Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
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Supercity celebrates 15 years with over $100M in revenue and 40M installs.
Playkot's city-building and life-simulation game SuperCity is celebrating its 15th anniversary, having surpassed $100 million in revenue and 40 million installs worldwide. The anniversary includes in-game gifts, a new Martian expedition, and quality-of-life updates. SuperCity is available for free on Browser and Facebook.
Ex-PlayStation boss explains why PC releases were a good thing, as reports claim Sony is ending blockbuster launches
Former PlayStation President Shawn Layden explained the strategic benefits of releasing games on PC, even if delayed, to increase intellectual property awareness across various media. Reports suggest Sony may be shifting away from this strategy, focusing PC releases on live-service titles rather than narrative blockbusters, a move Layden believes could hinder future projects.
EA accidentally made the right decision twice in one month and reverted it both times, inflicting psychic damage on…
EA's Battlefield Studios has twice reversed a change that would have made XP Boosters count down only during active gameplay, a decision widely praised by players. Despite an initial accidental implementation and a subsequent official announcement, the company has reverted the change, citing it as an error and stating that XP Boosters will continue to function in real-time. The developers have acknowledged player feedback, suggesting the feature might be reconsidered in the future.
PlayStation CEO promises to "revitalise the market" with more live service games
PlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino stated in an interview that the company intends to invest more in live service games to "revitalize the market." This comes despite recent underperformances and layoffs in the live service genre, including at Bungie. PlayStation has had mixed success with live service titles, with hits like Helldivers 2 and notable failures like Concord.
Destiny 2 Is Finished – and Now More Appealing Than Ever
Destiny 2 is now considered finished as a live-service game, presenting a complete Bungie first-person shooter experience with a defined endpoint. Players can now enjoy the game without concerns about future content updates altering their established builds.
Guild Wars 3 may have cracked the MMO code for tired millennials
ArenaNet studio head Collin Johanson stated that Guild Wars 3 aims to respect players' time, allowing them to play as much or as little as they desire. This approach contrasts with many modern MMORPGs and live-service games that can feel like a second job due to mechanics like battle passes and repetitive tasks. The article suggests that if Guild Wars 3 can remain captivating without demanding excessive playtime, it could appeal to a growing audience of adult gamers.
PlayStation – and The Gaming Industry – Just Doesn’t Learn With Live-Service
Despite numerous high-profile failures and significant layoffs within studios like Bungie and Quantic Dream, Sony Interactive Entertainment, led by Hideaki Nishino, remains committed to pursuing live-service games. This strategy is questioned due to past setbacks and the company's historical strength in single-player titles, with concerns that chasing trends is leading to wasted investment and development resources.
ARC Raiders community divided as negative reviews ramp about content cadence issues
ARC Raiders is experiencing a surge of negative Steam reviews and community division due to concerns over its content update cadence. Embark Studios has shifted from monthly updates to larger, six-month content drops, a move that has split player sentiment. While some players are leaving, others are willing to wait for the substantial updates, but the game's long-term health is being questioned amidst a crowded extraction shooter market.
Hidden Adaptive Game Systems Controversy: Are Modern Games Changing in Real Time? | Invision Game Community
A debate is emerging in gaming communities regarding hidden adaptive game systems that players believe may be altering gameplay in real time, affecting factors like difficulty, AI, and loot. While modern games do incorporate dynamic systems, there is no verified evidence of secret, player-specific adjustments, with most perceived changes likely attributable to complex design, randomness, and player perception.
Sony games boss says company will bravely keep sending live services over the top, despite cancelling 8 of the 12 ones planned for 2025 and wiping out most of Destiny 2's developers
Despite cancelling eight of twelve planned live service games for 2025 and shutting down most of the Destiny 2 development team, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino stated the company will continue to invest in and develop live service titles. Nishino believes these games attract a global audience and aims to revitalize the market with both first-party and third-party content, while also considering the long-term potential of older titles.
PlayStation CEO says company wants to "revitalise" live-service games
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino expressed a desire to "revitalize" the live-service game market with both first-party and third-party content, emphasizing the importance of continuous updates. He mentioned the upcoming release of their own live-service title, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and acknowledged the challenges in the genre. This comes after recent layoffs at Bungie and the cancellation of several PlayStation live-service projects, with Helldivers 2 being a notable success.
Respawn Monday #5: Silent Hill 2 Remake & Dead by Daylight's 10th Anniversary — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
The author discusses their recent experiences with the Silent Hill 2 Remake, praising its atmosphere and puzzle design while noting combat felt too easy. They also detail a renewed addiction to Dead by Daylight, highlighting its engaging 4v1 gameplay and the variety of killers available, especially with the recent 10th-anniversary event.
Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO hasn't given up on live-service games just yet
Despite numerous cancellations and underperforming titles, Sony Interactive Entertainment president Hideaki Nishino has reaffirmed the company's commitment to live-service games. Nishino stated that the genre is still relatively new and that Sony wants to continue taking on challenges within it, aiming to revitalize the market with both first-party and third-party content. Sony plans to release its own live-service title, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, this year.
I've hunted down every confirmed GTA 6 gun in its trailers and screenshots so far
This article details 19 confirmed weapons spotted in trailers and screenshots for Grand Theft Auto VI, noting that many appear to have specific names rather than generic classifications like in Grand Theft Auto V. It highlights several firearms, including revolvers, pistols, carbines, SMGs, shotguns, and a grenade launcher, with some featuring unique customizations or references to previous games.
6 Vacation Week Games to Finish Before Flying Home | TAG
This guide recommends six games that can be completed within a 5-10 hour playtime, ideal for finishing during a week-long vacation. It emphasizes narrative-driven and handheld-compatible titles like Inside, Stray, A Short Hike, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Firewatch, with Outer Wilds suggested for longer vacations. The article also provides advice on session structure, device choice, and avoiding common vacation gaming pitfalls.
PlayStation President Reaffirms Plans For Live-Service Games, Teases PlayStation Moving Beyond TV
Sony Interactive Entertainment president Hideaki Nishino reaffirmed the company's commitment to live-service games, despite past setbacks, citing Helldivers 2 and the upcoming Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls as examples. Nishino also clarified that while single-player games will remain PlayStation 5 exclusives, multiplayer and live-service titles will also be released on PC to maximize player reach. The company aims to provide diverse gaming experiences beyond the traditional TV setup, with efforts like the PlayStation Portal supporting this goal.
Bungie studio head reportedly leaves after 16 years with the company following mass layoffs and Destiny 2 death spiral
Bungie studio head Justin Truman is reportedly leaving the company after nearly 17 years, following significant layoffs and criticism regarding the state of Destiny 2. The game received its final live-service content update recently, with the company stating it could no longer operate at its previous size. This news comes after Sony's 2022 acquisition of Bungie and amid reports of a toxic work environment from former employees.
Sony is laying off majority of Destiny 2 team as studio head leaves Bungie
Sony Interactive Entertainment is laying off the majority of the Destiny 2 development team at Bungie, with studio head Justin Truman also departing. This follows previous layoffs and a review of Bungie's long-term strategy and priorities. While support for Marathon will continue, the studio is shifting focus to new projects, though the exact nature of these is unclear.
We should all be happy that GTA 6 isn't launching with multiplayer
This article argues that Grand Theft Auto 6 launching as a singleplayer experience first is beneficial, allowing Rockstar Games to focus on polish before releasing a potential Grand Theft Auto Online 2. The author believes this approach will lead to better quality for both the singleplayer campaign and the eventual online component, drawing parallels to the success of Grand Theft Auto 5's initial singleplayer focus.
With GTA 6 Online, Rockstar Is Deciding Who To Make Mad
Rockstar Games faces a complex decision regarding the online component of Grand Theft Auto 6, particularly concerning how it will handle player progress, investments, and the transition from Grand Theft Auto 5 Online. The article explores various potential approaches, each with its own set of drawbacks that could alienate different player segments or hardware generations.