There was a time when video game developers could not rely on everyone having an internet connection. This meant that the games were final on day one. Any bugs in the game were in the game forever, and any game expansions had to be a full in-store package. Then came the internet revolution.
With the internet came a wave of a new style of game; the live service model. Live service video games are identifiable by releasing only as a foundation on day one, with future downloadable content coming at a later date. Developers promise that new game modes, characters, stories or content will come later, though all at an additional cost. The idea is, fundamentally, that a single game release can be an infinite source of revenue.
The word ‘infinite’ here assumes that gamers are willing to fork out more money to expand on a game they’ve already purchased.
The Problem With Live Service Gaming
The idea of live service gaming was novel at first, and early releases were successful. Games like Destiny 2 are still going strong, with a dedicated fan base that keeps going back again and again. But the problem is that greedy studios quickly … Read More..