Live Service
Ongoing coverage on Live Service.
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CFB 27 Ditches Controversial Microtransactions After Massive Blowback
EA Sports has removed controversial microtransactions from its EA Sports CFB 27 game following significant player backlash and a trending social media boycott. The paid progression options in Road to Glory and Online Dynasty modes have been eliminated, though unspent in-game currency can still be used in Ultimate Team. EA has pledged greater transparency for future live-service plans.
EA removes microtransactions from EA Sports College Football 27 following backlash
Electronic Arts has removed microtransactions from EA Sports College Football 27 following player backlash. The developer acknowledged that paid progression options, ranging from $9.99 to $149.99, were a mistake and did not add the intended value. EA plans to focus on delivering valuable features with greater transparency in future titles like College Football 28.
College Football 27 to remove microtransactions after player backlash, though EA maintains they were only added to…
Electronic Arts has announced the removal of all paid progression options from the Road to Glory and Online Dynasty modes in EA Sports College Football following significant player backlash. The company acknowledged that the introduction of these microtransactions missed the mark and did not provide the intended value. EA also stated that future live service plans for College Football 28 and beyond will focus on greater transparency and communication.
As Criterion rebrands on its 30th anniversary, are its beloved racing franchises like Burnout falling away in the rearview mirror?
Criterion is rebranding on its 30th anniversary, emphasizing its current role as a "Battlefield Studio" within Electronic Arts. While the studio's legacy includes beloved racing titles like Burnout Paradise, its primary focus is now on supporting the Battlefield franchise, including recent work on Battlefield 6. Despite industry challenges and past layoffs, Criterion aims to maintain its core values of "Dare, Deliver, and Delight," with discussions ongoing about the potential for future racing game development.
EA College Football 27 to lose microtransactions in Road to Glory and Online Dynasty
EA Sports will remove paid progression options from the Road to Glory and Online Dynasty modes in EA Sports College Football 27 following player backlash. The studio announced that all microtransaction-based upgrades for player and coach progression will be removed on July 11, 2026. EA Sports also stated that future live service plans for the series will focus on greater transparency and communication.
Xbox After The Layoffs: Studios Left And What They’re Making
Xbox has undergone significant restructuring, including layoffs and the divestment of five studios, as it aims to increase profitability and focus on major intellectual properties. This shake-up impacts numerous development teams and projects across Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard, and Bethesda, with a renewed focus on core franchises and a shift in business strategies like the exclusion of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass day-one launches.
Ubisoft has added a cash shop and weekly challenges to its 'faithful' remake of the 13-year-old Black Flag,…
Ubisoft's remake of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, titled Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, has been criticized for the addition of a microtransaction store, weekly challenges, and battle pass-like reward tracks. The author argues these elements detract from the experience of a full-priced, single-player remake and are reminiscent of the monetization seen in live-service games.
Dragon Age's former lead writer thinks the series is probably dead, but he'd be happy to take it off EA's hands and 'go somewhere dark and dangerous' with it
Former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider believes the series is likely dead under Electronic Arts, citing a consistent misunderstanding of the franchise's appeal and treatment compared to Mass Effect. Despite his past departure from the series, Gaider expressed interest in reviving Dragon Age if given the opportunity, provided it moves in a 'dark and dangerous' direction away from EA's current strategies.
Players prove Destiny 2 can still produce wonders with discovery of poopy pants transmog
Players have discovered a humorous transmog combination in Destiny 2 that makes hunter characters appear to have 'poopy pants' when using the Scavenger Suit leg armor with the Cobwebbed shader. This discovery highlights the game's enduring capacity for player-driven entertainment, even as Bungie faces staffing changes and the game enters its twilight years.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Review — Whey-hey, up she rises
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced is a faithful remake that enhances the original with quality-of-life improvements and stunning graphical upgrades, particularly in its depiction of the Caribbean. While the combat and Animus menu remain dated, the core experience of sailing and exploration is revitalized, making it the definitive version of the game. The exclusion of the modern-day storyline is seen as a positive for pacing, replaced by expanded endgame content and lore fragments.
"There's really no one left": Former Elder Scrolls Online dev says the MMO "basically funded other failing projects" as Microsoft guts the studio
A former senior content designer for The Elder Scrolls Online, Andrew Young, expressed anger over recent layoffs impacting up to half of the studio's developers. He stated that the MMO "basically funded other failing projects" while struggling with its own resource allocation. The article also mentions the closure of mobile spin-offs like The Elder Scrolls: Blades and The Elder Scrolls: Legends, and notes that Microsoft's Xbox division is undergoing significant cuts expected to total 3,200 jobs.
Crossfire is actually the second singleplayer shooter named after Korea’s Counter-Strike—and the last one…
This article discusses CrossfireX, a singleplayer shooter campaign developed by Remedy Entertainment, and its unfortunate shutdown. It highlights the unique narrative elements Remedy brought to the Call of Duty-style shooter, contrasting them with the more generic military action. The piece also touches on the broader issue of live-service game shutdowns and the potential loss of singleplayer content.
Industry veteran Robert Bowling launches new developer //18.bravo
Industry veteran Robert Bowling, formerly of Infinity Ward, has launched a new Los Angeles-based studio called //18.bravo. The studio aims for a radically different approach to game development, focusing on employee success through royalty plans and profit sharing, and plans to release its assets as open source if the company closes. Bowling criticized the current industry for being over-commercialized and detrimental to both players and staff.
Massively Overthinking: Unbundling the MMORPG genre, 12 years later
Industry figures like Raph Koster discuss the 'unbundling' of the MMORPG genre, where its core components like live services and subscription models have been adopted by other game genres. The article explores what truly defines an MMORPG in the current landscape, with contributors suggesting elements like persistent virtual worlds, community, and a unique 'glue' holding disparate game elements together, rather than just player count.
EA changes Battlefield 6 XP Boosters for the better, only to yet again reveal the change was an error and take it back
EA and Battlefield Studios have repeatedly altered and then retracted changes to how XP Boosters function in Battlefield 6. An in-game message announced a change to time-based XP boosters, only for the company to claim it was an error and revert the system, frustrating players who had previously experienced a similar issue.
Splatoon Raiders Switch 2 preview – ink-redibly familiar
Splatoon Raiders is a single-player spin-off for the Nintendo Switch 2, focusing on the characters from Splatoon 3's Deep Cut. While it retains the core ink-based gameplay, the preview suggests it may be too similar to existing Splatoon content and lacks innovation. The game is set to release on July 23, 2026.
Blizzard’s Unannounced StarCraft Title: The Hard Facts
Evidence suggests Blizzard Entertainment is developing a new AAA open-world shooter set in the StarCraft universe, moving away from its Real-Time Strategy roots. The project is built on Unreal Engine and led by former Far Cry executive producer Dan Hay, indicating a significant shift in franchise direction and development strategy.
GTA 6 fans worried you'll have to pay extra for online mode
Fans are concerned about the potential cost of Grand Theft Auto 6's online multiplayer, especially given the game's high initial price. While Rockstar Games has confirmed a single-player experience at launch, speculation is rife about whether a future online mode, potentially a successor to GTA Online, will be a free add-on or require a separate purchase, with many hoping for a free-to-play model supported by microtransactions.
All changes in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a remake that modernizes the original game with technological advancements and updated sensibilities, while also removing certain elements. Key changes include the removal of modern-day sequences, revamped tailing missions with multiple success paths, and the addition of three new crewmember officers with unique abilities. Gameplay enhancements feature reworked combat, improved parkour, more nuanced stealth, a dynamic weather system, and expanded underwater exploration. The multiplayer component has been removed, and the game integrates with the Animus Hub platform, featuring live service elements. Visually, the remake boasts enhanced graphics, lighting, and textures, with no loading screens when entering cities, and environmental destruction.
New Guild Wars card game “Mistbound” announced
ArenaNet and NC Corporation have announced Mistbound, a new collectible card game set in the Guild Wars universe for mobile and PC. The game features a dynamic 5x3 grid with directional movement for units and commanders, offering deep strategic gameplay inspired by Guild Wars 2's professions. Mistbound will be free-to-play with monetization hooks similar to other live service titles.
