Live Service
Ongoing coverage on Live Service.
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Two genres and seven years on, Remedy attempt to define what a Control game even is in the lead-up to Resonant
Remedy Entertainment is defining what makes a 'Control' game for its upcoming sequel, Control Resonant. Creative leads Sergey Moho and Mikael Kasurinen discussed the challenges of establishing the game's identity, emphasizing an interplay between weapon attacks and combat abilities with an aggressive playstyle, differentiating it from the original's shooter mechanics.
Marathons framtid: gratis säsonger, "väsentliga skillnader"
Bungie has outlined the future of its upcoming game Marathon, detailing a seasonal content model that will offer new gameplay, zones, events, and equipment for free every three months. Each season will reset player levels and gear, but achievements and cosmetics will be retained. The first season, 'Death is the First Step,' begins at launch and will run until June, with the second season starting in July.
Assassin's Creed Shadows 'Moving Into Its Final Phase of Support,' Though Ubisoft Promises a Final 'Few Surprises' - IGN
Ubisoft is winding down support for Assassin's Creed Shadows, with the game entering its final phase of updates after its first anniversary. While no major new content or expansions are planned, the company has promised a few surprises. Development focus is now shifting towards future Assassin's Creed titles, including Codename Hexe and the multiplayer Codename Invictus.
The Division 2's new Realism Mode chops back the HUD, ammo and health regen, and is free for a month
Ubisoft has introduced a new Realism Mode for Tom Clancy's The Division 2, which is available for free for one month and is included with the Warlords of New York expansion. This mode removes HUD elements, disables health regeneration, limits ammo, and increases enemy lethality. The update coincides with the original Tom Clancy's The Division's 10th anniversary and a significant price cut for The Division 2.
Marathon Seasons Explained
Bungie has detailed how seasons will function in their upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon. The game will feature three-month seasons that are free to access or earn, introducing new gameplay elements, gear, and in-game events.
Highguard Closes Its Doors Just Weeks After Launch - GameHaunt
Wildlight Entertainment's free-to-play raid shooter Highguard will shut down its servers on March 12, 2026, just 45 days after its late January launch. Despite attracting nearly 100,000 peak concurrent players on Steam and over 2 million total players, the game failed to retain daily active users due to harsh feedback on its format and loot systems. Tencent reportedly pulled funding, leading to significant layoffs at Wildlight Entertainment.
Highguard Permanently Shuts Down on 12th March
Wildlight Entertainment has announced that its live service shooter Highguard will permanently shut down on March 12, 2026, just 46 days after its release. Despite initial player interest, the game failed to maintain a sustainable player base. A final update will add new characters, skill trees, and weapons before servers go offline.
"We now have a clear vision for how Sumo fits into the new world" - inside the slimmed-down Sumo Group
Sumo Group, now co-led by Gary Dunn and Andy Stewart, is refocusing exclusively on co-development and work-for-hire services for partners, moving away from self-funded IP. This strategic shift follows staff reductions and the divestment of several studios, with support from parent company Tencent. The company aims to leverage its expertise in working with established IPs and offers flexible funding models, including co-funding, to collaborate on projects across various platforms like PC, consoles, and Roblox.
Marathon Confirms Seasonal Resets, Which Means Everyone's Gear, Contract and Faction Progression, and Player Level Wipe Every Few Months - IGN
Bungie has confirmed that its upcoming extraction shooter Marathon will feature seasonal resets, wiping player gear, contracts, faction progression, and player levels every few months. While achievements and cosmetics will be retained, these resets aim to keep the game fresh and provide new opportunities for players. The game launches on March 5 with Season 1: First Step, followed by Season 2: Nightfall, introducing new content and systems.
Bungie lay out their Marathon season plans, which yes, includes forced resets for everybody
Bungie has outlined the seasonal plans for their upcoming shooter, Marathon, which will feature three-month-long seasons with new content and gameplay features. Unlike other games, Marathon will implement forced resets at the start of each season, requiring all players to begin with no gear and face the threat of death. While cosmetics and codex progression will carry over, players will need to re-earn stats and gear each season. The first season, 'Death is the First Step,' will focus on a gold rush on Tau Ceti and introduce a new end-game zone, Cryo Archive, later in the season.
Bungie Confirms First Two Marathon Seasons, Both Adding Free Content
Bungie has detailed the first two seasons for its upcoming shooter Marathon, both of which will offer free content updates. Season 1, launching with the game on March 5, 2026, will include a new end-game zone and a Ranked Mode. Season 2 will follow in June and introduce a new zone variant and customization system, with all post-launch updates confirmed to be free for all players.
Bungie lays out the plan for Marathon seasons: updates will be free for everyone, and the game will feel "meaningfully different" as seasons progress
Bungie has detailed the seasonal content plan for its upcoming game Marathon, which launches on March 5th. Seasons will be free for all players, last approximately three months, and introduce meaningful changes to the game. Season 1 will include a new zone called Cryo Archive, a ranked mode, new events, and a new weapon, with further narrative content and features planned for subsequent seasons.
RedOctane's 'next evolution in rhythm gaming' sure looks a lot like 2007's Rock Band
RedOctane Games has announced Stage Tour, a new rhythm-action game that heavily resembles Harmonix's Rock Band. The game aims to revive the plastic-instrument rhythm genre with new features and a focus on long-term content and live events, rather than sequels. Sign-ups for a closed alpha test are expected soon, with a holiday season release planned for PC.
Deadlock Hits 125,000 Concurrent Players After Old Gods Update
Valve's unreleased hero shooter Deadlock has reached 125,000 concurrent players following its "Old Gods, New Blood" update. This surge in player count places it near competitors like Overwatch 2, despite Deadlock lacking an official release date or marketing. The update added new heroes and a 4v4 mode, demonstrating Valve's commitment to the game as a live service.
Don't fancy trying Marathon this weekend? Lucky you, as there's now the chance to have a go at Horizon Hunters Gathering
Guerrilla Games' live service spin-off, Horizon Hunters Gathering, will hold a playtest from February 27th to March 1st. Players can sign up via PlayStation's beta program, though participation is not guaranteed. The playtest will be available on PC via Steam and PlayStation 5 during specific time slots.
Battlefield 6's meta progression needed 'a little bit of a rework,' says producer
Battlefield 6 producer Alexia Christofi acknowledged that the game's meta progression system required significant rework due to player frustration with repetitive challenges. Electronic Arts is adjusting its approach to challenges and the Battle Pass for future seasons, aiming for a more engaging player experience across its distributed development studios.
Is Overwatch Esports a Thing Again in 2026?
Overwatch esports continues in 2026 through the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS), a more streamlined and open format replacing the financially challenged Overwatch League. While not reaching the scale of titles like League of Legends or Valorant, OWCS offers a structured global competitive scene with regional leagues, international LAN events, and developer support, indicating a gradual rebuilding rather than explosive growth.
Arc Raiders is getting a hurricane map condition that will hasten your steps and blow grenades back in your face
Embark Studios is introducing a new hurricane map condition to Arc Raiders on February 24th. This condition will limit visibility, degrade shields, impede movement, and affect throwable trajectories. While challenging, the hurricane will also increase player movement speed with a tailwind and reveal new caches of gear.
Watch the Battlefield 6 Season 2 gameplay reveal here
EA and Battlefield Studios are revealing Season 2 for Battlefield 6 today, featuring a gameplay reveal stream at 8am PT. The new season, launching February 17, introduces a new map called Contaminated, new weapons, gadgets, and the return of the AH-6 Little Bird helicopter. This season continues the conflict between NATO and Pax Armata, with psychoactive smoke playing a role in gameplay.
PlayStation 5 had record-breaking sales during holiday season
Sony's PlayStation 5 achieved record-breaking sales during the holiday season, shipping 9.5 million units and contributing to a 16% year-over-year revenue increase for its gaming division. Monthly active users also reached an all-time high of 129 million. The company has revised its full fiscal year sales forecasts upwards, anticipating continued momentum driven by hardware, digital content, and network services.
