Live Service
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Hands On: Astroneer Turns Co-Op Extraction Adventure, But Is 'Starseeker' Worth Playing In Early Access?
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions, the co-op focused spin-off of Astroneer, is now available in Early Access on Nintendo Switch. This new title shifts from the original's survival sandbox to a more structured extraction-style gameplay loop with time-limited missions and hostile alien creatures. While the game shows promise with its charming aesthetic and engaging co-op design, it currently suffers from bugs and progress-blocking issues typical of early access titles, alongside the inclusion of microtransactions.
GOALS Announces Partnership With Puma - Exclusive Cosmetics Added To Celebrate Major Milestone
GOALS is celebrating reaching 1 million active players by launching an exclusive in-game apparel collection in partnership with Puma. This collection, featuring custom kits, boots, and a match ball, was co-designed by both companies to feel native to the GOALS universe. The partnership aims to allow players to express their identity and style within the game.
EverQuest Legends Launches July 28, Pre-Orders and Beta Access Available Now
Daybreak Game Company and Game Jawn announced that EverQuest Legends, a reimagined version of the original MMORPG, will launch on July 28 for $19.99, including one month of game time. Pre-orders are available now, granting access to a beta period starting July 1 and offering an exclusive in-game title. The game will operate as a live service title with ongoing content updates and a $9.99 monthly subscription after the initial month.
10 years later, asymmetrical horror game Dead by Daylight sets a new concurrent player record on Steam, showing that the ongoing support is definitely working
Dead by Daylight, the 10-year-old asymmetrical horror game developed by Behaviour Interactive, has set a new concurrent player record on Steam with over 125,000 players. This surge in popularity is attributed to ongoing support, visual overhauls, and the recent addition of Jason Voorhees. The game is also available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, with cross-platform play enabled.
ArenaNet reiterates Guild Wars 3’s B2P no-sub model and place in ‘the middle of the MMO spectrum’
ArenaNet has reiterated that Guild Wars 3 will be a buy-to-play title with no subscription fees or battle pass subscriptions, emphasizing a fair monetization model. The studio aims for Guild Wars 3 to occupy a middle ground in the MMORPG spectrum, coexisting with Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 by offering a distinct experience.
ARC Raiders launches a new event and project, promises its slowed update cadence will be worth it
ARC Raiders has launched a new in-game event called 'The Forgotten Relics' which offers players 21 new rewards for collecting relics and earning merits. Alongside this, a 'Converging Paths' project is live until July 27th, tasking players with collective goals for additional rewards. The developers have assured players that despite a slowed update cadence, the team is responding to bugs faster and a major content update planned for October will be worth the wait.
Arc Raiders gives players what they asked for as "quieter period" leaves some bored: "no free loadout" in night raids or Close Scrutiny
Embark Studios is implementing a temporary ban on free loadouts for Arc Raiders' night raids and Close Scrutiny modes to increase risk and reward, a change requested by players. This comes amid a quieter period for the game, with major updates now planned every six months, and the studio addressing concerns about cheaters and item duplication.
What the heck are you playing at, games industry?
The article criticizes the recent surge in video game studio closures and layoffs, highlighting numerous studios shut down by major publishers like Ubisoft, EA, Embracer, Sony, and Microsoft. It questions the business strategies of these publishers, particularly Microsoft's handling of Ninja Theory and the high development cost of Xbox exclusives like Gears of War E-Day, while also pointing to the industry's pursuit of live services and infinite growth over sustainable development.
Extraction MMO Warborne Above Ashes kills all future development, servers to stay online
Qooland Games has announced the cessation of all future development for their PvP extraction MMO, Warborne Above Ashes, less than a year after its launch. The developers cited serious operational and business challenges as the reason for the decision. While content updates will stop, the game's servers will remain online with all existing content available.
Dead by Daylight celebrates its 10 year anniversary by adding the most sought after horror icon and teasing 'a…
Dead by Daylight celebrated its 10th anniversary with a fan event featuring new announcements, including the addition of Jason Voorhees and the first Indigenous Survivor, Shane Wiigwaas. The game will also receive a significant visual overhaul with updated character models, environments, and dynamic weather systems, alongside plans for new game modes and community-driven content.
Dead by Daylight Delivers an Unforgettable 10th Anniversary Celebration
Behaviour Interactive celebrated the 10th anniversary of Dead by Daylight with major reveals including new chapters featuring Jason Voorhees, Shane Wiigwaas, and Art the Clown, alongside collaborations with Iron Maiden, Ice Nine Kills, The Walking Dead, Silent Hill, Scooby-Doo, and Diablo. The developer also announced ambitious plans for 2027, including a visual overhaul, new game modes, and sandbox modding tools. A Dead by Daylight film is also in development with director Thordur Palsson.
Sonic Team head confirms possibility of a 3rd year of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds content
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka has indicated that Sonic Racing CrossWorlds could receive a third year of content if sales remain strong and demand is present. The game is currently available on Nintendo Switch.
It's bittersweet that the best time to play Destiny 2 in years coincides with its end, but I'm happy for the new players who get to experience its most liberating iteration yet
The final update for Destiny 2, despite marking the end of the game, is seen as a positive and liberating experience, especially for new players. This update introduces numerous requested quality-of-life improvements, loot refreshes, and activity revamps, making it the best iteration of the game to date. While the narrative conclusion may be underwhelming, the extensive patch notes highlight significant additions that revitalize the game's core elements.
Crimson Desert DLC "will be substantively different" to the main game, Pearl Abyss PR lead teases
Pearl Abyss PR lead Will Powers teased that the upcoming DLC for Crimson Desert will be "substantively different" from the base game in scope, scale, or size. The developer, known for its live service approach with Black Desert, continues to provide frequent free updates for Crimson Desert while working on the paid expansion.
Time to get a little sadder about Destiny 2: TWIDs are coming to an end
Bungie is ending its weekly 'This Week in Destiny' (TWID) blog posts following the launch of the final live service update for Destiny 2, Monument of Triumph. While communications will continue through other channels, the regular blog updates are entering hibernation. The Monument of Triumph update itself launched smoothly and is considered one of Destiny 2's best.
Are Games Getting Longer? The 2026 Data | TAG
Analysis of game length data from 2010-2026 reveals a significant increase in typical playthrough times, with the median notable release growing from approximately 16 hours to 25-27 hours. This trend is attributed to the prevalence of open-world design, marketing emphasis on content hours, and the influence of live-service models, leading to a decline in shorter, finishable games and contributing to player backlog guilt.
Destiny 2’s final update brings a huge number of Guardians back with the aptly-named Monument of Triumph
Destiny 2 experienced a significant player surge on Steam following the release of its final live-service content update, Monument of Triumph. The update brought back a large number of players, achieving the game's highest player count since The Final Shape expansion, and includes features like the return of Sparrow Racing League and a refreshed Pantheon.
Destiny 2's final update crushes the Steam concurrents peak hit by last year's Edge of Fate expansion
Destiny 2's final live service update, Monument of Triumph, has seen a surge in player activity on Steam, reaching over 164,000 concurrent players. This peak surpasses the numbers seen during the launch of the Edge of Fate expansion last year and the recent Episode: Echoes. The game is also currently the top seller on Steam due to a significant sale.
Destiny 2 hasn't had this many players in years: fans flood the servers as final update sends Bungie's MMO off…
Destiny 2 has seen a massive surge in player numbers following the release of the Monument of Triumph update, marking the end of active development for Bungie's MMO. Player counts on Steam have reached levels not seen since the Final Shape expansion, despite the game's previously low average player base. While the servers will remain online, no further updates are planned, leading to speculation and a fan petition for a Destiny 3.
The Tech Behind Dead by Daylight: Inside Montreal’s Biggest Multiplayer Hit
Dead by Daylight, developed by Behaviour Interactive, has achieved massive success as an asymmetrical multiplayer game through aggressive live-service execution and robust technical infrastructure. The game utilizes extensive player telemetry for real-time balance updates and a sophisticated skill-based matchmaking system. Its longevity is further supported by cross-progression features and integration with streaming culture, solidifying Montreal's position as a key game development hub.
