So far we have discussed many fascinating terms related to gaming, and today we will deal with another one – live service games.
What are live service games and what games can be included in it? Let’s check it out!
What Does This Term Mean
As a result, the game continues to attract new and regular players alike – ongoing updates keep them interested. New items, weapons or rewards provide additional motivation and bring freshness to the game.
Where Did This Term Come From
The term live service games originated from the concept of games as a service (GaaS), which gained popularity in the early 2000s, especially with MMO games such as World of Warcraft.
As online gaming evolved, so did the idea – developers saw the potential in adding new content to games on a regular basis. The idea quickly gained popularity among shooting games, action games or sports games. Today, some of the most popular live service games are Fortnite, GTA Online or Destiny 2, and all this games present gamers with new exciting updates.
Continuous Evolution of Live Service Games
So you already know the definition and origin of our term today. Now let’s take a look at exactly how those games are evolving with each update and what benefits they bring to players. The developers are keen on constantly involving players in the gameplay, so they regularly introduce new features to keep the game interesting all the time. Now let’s take a look at examples of those updates:
- New exciting elements – those may include new types of weapons, game mechanics, completely new characters
- Game balancing – developers, thanks to updates, can easily fix bugs in the game, or balance elements that are too weak or too strong by introducing patches
- In-game events – these types of games often feature various events, usually to accompany new seasons. During them, developers introduce new elements, such as game modes, items
- Additional benefits – one of the distinctive features of live service games is the so-called microtransactions, which allow players to purchase additional items such as skins, weapons, loot boxes with prizes or special in-game currencies. This is a key aspect from the developers’ point of view, as it generates revenue so that the game can grow
Advantages for a Player
Surely live service games have their drawbacks, some players complain, for example, about the constant changes and novelties in a game they know well. However, there is no doubt that such games have a lot of benefits. And what are those benefits?
- Creating an active community of players – in these types of games, players often form communities through cooperation and competition, as the dynamic nature of the gameplay encourages interaction
- Constant addition of content and updates – of course, a great plus is the addition of new content, features or modes, so the game is never limited and the player cannot get bored with it
- Keeping players interested – with the number of games available today, developers are often looking for a way to attract new players but also retain the experienced ones, and thanks to ongoing updates the game allows the player to constantly rediscover it
Conclusion
Now, having a full understanding of live service games, you can freely enjoy all the benefits that these games offer. You may not have even realized that your favorite game belongs to this type, and now you can be sure that you won’t get bored so quickly. So feel free to explore all the features and maybe you’ll even be tempted to make some deals to give your character a special touch and customize it to your liking. Have fun!