The era of live-service games has brought about new and exciting ways for players to engage with their favorite titles. But as the market becomes increasingly crowded and players demand more. Many industry experts like stg-game.com now questioning the sustainability of the existing live-service model.
As Fortnite enters its fourth chapter’s first season, the game continues to thrive despite being in the market since summer 2017. Although Epic Games does not release player count numbers, it’s clear that the game is still performing exceptionally well. However, in the world of live-service games, this level of success is becoming increasingly rare.
While there are still some games that have achieved significant success in this genre, many others are shutting down, causing concerns for players worried about the preservation of gaming history and future developers facing the challenges of the industry’s changing trends. Is it possible for live-service games to be successful on a smaller scale or do they need to be as massive as Fortnite to survive?
Unfortunately, this article cannot provide definitive answers to these questions. Instead, it serves as a tribute to the many games that are being lost to time, including one of the author’s personal favorites, Knockout City. The announcement of Velan Studios’ decision to close the PvP dodgeball game in June caused a genuine sense of sadness for the author.
Approximately one year after separating from EA to publish the game and adjust its economy for a free-to-play model, it seems that Knockout City’s achievements were not substantial enough to keep the game running. The question arises: what went wrong? According to Velan, over 12 million players joined Knockout City during its two years in the market, including a period in Xbox Game Pass and a year as a free-to-play game. Despite this impressive player count, it’s puzzling to consider that even a portion of those who purchased the game’s Brawl Pass and optional cosmetics could not sustain the game’s future.
Most games would be thrilled with these player numbers, but the fact that Knockout City and similar games are struggling despite having a substantial player base raises questions about whether development teams have unrealistic goals or if the in-game content simply wasn’t enticing enough.
Unfortunately, Knockout City is not alone in this scenario. In January alone, we saw the closure of several games including Rumbleverse, Apex Legends Mobile, CrossfireX, and Marvel’s Avengers, each of which felt prematurely ended compared to their original plans. If even Marvel’s Avengers couldn’t survive, perhaps there are larger problems at play.
The recent shutdowns of high-profile games like EA’s Anthem, the co-op shooter Evolve, and the music game Fuser, are a reminder of the instability of the video game industry. Despite having passionate fan bases, these games were unable to withstand the competitiveness of the live-service market. This is a devastating blow not only to the studios involved but also to game preservation as a whole. When a game shuts down, its players are left with nothing but memories and YouTube videos to remember it by.
The problem is not limited to just a few games. In recent years, we have seen a growing number of live-service games fail, even when they have a large player base. The reasons for this are complex and varied, but it often comes down to unrealistic expectations, lackluster in-game content, or the inability to maintain a steady stream of revenue. When a live-service game fails, the consequences can be catastrophic. In some cases, the closure of the game can lead to the closure of the studio as well, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.
The situation is especially challenging for game preservation. When a game shuts down, its code, assets, and data are often lost forever, taking with them an important piece of gaming history. While some games may be able to survive in the form of fan-made mods or emulators, the majority of them will disappear into oblivion, leaving future generations with no way to experience them.
It is easy to see why the live-service market is so competitive. Games like Fortnite, Warzone, and Rocket League have set the bar for success, and it is no surprise that other studios are striving to achieve similar levels of success. However, the reality is that only a handful of games can reach the summit, and the rest are left struggling to survive.
Epic’s Fortnite has set the standard for live-service games for the past five years and it appears that many other publishers are struggling to understand how to attract and maintain a large enough audience. The desire to become the next Fortnite is understandable, but the competition is fierce and the road to success is not easy. The live-service world is built on an economy that demands not just your money but your time as well. It’s a ruthless cycle that requires a constant stream of new content and engagement to keep players interested.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are games that have found a way to thrive in the live-service world. Games like Sea of Thieves, Genshin Impact, Rainbow Six Siege, Warframe, and others have established strong communities that support them. But, it seems that for every success, there are several more games that come and go, leaving their fans heartbroken.
stg-game.com says that for the live-service world to move forward, game makers must be able to accurately predict the size and behavior of their fanbase and be able to adjust their strategies as their audience grows or shrinks. This level of flexibility and adaptability is crucial in a constantly changing industry, but is it achievable?