According to the latest findings by the Game Developers Conference (GDC), it’s clear that live service games continue to dominate the gaming industry. Interestingly, approximately one-third of all AAA game developers are actively engaged in creating live-service games at present.
As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the rollercoaster ride that is the live-service market. It seems that only a select few games are able to amass a substantial player base, thereby ensuring their financial viability. Unfortunately, many live-service titles find themselves struggling shortly after launch, much like the fate of the game Concord. On the other hand, some projects, such as The Last of Us Online, never even see the light of day due to being cancelled altogether.
According to the report, about one third of AAA developers (33%) are engaged in creating games that are ongoing or live-service titles. Among the entire group surveyed, 16% are actively working on live-service games. Interestingly, while 13% have shown interest in developing such games, a significant 41% have expressed no interest whatsoever.
The report highlights that perspectives on live-service games can vary significantly among different developers. While some developers value the financial benefits and community engagement offered by a thriving live-service game, others express worries related to potential issues such as creative monotony, in-app purchases, and exploitative tactics.
The report mentions that one major issue associated with live-service gaming is the fear of market flooding, as several game creators have expressed difficulty in establishing and maintaining a loyal player community.
The survey provided some intriguing additional findings as well, such as an increase in the percentage of PC game development. While previously, 66% of developers indicated they were involved in PC game creation, this figure has now risen to 80%.
The analysis indicates that the surge in popularity can be attributed mainly to the rise of portable gaming PCs, with the Steam Deck’s success being a significant factor. Similarly, there was an increase in the use of online games played through web browsers.
It’s important to acknowledge that while many multiplayer games, particularly those offering live services, have achieved significant financial success across various genres such as MMORPGs like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14, action titles like Destiny 2, Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch 2, and Marvel Rivals, some have unfortunately been discontinued because they failed to maintain a sufficient player base.
In recent times, one of the more prominent instances of game development struggles was the competitive shooter “Concord,” which faced such a dismal launch that Sony opted to shut down its servers and refund all players only two weeks after release. The repercussions of “Concord”‘s failure appear to have extended broadly, leading to the closure of developer Firewalk, and whispers that other live-service games currently in development are also being scrapped. This includes rumors about the cancellation of a project at Bend Studios.
It seems that there has been speculation about a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) set within the Horizon universe, which was allegedly being developed by the studio behind Guild Wars 2, NCSoft. Some reports suggest that this project might have been terminated, with its development halted and the team responsible reassigned to other departments within the company. However, newer rumors hint that this may not be entirely accurate.
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2025-01-22 17:12