Live Service
Ongoing coverage on Live Service.
Latest coverage
Rumour: Assassin's Creed Invictus Is So Bad That It Could Get Cancelled
Reports suggest that Ubisoft's upcoming multiplayer Assassin's Creed title, codenamed Assassin's Creed Invictus, is performing poorly in playtests. There is a possibility the game could be delayed or even cancelled due to its current state, despite being in development for several years and reportedly led by the For Honor team.
It may have taken almost three years, but Diablo 4 finally feels finished to me
The Diablo 4 expansion, Lord of Hatred, has finally made the game feel complete, addressing its initial shortcomings with robust endgame content and a compelling narrative. Significant overhauls to core systems, including a new skill tree that offers more buildcrafting freedom and a revamped tempering system, have transformed the player experience. The expansion also introduces new classes and a crafting system inspired by Path of Exile, concluding the current story arc and making Diablo 4 a worthwhile experience for lapsed players.
Engagement Ring
Far Far West has sold 250,000 copies in its first 48 hours. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's success has led to its live support being officially extended into a third year, with Steam player counts continuing to rise.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Has Done So Well, Live Support Has Been Officially Extended Into a Third Year
Publisher Focus Entertainment has announced that live support for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has been officially extended into a third year. This indicates a continued commitment to post-launch content and updates for the game.
FFXIV Director Explains Plans to Sunset PS4 Version, Estimated to Last Through Patch 8.3
Final Fantasy XIV director has explained plans to sunset the PlayStation 4 version of the game, with support estimated to continue until patch 8.3. While the upcoming expansion and subsequent content will still be available on PS4, the aging hardware is reportedly reaching its limits.
KRAFTON ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2026 RESULTS
KRAFTON announced record-breaking first quarter 2026 financial results, with revenue reaching KRW 1.3714 trillion and operating profit at KRW 561.6 billion. The PUBG IP franchise saw significant growth, contributing to the company's success. Future growth drivers include the scaling up of inZOI, the early access launch of Subnautica 2, and advancements in their AI for Game initiative.
Facepunch launches s&box, the highly anticipated successor to Garry's Mod
Facepunch Studios has launched s&box, the spiritual successor to Garry's Mod, built on the Source 2 engine. This game creation platform allows developers to release and monetize games, with plans for standalone Steam releases. While the platform is open source and aims for constant updates, early reports indicate significant performance and download speed issues.
In Kiln, Creating "Weird Little Guys" Is More Important Censorship
Kiln director Derek Brand discusses Double Fine's approach to player creativity and content moderation in the pottery party brawler. The game prioritizes enabling players to express themselves, offering moderation tools as options rather than limitations. Brand also touches on the game's development, its multiplayer-focused nature, and the support from Microsoft and Rare.
Alien: Isolation Sequel Will Be Made in UE5 and Have a "Multi-Year" Release
Job listings for the upcoming Alien: Isolation sequel reveal it will be built using Unreal Engine 5 and potentially feature a multi-year release plan, possibly including Early Access or live-service elements. Sega and Creative Assembly released a new teaser trailer for the game, which was first confirmed in October 2024.
ARC Raiders Explained – What the Game Is and How It Works in 2026 | Invision Game Community
ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction shooter where players gather resources and loot from hostile environments, fighting both AI-controlled ARC machines and other players. The core gameplay loop involves entering maps with limited gear, collecting items, and extracting safely to keep loot, with failure resulting in the loss of all collected items from that run. The game continues to be an active live-service title in 2026 with ongoing updates and a focus on risk, survival, and resource management.
Free Gran Turismo 7 Update Adds Everything from Supercars to a Twingo
Gran Turismo 7 has received a new update adding three cars: the Porsche 911 Turbo S Leichtbau (964) '93, Renault Twingo '93, and Yangwang U9 '24. The update also includes a new Café menu, World Circuit events, and "Power Pack Challenges" for the Power Pack expansion. While some players hoped for PlayStation VR2 support, the game's ongoing support and content additions continue to be a strong point for the racing simulation.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Expansion Launches April 28 With New Classes
Blizzard Entertainment announced that the Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred expansion will launch on April 28th, introducing two new classes, the Paladin and Warlock, and significant overhauls to the endgame and skill trees. The expansion focuses on the antagonist Mephisto and aims to address player feedback regarding build diversity and endgame content. This substantial content drop is positioned to revitalize player engagement for the live-service action RPG.
ARC GAMES ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP TEAM UPDATES TO SUPPORT CONTINUED GROWTH AS AN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER
Arc Games, an independent publisher of AA and indie titles, has announced several key leadership updates to support its continued growth. Michael Borras joins as VP of Business Development, while Jason Park, Zheng Zeng, and Jooyoung Chung take on expanded roles as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Technical Officer, and VP of Live Services, respectively. These changes aim to strengthen operational capabilities, expand global partnerships, and support the company's diverse publishing portfolio.
Back in 2009, an experimental free-to-play Battlefield predicted our grim live service present: 'It will need to be the most popular Battlefield game of all time to be profitable'
Battlefield Heroes, an experimental free-to-play title from 2009, is analyzed as a precursor to modern live service games. Senior producer Ben Cousins discussed the game's development approach, which involved monitoring player feedback and implementing 'sticky' progression systems to ensure profitability and player engagement. The article notes how the game's cosmetic customization evolved into a pay-to-win model, foreshadowing common practices in the live service genre.
Arc Raiders players all sigh with relief as Embark extends new Expedition challenge window from 5 days to 13, and confirms it's "approximately equivalent to destroying 20 Bastions"
Embark Studios has extended the challenge window for the new Expedition system in Arc Raiders from five days to thirteen, addressing player concerns about limited time. The developer also clarified that the damage required to earn bonus skill points is equivalent to destroying approximately 20 Bastions, with individual damage contributions counting in co-op. These changes aim to make the system more agreeable and enjoyable for players.
The Legacy of Killer Instinct
Killer Instinct (2013) is a critically acclaimed fighting game that launched with the Xbox One, evolving significantly over time as a live-service title. Despite initial mixed reviews and controversy over its free-to-play model, it became a defining game for the console, showcasing Microsoft's digital-first vision and offering a pro-consumer approach to monetization. The game's legacy is further cemented by its availability on PC and Xbox Series X/S, and its successful transition from its Nintendo origins.
Aion 2, sequel to a beloved Korean MMO, is getting a global release this year from publisher NCSoft
NCSoft has announced that Aion 2, the sequel to the popular Korean MMORPG Aion, will receive a global PC release in 2026. The game will be available on Steam and NCSoft's Purple launcher, with official servers planned for North America, South America, Europe, and Japan. While Aion 2 received mixed reception in South Korea and Taiwan due to its monetization model and botting issues, NCSoft aims to address these concerns for the global launch.
GTA Online’s 420 Event Brings Trippy Stoner Survival Mode & Big Rewards
Rockstar Games is celebrating 420 in Grand Theft Auto Online with a new Stoner Survival mode featuring psychedelic combat against bizarre enemies. The event, running through April 22, offers 4X GTA$ and RP rewards, a bonus for completing the weekly challenge, discounts on weed farm businesses, and the return of Peyote Plants. This themed event highlights Rockstar's mastery of live service scheduling and content delivery, maintaining player engagement while developing Grand Theft Auto 6.
What Egosoft's three decades of making space sims tells us about serving 'niche' audiences
Egosoft, a German studio with three decades of experience, has found success by serving a niche audience with its X space simulation series, particularly with X4: Foundations. CEO Bernd Lahahn discusses how the company's iterative development model, community engagement, and focus on deep simulation have allowed them to thrive, even as the broader market shifts towards simpler, more social games. Despite challenges in approachability for younger players, Egosoft believes its complex space empire builder has multigenerational appeal.
War Thunder Patches Critical Map Exploits in Community-Driven Update
Gaijin Entertainment released a War Thunder update addressing critical map exploits on Kuban and Mozdok, demonstrating a community-focused approach to live service maintenance. The developer emphasized transparency, noting that patch notes highlight key changes and that bug fixes are prioritized based on importance, a shift from previous development cycles.
