Live service games can either be the bane of our existence, or they can actually be worth a bit of fun if they are marketed and supervised properly. Former CEO of Bungie Harold Ryan pushed the genre of live service gaming to the stars with Halo and Destiny. Years after leaving Bungie, however, Ryan has seen what the fans are saying and has said that they are indeed “speaking with their wallets”.
Ryan spoke to GamesIndustry.biz and said, “I think the model is appropriate for some games, but I don’t think it’s appropriate for all games,” Ryan continued, “And I believe consumers are telling us it’s not appropriate for all consumers.” Which would be correct when you look at how the more recent trend of live service games have gone down, yes, I am speaking about the big-time flops the likes of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Concord.
Live service games are somewhat of a controversial topic at the heart of gaming, with Warner Bros. leading the pack at the very core of this controversy. However, fans are expressing their disapproval by not actually giving these games the time, money, or space to grow. Now I’m not saying all live service games are inherently bad or unprofitable, with titles such as Fortnite and Call of Duty remaining at the forefront of popularity and commercial success. These major established titles give other live service games very little room for success, however.
If we look at more modern game releases such as the upcoming release of Mafia: The Old Country which is priced at a reasonable $50, and I say reasonable because that falls far below the current industry standard as 2K believe that some audiences are interested in less-expensive and more linear narrative-driven games that don’t require players to spend too much of their hard earned money and time to enjoy them. This makes it pretty clear that the fans who are keener to play those linear titles will open up their wallets for those games, especially at a below average price point.
Ryan has stated that he would make another live service game if he saw the “right game idea and the right audience.” However, he has turned his nose up at the idea of a developer focusing too much on the business model as he said, “I think (for) sustainable careers, I think for the industry, it’s pretty clear that we can’t just pick a business model and say that’s the reason to make a game.” He’s absolutely right as developers’ projects and passions can easily get lost in translation when they fixate too heavily on the business model, especially when focusing on live service games. These models tend to be complex and can become overly convoluted if not approached with clarity and restraint. The team over at Rare recognize this as they have managed to nearly perfect their model for Sea of Thieves as it has managed to retain fans with its more recent updates!
Ever since Ryan departed from Bungie, the company has faced turbulent times, including significant layoffs and a major internal restructuring aimed at regaining momentum after missteps with recent releases. Their next big project is Marathon, a live service title that Sony, Bungie’s parent company, is betting will avoid the same fate as Concord. While we certainly hope that’s true, Bungie faces a steep uphill battle to reclaim its former glory.
Ryan recently stated, “Not everyone can be the number one most successful game in the industry… but I think we all could be shipping successful games.” This perspective comes on the heels of his appointment as CEO of ProbablyMonsters, a company dedicated to helping developers build strong foundations through early-stage infrastructure and support. Known for his sharp industry insights, Ryan’s sentiment resonates as fans around the world aren’t just chasing blockbusters; we want our favorite studios to consistently deliver exciting, ambitious, and well-crafted experiences.
What do you think about all of this? Do you think that live service titles should be fewer and further between? Are there ones you enjoy? Would you prefer it if that gaming industry profit model was eliminated entirely? Let us know in the comments down below!
