Live Service
Ongoing coverage on Live Service.
Latest coverage
Cinder City Will be a Buy-to-Play Game With Live-Service-Style Post-Launch Support
BigFire Games' upcoming MMO shooter Cinder City will be a Buy-to-Play title with post-launch support in the style of live-service games, including cosmetic microtransactions and battle passes. The game is currently PC-only at launch, with a console release planned for later, leaving cross-platform play undecided. Developed with Unreal Engine 5, Cinder City is slated for the second half of 2026.
2XKO wasn't a "mistake," Riot's Marc Merrill says. "We delivered a game that took risks"
Riot Games Co-Founder Marc Merrill stated that 2XKO was not a mistake, but a game that took risks, despite its development ending. He acknowledged the challenges of the fighting game market and the difficulty of sustaining live service titles in a competitive landscape. While 2XKO did not achieve critical mass, Merrill expressed pride in the team's effort and commitment to taking big swings with future projects.
World of Warcraft makes "different mistakes" each patch, but "that's to some extent inevitable, and a little bit our goal"
World of Warcraft Game Director Ion Hazzikostas and Associate Game Director Paul Kubit discuss the direction of the Midnight expansion and patch 12.1, Curse of Ula'tek. They acknowledge that mistakes are inevitable with large content rollouts and that the team learns from them, aiming for different errors in subsequent patches. The developers also touch on the importance of variety in content, future updates like Labyrinths, and express respect for the Final Fantasy XIV team.
NHL 27 review: Pangful to watch
This review of NHL 27 expresses significant disappointment with the franchise's continued lack of meaningful improvement, awarding it a low score for the sixth consecutive year. While acknowledging minor gameplay enhancements and improved music, the article criticizes the lackluster commentary, the missed potential of the Connected Franchise mode, and a significant step backward in representation for women in hockey.
Crimson Desert's first DLC is called Charting the Unknown, and it's out next month
Pearl Abyss has announced Charting the Unknown, the first DLC for Crimson Desert, set to release on October 15th. This new content will add story missions, homesteading, and romance features to the game. The announcement follows the recent "Enhanced" free upgrade and comes as the developer explores multiplayer and live service models, with a Nintendo Switch version also in development.
Ace Combat 8 reveals live service online multiplayer modes that include PvE, PvP, PvPvE battles, and a hangout space
Ace Combat 8 will feature Ace Combat Online, a separate live-service component with various multiplayer modes including PvE, PvP, and PvPvE battles. It also includes a social hub where players can interact, play mini-games like Pac-Man, and listen to Ace Combat soundtracks. Producer Manabu Shimomoto stated the social hub was created in response to fan feedback for opportunities to connect.
GamesRadar+ Fall Preview 2026: Your next favorite games make up our hefty Most Wanted list
GamesRadar+ has released its Fall Preview list for 2026, highlighting anticipated games across various genres. While Grand Theft Auto 6 is mentioned, the list focuses on other titles like Marvel's Wolverine, Control Resonant, Silent Hill: Townfall, Gears of War: E-Day, and Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, among many others.
Dune: Awakening lead says "100 hours isn't bad" to get out of the survival MMO, but its new single-player mode gives you "full control over the experience" and time you spend
Dune: Awakening is introducing a new single-player mode that allows players to customize their experience and potentially complete the game in fewer than 100 hours. Chief creative officer Joel Bylos stated that this mode offers full control over difficulty and other settings, contrasting with the more curated multiplayer experience. The developer is also looking into addressing player feedback regarding the grind in the multiplayer aspects of the survival MMO.
I'm excited for Stage Tour, but Rock Band 4 will take a lot to beat
Rock Band 4 remains the last active title from the plastic-instrument rhythm game era, a decade after its release. Despite challenges with peripheral availability and music licensing, the game continues to receive weekly track additions and maintain an active online community. While Fortnite Festival offers a new Harmonix experience, it does not fully replace the legacy or song library of Rock Band 4.
Usual June mixes Hades-esque action, crystal crabs and ghosts to make for a game that'll do well in your Halloween rotation
Usual June is an upcoming action-adventure game that blends Hades-like combat with a classic Halloween aesthetic. Players control June, a college student who must defend her town from crystalline crabs and ghosts using a morphable wrench. The game is set to release on October 28th and is available to wishlist on Steam.
Path of Exile 2's Director admits, "We had a lot of arrogance about how long we thought it would take"
Path of Exile 2 is set to launch on December 11, transitioning to a free-to-play model on Steam. Game Director Jonathan Rogers admitted that Grinding Gear Games underestimated the development time, particularly for the endgame and unique items, due to the game being fundamentally different from its predecessor. The team is now confident that the core elements are in a satisfactory state for the 1.0 launch.
All the key details about 'anime GTA' game Ananta
Ananta, formerly known as Project Mugen, is set to release on January 15, 2027, for PC, PlayStation 5, and mobile platforms. This free-to-play open-world RPG developed by NetEase features a unique urban setting with influences from Tokyo and Hangzhou, and promises a variety of gameplay mechanics including combat, exploration, and social activities, while notably not featuring character gacha mechanics.
Exterminauts Season Pass Won’t Make You Pay If You’re Willing To Play
Behaviour Interactive's upcoming third-person shooter Exterminauts will feature optional Battle Passes that can be earned through gameplay or purchased. Creative director Vincent Regimbald stated that these Battle Passes, lasting about six weeks, will offer new cosmetics and weapons. The game, launching in 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, also includes weapon mods and passive abilities called emblems that allow for deep character customization.
MMO Week in Review: Way too early access
This week's MMO news covers the early access launch of Stars Reach, which some consider premature. Other highlights include a look at Guild Wars 3's Kodan, Daybreak's acquisition of Cold Iron Studios, new content for EverQuest Legends, and an analysis of the survival game Stormforge. The article also touches on various other MMO updates, rumors, and industry discussions.
Helldivers 2 Has Reached Nearly 23 Million Players in Its Lifetime
Helldivers 2 has surpassed 22.9 million players across PlayStation 5 and PC since its February 2024 launch. Sony Interactive Entertainment highlighted this milestone, noting its success as PlayStation's most profitable live-service title, despite Arrowhead Game Studios not being a first-party developer. The game also recently arrived on Xbox Series X/S in August 2025.
Riot Games tag-fighter 2XKO to shutter development later this year
Riot Games has announced that active development for its tag-fighter 2XKO will cease by December 2026. Despite a dedicated community, the game has not achieved the player engagement necessary for long-term sustainability. While new content, including two champions, will be released through the end of 2026, the game will remain online with servers supported after active development concludes.
The First Descendant launches S4E1 with a new storyline, mega dungeon, and Descendant Raven
Nexon has launched Season 4 Episode 1 for its multiplayer title, The First Descendant. This update introduces a new storyline focusing on the final showdown with archenemy Karel, a new mega dungeon called Karel's Mothership, and a new playable character named Raven. The season also brings a new Conquest mode, transcendent weapon system, roguelike Trials mode, and character revamps.
'I would love that but we're cheap and poor': Jeff Kaplan speeds through everything players should know about his upcoming cowboy survival game, The Legend of California
Jeff Kaplan provided details about Kintsugiyama's upcoming open-world survival game, The Legend of California, set in gold-rush-era California. The game will feature a sandbox world with activities like trading, fishing, and ranch building, supporting up to 100 players on public servers with monthly resets. Kaplan also discussed potential future features like holiday events and pets, while acknowledging the game's current financial limitations.
Fallout 76 is launching The Slasher and legacy seasons on September 15
Fallout 76 is introducing a new content structure starting September 15 with 'The Slasher' event, which includes hunting clues, fighting fanatics, and a chance to earn unique Power Armor. The update also brings improvements for Xbox, unique weapon crafting, and 'Legacy Seasons' allowing players to revisit and earn rewards from past seasons.
Tactical co-op title Horizon Hunters Gathering is reportedly being retooled after disappointing feedback
Sony Interactive Entertainment is reportedly retooling the tactical co-op title Horizon Hunters Gathering due to negative feedback from playtests. The game, initially planned as a live service multiplayer experience, will have its scope reduced, and there's a possibility of cancellation if it doesn't meet Sony's expectations by year's end. Horizon Steel Frontiers, an MMORPG from the same IP, is also in development by NCsoft.
