Live Service Games
Ongoing coverage on Live Service Games.
Latest coverage
Snowpiercer’s Whole Shtick Makes For An Interesting Shooter
Enginefall is a PvPvE first-person shooter that draws inspiration from the extraction subgenre, featuring a unique premise based on the movie Snowpiercer. Players scavenge resources from large trains while managing threats from other players and AI enemies. The game aims to balance violence and peace, rewarding both playstyles, and its core gameplay loop involves progressing through train cars for better loot, with mechanics for extraction and base building.
Business and Finance
In the past fiscal year, PC gaming platform Steam accounted for over 20% of Capcom's total revenue, nearly double the share generated by PlayStation. The article also touches on the nature of live service games, comparing them to hidden MMO subscriptions.
Crytek Strengthens Global Publishing with Appointment of Zoher Toutanji as Chief Publishing Officer
Crytek has appointed Zoher Toutanji as its new Chief Publishing Officer to lead global publishing operations and expand the company's self-publishing capabilities. Toutanji, formerly of IO Interactive, Riot Games, Square Enix, and Ubisoft, will oversee publishing strategy and commercial operations, supporting Crytek's live-service portfolio and future titles like Hunt: Showdown. This move is part of Crytek's long-term strategy to strengthen its global commercial presence and drive sustainable growth.
Stop Killing Games suffers setback following European Parliamentary hearing - but all is not lost
The European Commission has decided not to propose new legislation for online game preservation, stating that existing EU copyright and consumer laws provide sufficient safeguards. This ruling is a setback for the Stop Killing Games movement, which had petitioned for a legal framework to prevent games from becoming unplayable when online services are shut down. While the Commission will encourage an industry code of conduct and greater transparency, it will not mandate game companies to keep titles playable indefinitely.
Many live service games are just an MMO subscription "hidden inside of a neat 'optional' package", argue Guild Wars 3 devs in a post about the new game's monetisation
ArenaNet developers discussed the evolution of the MMORPG genre and how live service games often hide subscription-like monetization models. They stated that Guild Wars 3 will be a pay-upfront, no-subscription game, differentiating itself from models that use battle passes or recurring seasonal tracks.
Dead by Daylight hits new all-time peak player count, proving live service isn't dead
Dead by Daylight has achieved a new all-time concurrent player peak of over 125,820 on Steam and over 250,000 across all platforms, driven by the release of the Jason Voorhees chapter and a 60% discount. This surge in players celebrates the game's tenth anniversary and demonstrates the continued success of live service models in the gaming industry.
Guild Wars 3 mission statement: no pay-to-win, no subscription fees - "The lines between an MMO and a live-service game have blurred"
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson released a mission statement for Guild Wars 3, emphasizing a commitment to no pay-to-win mechanics and no subscription fees, instead opting for a buy-to-play model. The statement also addresses the blurring lines between MMOs and live-service games, aiming to innovate the genre by respecting player time and offering meaningful progression without excessive barriers.
Guild Wars 3 Won’t Have “Hidden” Subscriptions Like Battle Passes
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson confirmed that Guild Wars 3 will not feature a subscription fee, battle passes, or pay-to-win mechanics, aiming for accessibility and long-term value. The upcoming MMORPG will be smaller in scale than Guild Wars 2 but larger than the original Guild Wars, and is slated for PC and PlayStation 5 with a beta in Fall 2027.
An obscure new game-breaking Destiny bug lets you one-hit bosses, and I don't think Bungie's gonna let this…
A new game-breaking bug has been discovered in Destiny 2 that allows players to stack multiple seasonal artifact mods simultaneously. This exploit enables players to achieve incredibly powerful builds, such as turning Titan's Thundercrash into a nuclear bomb or creating a massive Threadling army, allowing for bosses to be defeated in seconds. While the bug is obscure, it is expected to be patched quickly by Bungie due to its game-breaking nature.
Arc Raiders is finally testing a ban on free loadouts, and I'm here for it
Embark Studios is experimenting with disabling free loadouts in Arc Raiders for its hardest map conditions, Night Raid and Close Scrutiny, for three weeks. This change aims to increase the barrier of entry and incentivize players to commit to appropriate risk and reward for better loot. The studio will evaluate the impact of this experiment to potentially implement it on more map conditions in the future.
How to complete Arc Raiders Converging Paths project
The Arc Raiders Converging Paths project is a limited-time in-game event running from June 16 to July 27, requiring players to donate collected trinkets to build a display. The project has six stages, including combat objectives and item collection, with rewards like new gear and cosmetic items. Players can find new relic trinkets in Residential or Commercial areas, and combat objectives are best completed in the Swamp area of Dam Battlegrounds.
How to complete the Forgotten Relics event in Arc Raiders
The Forgotten Relics event in Arc Raiders, running from June 16 to July 27, requires players to earn Merits by gaining XP and collecting new trinkets. These trinkets also contribute to the Converging Paths project. Maximizing XP through map events and looting is key to unlocking all 21 rewards, including an exclusive outfit and Raider Tokens.
Arc Raiders devs promise "strict measures" are being taken against item duplication users and more Denuvo as Embark fights to get cheaters under control
Embark Studios is implementing strict measures against users engaging in item duplication and cheating in Arc Raiders, expanding the use of Denuvo Anti-Cheat. The developers are also introducing new in-game notifications to inform players when their reports lead to action against cheaters, aiming to maintain a fair gaming environment.
Microsoft CEO says Xbox must become 'sustainable' as it reportedly considers major spinoff
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that Xbox must become a 'sustainable' business, implying it has been subsidized rather than profitable. This follows reports that Microsoft is considering spinning out Xbox into a standalone unit, potentially to sell it or find a partner. The company also aims to speed up development for major franchises like Halo and The Elder Scrolls, while addressing challenges like memory chip price increases driven by AI companies.
Dead by Daylight Gets an Insane PS5 Graphics Upgrade for Its 10th Anniversary
Dead by Daylight is receiving a significant graphical overhaul in 2027 for its 10th anniversary, featuring completely recreated models, new animations, and dynamic weather effects. Behaviour Interactive also announced new content including collaborations with Scooby Doo and Terrifier, a new survivor Shane Wiigwaas, and the integration of The Casting of Frank Stone. The game will also see a new mall map and character skins inspired by Iron Maiden and Silent Hill.
Respawn Monday #3: Guild Wars 3 and Destiny 2's Final Update — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
This article reflects on the future of Guild Wars 3 and the conclusion of Destiny 2's content updates. Developer ArenaNet plans to support Guild Wars 2 and Guild Wars 3 simultaneously, with Guild Wars 2 receiving substantial updates and a feature to earn rewards for the new game. Meanwhile, Destiny 2 has received its final major update, leaving the game in its best possible form with storylines concluded, and Bungie is urged to keep servers running due to continued player interest.
Don’t Hold Your Breath For A Dead By Daylight Sequel
Behaviour Interactive has stated that a sequel to their popular asymmetrical horror game Dead by Daylight is not currently in development. Instead, the company plans to continue investing in and expanding the existing game, with plans for new maps, gameplay overhauls, and game modes. They also expressed interest in creating other games within the Dead by Daylight universe that are not direct sequels.
Final Fantasy Resonance is almost my dream FF game, but its link to Square Enix's mobile games leaves me cold
Final Fantasy Resonance, an HD-2D adaptation of Final Fantasy Brave Exvius by Team Asano, is met with mixed feelings. While the prospect of a console-quality RPG based on classic Final Fantasy titles is exciting, its direct link to the gacha mechanics and mobile game structure of Brave Exvius leaves the author feeling apprehensive due to past negative experiences with Square Enix's mobile titles. However, the success of Octopath Traveler 0, also an adaptation of a mobile game, offers a glimmer of hope that Resonance can overcome its origins.
Is Skull and Bones worth playing in 2026?
This article examines whether Skull and Bones is worth playing, particularly with the recent launch of its Year 3 content. Despite a troubled development and lukewarm reception, the game offers a pirate RPG experience focused on naval combat and progression. While lacking land combat and a strong narrative, its multiplayer aspects and ongoing content updates, including plans for 2026, make it an opportune time to jump in, especially given recent discounts.
Microsoft is looking to speed up development of future Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Halo games
Microsoft is reportedly considering significant changes for its Xbox division, including the possibility of spinning it off as a standalone company or forming a joint venture. The company has approved plans to increase spending on major game series like Halo, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls to accelerate their development.
