End of live service games, publishers to shift back to premium game developments in 2024
- Thread starter DriedMangoes
- Start date
They’ll scale back, more than likely indie devs will take lead. But also probably more western devs.
Like we all thought fortnite would be dead by now? PUBG is still huge in Asian markets, other than Japan, where fortnite not so much.
Like we all thought fortnite would be dead by now? PUBG is still huge in Asian markets, other than Japan, where fortnite not so much.
If they do stop doing live service then I hope you all ready for the ad invasion.
I think the live service bubble already burst, and companies are still slow to react to it.
That's not to say we'll stop seeing seasons and battle passes, but I think things like trying to run a Destiny game with weekly content drops is dead. Even games like COD with all their multiple studios fail to keep up with even that slower content schedule.
The problems with live service games is ultimately even us as serious gamers don't have the time. If I do play a live service game, I have time for 1 at max.
On top of that, development costs just explode. Unless you have a massive hit on your hands, it just isn't worth it (and any "hit" will eventually fall off).
Again, that's not to say battle passes are going to disappear. I think people will stop trying to make a Destiny "killer". A game like Diablo 4 is the new model. It sort of pretends to be a live service game, but really isn't based on how little content they put out (still a fun game, just not one that you need to constantly play to keep up with content).
That's not to say we'll stop seeing seasons and battle passes, but I think things like trying to run a Destiny game with weekly content drops is dead. Even games like COD with all their multiple studios fail to keep up with even that slower content schedule.
The problems with live service games is ultimately even us as serious gamers don't have the time. If I do play a live service game, I have time for 1 at max.
On top of that, development costs just explode. Unless you have a massive hit on your hands, it just isn't worth it (and any "hit" will eventually fall off).
Again, that's not to say battle passes are going to disappear. I think people will stop trying to make a Destiny "killer". A game like Diablo 4 is the new model. It sort of pretends to be a live service game, but really isn't based on how little content they put out (still a fun game, just not one that you need to constantly play to keep up with content).
Fortnite still dominates the live service scene because it's easy to jump into a game or two and also it's hugely popular , top 5 everywhere around the world basically.
Also many live service games have died or failed.
So that means premium games and live service games are dead. That leaves us with Hi-Fi Rush and Kena Bridge of Spirits. RIP gaming.
Some AAA games are still sustainable if sold well and those are not bad games to end gaming with
Publishers and companies just need to budget better.
Premium games are going nowhere. They are the bread & butter of gaming.
Just look at the movie/TV industry to see where the problems lead. The movie/TV industry has a terrible problem of quantity over quality, made worse by so many streaming services. Netflix has a ton of new shows... how many are actually worth watching?
The movie industry chases trends instead of coming up with good content. Games do the same thing. I bet we'll see companies trying to copy BG3.
As a consumer of both, I only have so much time. Time is my limiting factor more than money. I technically could afford to buy more games, but wouldn't have time to play them anyway.
Take the time to make 1 great game instead of 5 ok ones. I don't buy that they don't know what will work or not. Are the mechanics fun? Is the story good? It isn't complicated.
The movie industry chases trends instead of coming up with good content. Games do the same thing. I bet we'll see companies trying to copy BG3.
As a consumer of both, I only have so much time. Time is my limiting factor more than money. I technically could afford to buy more games, but wouldn't have time to play them anyway.
Take the time to make 1 great game instead of 5 ok ones. I don't buy that they don't know what will work or not. Are the mechanics fun? Is the story good? It isn't complicated.
With the amount of live service games out already how do they expect gamers to keep up with playing so many? While justifying the cost. Seems like only a handful continue to be successful and you wouldn’t even call most of them good games.
I like the way Diablo 4 and Fortnite do it. Give me a new season every few months with enough content for a few weeks then I’m done till next drop. They continue to keep their games good and fun to come back to.
COD is the wrong way to do it. They do add content quicker than most, but with that many devs they still struggle with bugs and bad design choices. Makes me not even want to come back.
I like the way Diablo 4 and Fortnite do it. Give me a new season every few months with enough content for a few weeks then I’m done till next drop. They continue to keep their games good and fun to come back to.
COD is the wrong way to do it. They do add content quicker than most, but with that many devs they still struggle with bugs and bad design choices. Makes me not even want to come back.
Analogy:Live service are like stream service , and standalone games are like movies. There is only so much steam service one willing to watch and pay, but people can watch a new movie every week or fortnight
Now we need the even worse software as a service ( SAAS ) to die !!!
Now we need the even worse software as a service ( SAAS ) to die !!!
I keep saying live service is dead, but my two big games right now are Destiny and Diablo. I'm back into Destiny, and I'll be back into Diablo once the new season and patch comes next month.
Live service will always be successful for some games, but as a free for all open market, it is dead.
I think you will see games like Battlefield, Halo, etc move away from live service mostly and go back to DLC. they will likely keep some aspects of Live Service games, though....like Battlepasses.
Yeah and honestly, I see Diablo 4 as a "lite" version of Live Service. It technically is live service, but it isn't really dropping much content. The game is fun overall, but the seasons are mostly really scaled back, and easy grinds. Even a casual like me can finish a season in the first month without any crazy amount of playing time. The battle pass is super easy to finish and still enjoy other games.
They basically take a regular activity and create a slightly modified version of it, along with some new items to chase. They want you logging in, but clearly it is not meant to be the only game you play.
I actually enjoy Diablo because it doesn't try to suck up every free minute I have. I take weeks off at a time and honestly, that's a good thing. (granted there's still higher level endgame things to chase).
Destiny was still trying to do the "something new happens every week" thing, and I think that was unsustainable.
I totally agree. Diablo is my kind of live service. Overall it is pretty respectable to your time, and I think they will continue to make it even more so based on the seasonal model. That and their once per year expansion or DLC that’s paid? I dig it.
I’m not a big live service guy so I’m happy to see it scaled back. Usually there is room for one MAYBE two of these types of games in my routine. I think most of them are predatory and thrive on players’ fomo and most of the battle pass and paid crap is garbage. I know D4’s monetization costs are a bit excessive but I just don’t buy any of it. I think cosmetics in an isometric RPG are kinda pointless.
I have still barely played Diablo 4. Need to put some time in at some point.
As for Destiny - The engine screwed them, and they knew it going in. Destiny's biggest issue wasn't lack of content, it was the content lacked substance.
The worst thing Bungie did was remove weapon rolls and then reintroduce it with such limitation. Nerfing perks and fun didn't help either. The engram changes didn't help either.
Bungie went from D1 weapon grinding to the terrible power grinding in D2.
In D1 I spent So many hours trying to get the rolls on weapons from strikes, and had fun doing it. in D2 I felt all the weapons kinda sucked and the power grind, boring, annoying, and ultimate pointless.
I don’t mind a Live Service game that respects my time like Diablo 4. I hate the games that are a huge grind and then nickel and dime their players.
One good think about Diablo 4 is there is no bs overly specific task( like kill specific number of a mob in a certain amount of time) to advance or unlock the battlepass. Just play the game as per normal and you can unlock fully in a few weeks playing causally.