live-service titles Archives

AppWizard

December 16, 2025

Techland is hiring for “a new online experience in the Dying Light franchise” just three months after launching The Beast

Techland, a gaming developer known for the Dying Light series, has faced challenges this year by canceling two projects mid-development but did not lay off employees. The company is moving forward with new initiatives, including a job posting for a Lead Online Game Designer to create "a new online experience in the Dying Light franchise." This position focuses on developing engagement mechanisms, in-game economy, and progression systems. There are speculations about a fantasy RPG that was shelved and a potential new entry in the Call of Juarez series. Techland continues to support Dying Light The Beast with updates, indicating ongoing community interest.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Concord’s surprise return might be short-lived as dev suspends invites after “worrying legal action”‘

A group of fans has initiated a project called Concord Delta to reverse-engineer Concord, a hero shooter from Firewalk Studios that Sony had declared "permanently sunsetting." They have developed matchmaking capabilities and planned private playtesting, but faced DMCA takedowns shortly after announcing their efforts. Following Concord's closure, refunds were issued to players, stripping them of legal entitlement to the game, complicating the reverse-engineering efforts. While boxed copies of Concord exist, the situation highlights the contrast between physical ownership and digital rights. The dissolution of Firewalk Studios raises doubts about a formal return for Concord, despite community enthusiasm for a potential free-to-play PC version.

AppWizard

September 19, 2025

Minecraft Faces a Class-Action Storm: Small Creator vs. Mojang and Microsoft

Kian Brose, a developer and content creator, has launched a crowdfunding campaign raising 0,000 for a class-action lawsuit against Mojang and Microsoft, claiming violations of European consumer protection laws. He alleges that Mojang modified its End User License Agreement (EULA) 47 times without proper notification, enforced hidden internal rules, and coerced players into migrating accounts to Microsoft under the threat of losing access, which may violate EU consumer law and GDPR requirements for consent. The lawsuit is opt-in, allowing affected players to join and submit evidence. Community reactions are mixed, with some supporting the initiative and others expressing skepticism about its viability against a large corporation. The lawsuit is set against the backdrop of updated EU collective-redress directives and could lead to various outcomes, including policy changes, dismissal, regulatory scrutiny, or a symbolic victory for digital rights.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

PlayStation’s Hulst: We want studios to “fail early and cheapy”

Sony Interactive Entertainment is enhancing its project development processes by implementing rigorous testing protocols following the costly failure of its live-service game, Concord, which incurred 0 million in development costs before being withdrawn shortly after launch. The company has canceled several ongoing projects deemed unfit for release and is focusing on learning from past failures to ensure early and cost-effective adjustments. Herman Hulst, head of studios, emphasized the importance of diverse player experiences and vibrant gaming communities over the quantity of live-service releases. The company is now adopting a more robust testing regimen to improve future projects.

AppWizard

July 4, 2025

EA is finally killing Anthem

Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that the game Anthem will be taken offline on January 12th, 2026. Players will no longer be able to purchase in-game currency, but any accumulated premium currency can still be used until the game's closure. EA has stated that there will be no immediate layoffs associated with this decision, although future job impacts remain uncertain. Anthem, developed by BioWare and launched in early 2019, struggled to gain a significant audience and faced a troubled development process, leading to the cancellation of an enhancement project known as Anthem Next.

BetaBeacon

February 3, 2025

My favorite mobile game from 2019 is back and more addictive than ever

Archero 2 has a similar gameplay loop to its predecessor, with the addition of new game modes and a faster, more difficult experience. The new tiered power-up system adds excitement, but the game is criticized for having too many menus and paid rewards. The game lacks weapon variety compared to the first installment, with only five weapon types available. Unlocking new characters takes longer, with some characters only accessible through paid options. The artifact system is criticized for being pay-to-win. Despite these criticisms, the game has been successful, generating an estimated .6 million in revenue in its first week.

AppWizard

July 31, 2024

Net revenue down 17% for EA’s Q1

Electronic Arts (EA) reported a net revenue decline of 17% for the quarter ending June 30, with net revenue at .66 billion, down from .92 billion the previous year. Approximately .4 billion of this revenue came from live-service titles, while full game sales contributed [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: In a recent financial update, Electronic Arts (EA), the renowned US publishing powerhouse, reported a net revenue decline of 17% for the quarter ending June 30. The company disclosed that its net revenue reached .66 billion, a decrease from .92 billion in the same period last year. A significant portion of this revenue, approximately .4 billion, was derived from live-service titles, while full game sales contributed 0 million. Performance Insights Despite the overall revenue dip, EA's net bookings stood at .26 billion, reflecting a 20% year-on-year decline, although it surpassed the company's own guidance. EA's CEO, Andrew Wilson, expressed optimism about the company's trajectory, stating, “EA delivered a strong start to FY25, beating net bookings guidance as we continue to execute across our business.” He emphasized the company’s commitment to creating “bigger, bolder, and more connected experiences” for players, highlighted by the record-breaking launch of EA Sports College Football 25. Adding to this positive outlook, EA's CFO, Stuart Canfield, remarked, “Strong execution, live events, and continued player engagement across our experiences delivered Q1 results above expectations.” He pointed to the impressive launch week for College Football and the anticipation surrounding upcoming titles such as EA Sports Madden NFL, EA Sports FC, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard as key drivers for momentum in FY25 and beyond. Canfield concluded that EA is well-positioned to achieve its multi-year financial objectives." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million. EA's net bookings were .26 billion, reflecting a 20% year-on-year decline, but exceeded the company's guidance. CEO Andrew Wilson noted a strong start to FY25, driven by the launch of EA Sports College Football 25, while CFO Stuart Canfield highlighted strong execution and player engagement as factors that delivered better-than-expected Q1 results. Upcoming titles like EA Sports Madden NFL, EA Sports FC, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard are anticipated to drive momentum for the company.