time a Halo game has been available on PlayStation consoles after 25 years of Xbox exclusivity. Developers aim to reconnect the community and reach new audiences by bringing the franchise to PlayStation 5 and other platforms. This move is also seen as a financial strategy for Microsoft, which has seen success with its multiplatform releases.
After years of failed MMO efforts, I have finally found my place in the genre with Warframe as a newcomer in 2026
A newcomer to the MMO genre finds a satisfying experience in Digital Extremes' Warframe, despite initial reservations about the genre's endless nature. The author contrasts Warframe's power fantasy and engaging combat with other MMOs like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14, and expresses excitement for the developer's upcoming title, Soulframe.
Marathon Still Has a Lot to Prove, Even With Its New PvE Mode
Despite the introduction of a new PvE mode called Vault Breaker, Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon continues to struggle with low player numbers, falling below 7,000 concurrent players on Steam. The new mode offers a roguelike progression system for solo players and teams, but the game's overall player base remains critically low, raising concerns about its future and the studio's investment, especially following the departure of game director Joe Ziegler.
If You Aren’t Going To BlizzCon 2026, You Can Still Spend Money Like You Are
Blizzard Entertainment is offering digital BlizzCon bundles for its major live-service games, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo IV, Diablo Immortal, and Hearthstone, for players who cannot attend BlizzCon 2026. These bundles, available until September 28, range from $25 to $30 individually, with an Ultimate Collection bundle priced at $50. Blizzard president Johanna Faries anticipates 2026 will be a significant year for the company, with potential announcements regarding World of Warcraft, Diablo 4, Overwatch, and possibly a new StarCraft game.
We Need Physical Video Games
This opinion piece argues for the continued importance of physical video game media, contrasting it with the perceived downsides of an all-digital future. The author highlights personal experiences with physical games and discusses concerns about ownership, preservation, and the impact of digital-only distribution on the gaming landscape.
The Elder Scrolls Online is already feeling the impact of Xbox's layoffs, ironically hurting the cash shop
Following recent layoffs at ZeniMax, The Elder Scrolls Online is already experiencing operational changes due to reduced staff. Community manager Kevin Gbolie announced the removal of the web-based Crown Store and modifications to the monthly Crown Store Showcase blog to manage workload. These changes highlight the ironic impact of the layoffs on the game's premium cash shop operations.
Blizzard's calling time on Overwatch's hero customising Stadium mode, and I may well be the only person that's sad about that
Blizzard Entertainment is discontinuing active development on Overwatch's Stadium mode due to low player engagement, with only three percent of the player base actively playing it. Game director Aaron Keller announced that while the mode will remain accessible, it will not receive new heroes or maps. The company is exploring alternative game formats, including experiments with 6v6 role queues and a 1-3-2 flex role queue, to address issues with the tank role in standard 5v5 matches.
Marathon's experimental PvE mode is live, immediately tripling its daily player count
Bungie has launched the experimental Vault Breaker PvE mode for Marathon, which has reportedly tripled the game's daily player count. This new mode offers a roguelite progression system where players loot Vault Data for persistent upgrades, distinct from the standard extraction loop. The update also includes improvements to the Cradle system and new moderation tools to combat in-game chat toxicity.
Arc Raiders makes matchmaking even friendlier as players continue to leave, Embark warns it "may take a little…
Embark Studios has released an update for Arc Raiders that optimizes its player behavior-driven matchmaking system. The changes aim to improve match quality, especially during low-population hours, by potentially increasing queue times to find more suitable opponents based on playstyle and squad size. Despite population dips common to live service games, Arc Raiders remains a notable title on Steam, with further updates planned for October.
Morning Interviews
This interview discusses Warframe and the broader landscape of live service games in 2026. Developers from Digital Extremes share insights into the ongoing evolution and challenges of maintaining a live service model.
'I can assure you, Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are not the only titles we're planning' — Xbox's chief strategy officer confirms the company wants to make more exclusives, but 'large live-service titles' will be multiplatform going forward
Xbox's chief strategy officer Matthew Ball confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are just the first of many planned exclusive titles for Xbox consoles and PC. While large live-service games will be multiplatform, single-player exclusives are a key strategy to incentivize console purchases, according to chief content officer Matt Booty.
Xbox admits its game exclusivity strategy isn't "obvious", but insists Gears of War and Clockwork Revolution won't be the only non-PlayStation games
Xbox executives Matthew Ball and Matt Booty discussed the company's evolving game exclusivity strategy, acknowledging it may not be obvious to players. While confirming that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will be exclusive, they indicated more titles are planned, and the distinction between single-player exclusives and multi-platform live-service games is not strictly defined.
"I'm not a creative. I like spreadsheets" – The low-profile team that powers Marathon, Subnautica 2, NBA 2K, and more
Wolfjaw Studios, founded by Mitch Patterson, specializes in providing essential backend infrastructure and co-development services to major game studios, rather than developing original titles. The Troy, New York-based company has worked on franchises like Destiny 2, Marathon, NBA 2K, and Subnautica, focusing on the 'boring but essential' aspects of game development that creatives often avoid. Patterson emphasizes their stability, long-term client relationships, and their goal to make game development more accessible with manageable budgets.
Helldivers 2 Return Plan 2026 | TAG
This guide outlines a plan for players returning to Helldivers 2 in 2026 after missing updates since its 2024 launch. It highlights that the game remains welcoming to returning players, with skipped warbonds accessible via credits and new enemies, weapons, and stratagems introduced gradually. The ongoing Galactic War story continues, and past player contributions are not lost, with an estimated 3-4 hours needed for re-acclimation in the first week, followed by a sustainable 4-6 hours per week.
FFXIV Shadowbringers Backlog for Adults | TAG
This guide outlines a plan for busy adults to complete the extensive main story quests of Final Fantasy XIV, focusing on Shadowbringers, Endwalker, and Dawntrail. It acknowledges the significant time commitment required for each expansion, suggesting a pace suitable for those with limited playtime and advising against endgame raiding to prioritize story completion.
Xbox Explains What Makes A Game An Xbox Exclusive
Xbox's chief strategy officer Matthew Ball explained the company's framework for determining which games will be exclusive to Xbox Series X and PC, emphasizing that titles like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are just the first of many planned exclusives. While some single-player games and large live-service titles may still appear on platforms like PlayStation 5, Xbox aims to grow its user base through a consistent pipeline of exclusive content. This strategy comes amidst recent layoffs and hardware price increases within Microsoft's gaming division.
Xbox Wants a “Reliable Pipeline” of Exclusives, But Fans Shouldn’t “Overly Fixate” on Single-Player
Xbox's chief strategy officer Matthew Ball stated that the company needs a reliable pipeline of exclusive games to drive platform growth, even if some titles like Fable and Clockwork Revolution will also release on PlayStation 5. While large live-service games will remain multiplatform, Matt Booty indicated that single-player games are not strictly bound to exclusivity. Gears of War: E-Day is confirmed for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with Fable and Clockwork Revolution also slated for multiplatform releases.
LOTRO Legendarium: Why LOTRO still matters in 2026
This opinion piece argues that The Lord of the Rings Online remains relevant in 2026 due to the enduring popularity of the Tolkien IP and the game's faithful recreation of Middle-earth. The article highlights the game's longevity, driven by a passionate development team and a dedicated community, suggesting it has a strong chance of continued success.
Xbox exec tells fans not to "overly fixate on single-player" games becoming console exclusives because…
Xbox's CCO Matt Booty stated that fans should not "overly fixate on single-player" games becoming console exclusives, as the strategy is not set in stone. While titles like Gears of War: E-Day will remain exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC, other games, including live-service titles and potentially some single-player games like The Elder Scrolls 6, may launch on multiple platforms.
