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It seems that the failures of Suicide Squad and Concord aren’t enough to deter AAA developers from chasing after their own golden goose. The GDC recently released a report highlighting various interesting statistics about the gaming industry. The most striking takeaway for me was that one-third of AAA developers are working on live service games. Despite numerous flops and several new games burning out instantly, there are still people who believe they can create another big hit.
Chasing the Impossible
Despite my dislike for the live-service trend, I can understand why many developers are salivating at the thought of having their own big live-service title. Just look at Genshin Impact‘s revenue, and it’s easy to see why having a popular live service game can be considered like obtaining a golden goose. Unlike single-player games that can only be purchased once, AAA developers can milk players by offering them numerous cosmetics and other in-game purchases.
The problem is that in their chase to make the next big hit, many ignore the fact that players are getting very tired of live service. Although live service could theoretically provide endless content and entertainment, it’s undeniable that these games are very time-consuming.
I’m currently playing several live services, and let me tell you, they’re very demanding of my time. In fact, it’s to the point of disrespect. From daily missions to battle passes, developers try their best to increase player engagement. They add limited-time events and rewards to induce the feeling of FOMO. It’s one thing if there’s only one game doing this, but numerous live services are using the same tactic.
Frankly, I’m tired. I’ve dropped several live service games out of exhaustion, and I know many others are feeling the same. Yet somehow, the AAA developers are ignoring players’ opinions and continue to release more live-service games. According to the GDC, one-third of surveyed developers are working on a live-service title, with 16 percent currently working on a live-service game and 13 percent showing interest in developing one.
When I saw this stat, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Is nobody noticing that there are more than enough live-service games on the market? Somehow, they’re planning to add more. No matter how you look at it, most of these projects will end up as failures, like Concord and Suicide Squad. It’s because of a very simple reason: there are only so many players and only so much time.
Adjusting Our Attitudes
I’m not expecting that live service games will fade away from the gaming industry. Pandora’s Box has been opened, and this thing is going to stay whether we like it or not. I think the biggest thing we must focus on is the reason why AAA developers are so insistent on making live service games. The answer is obviously profit.
Developers are going to make more live-service games because they see how much money one big title can make. They’re a business, so it would be dumb not to try to get the biggest money-making machine. As long as players continue to buy skins and other in-game purchases, developers will continue to provide the product.
Ultimately, if we want AAA developers to cease this live-service campaign, players need to stop wasting their money on unnecessary purchases. We need to fight against predatory tactics and perhaps even stop playing these games. It’s certainly a difficult task, considering many live service games are good and free to play. Yet, if we don’t change our attitude, more and more developers will try to make live service games.
