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- Fans have shown a complete distaste for egregious practices that plague live-service games, leading to failures like Concord.
- Conversely, narrative-driven experiences like Black Myth: Wukong, Astro Bot, and Stellar Blade have been major hits.
- The gaming industry is headed toward a future where the tables are turned, putting single-player gaming at the forefront once again.
PlayStation was quite excited about its live-service debut, and after an incredible first attempt with Helldivers 2, hopes were high for the gaming giant’s domination in yet another major part of the industry.
However, this success has come and gone, leaving only the remains of Concord in the aftermath. After one of gaming’s biggest debacles to date, PlayStation is sure to question its decisions and reflect upon the events that led to Concord’s failure.
At the same time, a passion project like Astro Bot has prevailed in the face of seemingly impossible odds. Look no further than Black Myth: Wukong for additional proof that single-player titles remain unparalleled.
Why it matters: Developers and publishers seem to be working against themselves by forcing GAAS(games as a service) on their audiences. Recent releases like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League have also seen fan-favorite teams like Rocksteady falling from grace.
Everyone Is Done With Live-Service
Concord is perhaps a bad pick as the face of the live service genre as a whole. However, it was, for all intents and purposes, a game that managed to highlight the problems of live-service gaming very well.
Gameplay trends that had already begun to run out of steam four years ago, unappealing character designs, and the obligatory battle pass; you name it, and Concord probably had it.
All these elements have shown up time and again in practically every live-service title. If recent failures are any indication, players are clearly not fond of this template, even if the likes of Fortnite or Apex Legends suggest otherwise.
Often, these games are designed with the goal of monetization above all else. It’s also immediately obvious that developer hard work and passion take the backseat as corporate meddling takes over, all for executives to boast about their record-breaking numbers during each shareholder meeting.
Needless to say, this is not what gaming is about, and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that most live-service titles feel soulless because of the corporate influence present in most, if not all, of them.
Single-Player Success In Face of Live-Service Failures
EA may have declared single-player a dead genre many years ago, but I’m happy to see the industry’s current trajectory.
Time and again, single-player games have stood atop the food chain, standing tall against the live-service competition. Last month’s Black Myth: Wukong stood in stark contrast to Concord, two AAA titles released very close to each other.
Its success served as yet another reminder to all the naysayers. If this wasn’t enough, Astro Bot has probably sent a strong message to all the higher-ups at Sony who envisioned a live service future as the only possible move forward for the PlayStation business.
Going even further back, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Stellar Blade, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth served as important demonstrations of the strength of narrative-driven experiences.
Free from the shackles of live service, these titles are brimming with creativity and passion, two traits crucial to any art form.
The Message Is Clear
I’m sure Concord’s failure will not deter publishers from greenlighting $100 million live-service projects that crash and burn long before they turn a profit.
However, it’s clear that the industry is going through yet another transition. Where the GAAS(games as a service) model was all the rage a few years ago, big studios have started returning to the single-player genre.
With an influx of Korean and Chinese developers in the industry, competition in this market will also be higher than ever as studios attempt to one-up each other, all while bringing their own artistic vision to the table.
In turn, this should lead to a thriving industry that respects the value of single-player games.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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