- A live-service title can run for years if the developer releases rich content regularly.
- That said, some developers have released a sequel to their live service games.
- The War Thunder producer thinks it is ‘dubious’ to think that a live service needs a sequel if fans are enjoying it.
Live-service games can perform well for years if they receive constant updates from the developer. So, it might not make a lot of sense for such games to receive sequels. However, sequels have been released for games like Overwatch, and while they received a lot of backlash, they didn’t actually fail.
While some may think releasing a sequel for a live service game is fine, many think it is not, and War Thunder producer is among the latter. We recently interviewed him, and he said that releasing a sequel for such games makes no sense.
Why it matters: Live-service titles can be viable even after a decade, just like War Thunder, released in 2013 and still going strong.
In a recent interview with Tech4Gamers, Vyacheslav Bulannikov, the producer of War Thunder, shed light on how it is meaningless for live-service titles to receive sequels.
There is no sense to release a sequel to a service that works. That’s why Apple has not released App Store 2.0, and Netflix has not released Netflix 2.0.
-Vyacheslav Bulannikov
He then stated that companies continuously improve their services, so there is no point in a sequel. It is about adding new hardware support and releasing updates to add new features to keep the fandom engaged.
A “2.0” release for a service is usually a reboot, and rebooting means that the company is trying to get lapsed users back or attract a completely new audience.
He then discussed how this decision can be interpreted as an indirect acknowledgement that ‘the old service was a failure.’ While this seems a little harsh, Bulannikov has made some interesting and valid points.
He thinks that it is not a good idea to release a sequel for a live-service game when it is already loved and supported by the fandom.
What do you think about the producer’s take on sequels relating to live-service titles? Do you agree with this take? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section, or join the discussion at the Tech4Gamers official forums.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.