live service games Archives

AppWizard

December 24, 2025

Uh-oh, I think I’m finally all gacha’d out

The author has been involved in gacha games and RNG mechanics for over a decade, starting with mobile games like Love Live! School Idol Festival. They transitioned to various titles, including Genshin Impact, which launched in 2020 and expanded the gacha genre's audience. The author notes the overwhelming number of games from HoYoverse, such as Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero, and expresses concern about the sustainability of the market due to the rapid release of new titles and the fear of missing out. They highlight the transient nature of live service games, with many shutting down within a year, leading to doubts about investing time and money in them. Despite these concerns, the author still feels a desire for the excitement of gacha games and their character-driven narratives, suggesting that a reduction in the number of available titles could enhance the gaming experience.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

Minecraft could be in line for some big changes as Mojang hires former Ubisoft exec as new ‘head of Vanilla’

Minecraft Vanilla is the unmodified version of the game, maintaining its original gameplay without any mods or enhancements. Katie Scott has been appointed as the head of Minecraft Vanilla, starting in February, and she has a background in integrating microtransactions into games from her time at Ubisoft. Scott's previous roles involved aggressive monetization tactics and live service strategies in franchises like Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six. Concerns have been raised within the Minecraft community regarding her experience with monetization practices, including 'surprise mechanics' associated with predatory tactics. While Minecraft is already a monetized platform, the implications of Scott's appointment for the future of vanilla Minecraft remain uncertain.

AppWizard

December 19, 2025

Epic Games Holiday Sale 2025 slashes up to 75% prices on top PC games: Top deals, free titles, rewards and more

Epic Games' Holiday Sale will take place from December 11, 2025, to January 8, 2026, featuring discounts of up to 75% on various PC and mobile titles. Notable games on sale include Battlefield 6, Borderlands 4, EA SPORTS FC 26, and REMATCH. Free games will be available, starting with Hogwarts Legacy, which can be claimed until December 18, 2025. Players who log two hours in Hogwarts Legacy will receive a Fortnite cosmetic item. The sale will also offer Epic Rewards at a boosted rate of 20% for eligible purchases made using Epic's payment system. Additionally, the gifting feature will allow users to send games or add-ons to friends. Discounts will also be available on the Epic Games Store mobile platform.

AppWizard

December 18, 2025

Analyst firm says the games market is expected to reach a record-breaking $197 billion by the end of 2025, ‘driven primarily by stronger-than-expected performance on PC and mobile’

In 2025, the global games market is projected to reach 7 billion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 7.5%, driven by strong performances in PC and mobile gaming. The mobile gaming sector is expected to generate around 8 billion, accounting for approximately half of the total revenue, while the PC gaming market is projected to grow by 10.4%. Activision and Microsoft have announced a strategic shift away from releasing consecutive titles in the Call of Duty franchise. Despite a lukewarm reception, Black Ops 7 ranks seventh in total sales across consoles and PC. Titles like Monster Hunter Wilds and Civilization 7 continue to perform well in sales rankings despite challenges. Established live service games such as Counter-Strike 2, Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite, and Valorant dominate player engagement, with a newcomer, Peak, also gaining attention for its social interaction aspect.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

Phasmophobia devs say all that live service malarkey can do one: they focus on making ‘a fun game that people want to play because it’s fun’

Phasmophobia, developed by Kinetic Games, has become a popular ghost-hunting game on PC since its early access launch, earning around 340,000 "overwhelmingly positive" reviews on Steam. The developers emphasize that they do not consider it a live service game, offering only seasonal content without microtransactions or DLCs. They prioritize a healthy work environment and the freedom to release content when it is ready, focusing on player enjoyment rather than constant updates. The game aims to evoke nostalgia for childhood gaming experiences, encouraging players to engage for fun rather than feeling pressured by progression.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Escape from Tarkov launch times and release date for 1.0

Escape from Tarkov 1.0 is set to launch on November 15 after an eight-year beta phase. It will be available through Battlestate Games' client and on Steam, but players wanting full Valve integrations will need to make a new purchase. The game will launch at different times across various time zones: - 3 am PST (Los Angeles) - 6 am EST (New York) - 8 am BRT (São Paulo) - 11 am GMT (London) - 12 pm CET (Berlin) - 10 pm AEDT (Sydney) - 12 am NZDT (Auckland) A countdown timer and a special Tarkov TV broadcast will start at 12 am PST on November 15, with broadcasts available on Twitch. Preloading for the game is currently available via Steam, with an initial preload size of approximately 33 GB, though additional downloads may be needed once the servers go live.

AppWizard

October 23, 2025

Exclusive games are “antiquated,” Xbox president says, because everyone’s just going to go play Call of Duty, Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite anyway: “That’s actually what’s really driving community in gaming”

Xbox is redefining its approach to gaming by expanding titles beyond its platform, with president Sarah Bond stating that the concept of exclusives is becoming "antiquated." Popular games like Call of Duty, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Roblox are available on multiple platforms, driving community engagement. Bond emphasizes the importance of playing with friends regardless of the device. Xbox is focusing on cloud gaming and innovative devices like the ROG Xbox Ally X to enhance the gaming experience. Microsoft has indicated that the next Xbox console will offer a "very premium and high-end curated experience," prioritizing accessibility and community over exclusivity.

AppWizard

October 21, 2025

RPGs make up more than 30% of PC Gamer’s Top 100, so clearly we’ve settled on a favourite genre

This week, the annual Top 100 games list was unveiled, created by over 30 writers and editors through extensive discussions and debates. The list features 31 RPGs, with six in the top 10, including Baldur's Gate 3, Disco Elysium, The Witcher 3, Crusader Kings 3, Caves of Qud, and Elden Ring. The RPG genre showcases remarkable diversity, encompassing classic CRPGs, ARPGs, JRPGs, roguelikes, soul-likes, immersive sims, deck builders, and unique titles like one featuring a flawed cop with a chatty necktie. RPGs offer players agency through character builds and exploration, distinguishing them from passive entertainment. Notably, no MMORPGs are included in this year's list, indicating a shift towards games that do not require constant attention, as seen with the inclusion of Diablo 2 but not Diablo 4. This reflects a broader gamer sentiment for meaningful engagement without ongoing commitments.

AppWizard

October 18, 2025

It got a lot of love, but Arc Raiders ‘was absolutely not ready’ to release after its popular April playtest, says design director: ‘There were some bad bugs’

The final public playtest for the sci-fi extraction shooter, Arc Raiders, is scheduled for this weekend ahead of its official launch on October 30. The game received positive feedback during an earlier playtest in April, but design director Virgil Watkins stated it is "absolutely not ready" for release. A new feature called Expeditions has been introduced, allowing players to reset their progress voluntarily. The development team is focusing on game balance and has added a new map, with plans for more content, including new item sets and enemy types. The game will not be free upon launch, as the developers shifted from a free-to-play model to a paid model to enhance crafting and progression systems. The server slam has shown over 185,000 concurrent players on Steam.

AppWizard

October 15, 2025

Shocktober Is Back: Thrilling Events, Devilish Deals, and More Reasons to Love Xbox Game Pass

The Xbox Shocktober event runs from October 16 to November 2, featuring live service games, seasonal content, and sales for both console and PC. Highlights include: - Games on Sale: - Hell is Us: A semi-open world game with melee combat and exploration. - Dead by Daylight: Base Game: A survival game where players can be either Survivors or a Killer. - Little Nightmares III Deluxe Edition: Players navigate a nightmarish world with two characters. - New Titles on Xbox Game Pass: - Hogwarts Legacy: An open-world action RPG set in the wizarding world of the 1800s. - The Casting of Frank Stone: A narrative-driven game set in a haunted town influenced by player decisions. - In-Game Halloween Events: - Fortnitemares 2025: Features horror icons like Doja Cat and characters such as Jason and Ghost Face. - Overwatch 2: Haunted Masquerade: A seasonal celebration with spooky themes and cosmetics. - FragPunk: A tower defense mode where players face monsters and uncover chaos in the Shardverse.