Live service is a multiplayer game that is regularly updated with content. Think seasons and daily challenges in COD. Ultimate Team in FIFA. Weekly races and new cars in Gran Turismo. Stuff to keep the player coming back to see what’s new.
@MB81 Tbf, I don't even think it has to be multiplayer. For example, AC Valhalla has plenty of live service features, along with other single player Ubisoft games.
It's probably not as effective as in multiplayer games though.
No, there's some single player live service games (e.g. AC Valhalla) and plenty of multiplayer games that aren't live service (e.g. vast majority of Nintendo multiplayer games, most multiplayer games prior to the release of PS4/XB1). The most common live service approach since 2017 is the battle pass + microtransactions store approach where the "gameplay" is to complete the battle pass before the next one becomes available. Before then was the loot box approach.
The concept of live service is an evolution of some multiplayer situations so it depends in what said multiplayer includes.
I think the very first signal is: Do you need to spend money on it? If so it's a live service. Games like call of duty have been multiplayer focused for years but now you can spend real money on them to get stuff and that's what live service is all about. A multiplayer that is going to offer you new content with time and that content will have a cost. They are offering you an always changing service instead of a static product BUT will keep the core of the game design the same.
Obviously there is different types. DOTA 2 is a live service that maybe won't have a sequel. COD is a live service that is going to be obsolete the next time they release a new COD. And those kind of multiplayer are different that playing a Souls multiplayer, or the Uncharted 4 multiplayer.
Forums
Topic: Is Multiplayer & Live Service the same thing to you ?
Posts 1 to 12 of 12
Please login or sign up to reply to this topic