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@Zuljaras Awesome! VR is amazing, enjoy!

I was looking forward to this but I’ve been disappointed by what I’ve seen so far. It doesn’t even really look like Hong Kong from the bits I’ve seen. Could be anywhere!

@riceNpea You're welcome

@Korgon Then the issue people have is not live service, but game monetisation. Obviously it costs money to create new content for a game, and there's different ways that can be monetised.

In my Astro's Playroom example, I believe the work that went into the Special Bots was "paid" by the promotion it provided for sequel Astro Bot.

The idea of the article is to challenge the notion that live service can only be executed in one way. As the comments prove, many are unable to parse this idea.

But for the point of discussion, let's consider some other examples which display a spectrum of different ways the live service model can be implemented, some successfully and others less so:

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Ongoing development expanding the roster of cars and tracks delivered through periodic content updates monetised through an Expansion Pass.
• Street Fighter 6: Seasonal character passes which include new fighters, available periodically as part of an annual cycle, monetised through an expansion pass or a la carte; free in-game events to drive engagement and short battle passes monetised with in-game currency and microtransactions.
• Genshin Impact: Narrative events and periodic open world expansions as well as new characters delivered on a six-week cycle monetised through in-game currency, both earnable through gameplay and with microtransactions.
• No Man's Sky: Gameplay and feature updates delivered periodically as well as rotating in-game events with no monetisation.
• EA Sports FC: Weekly player updates and content events monetised through a gacha system using in-game currency earned through gameplay or microtransactions for the annual life of the title.
• Splatoon 3: A catalogue of free cosmetic items updated infrequently as well as regular engagement events in Splatfests and Salmon Runs.
• Assassin's Creed: Time-limited seasonal in-game events which are free to participate in.
• The Crew Motorfest: New in-game playlists and vehicles delivered through a seasonal scheduled monetised through a battle pass and microtransactions.

All of these, delivered in different ways with different models and different monetisation schemes, are examples of live service.

As you can see, none of the above adopt the same philosophy as Fortnite or Call of Duty, which are obviously competitive shooters monetised through skins and battle passes.

There are many different ways to deliver a live service. Thank you!

@PsBoxSwitchOwner "There’s a bit of a gulf in what the community classes as live service. And what this article is trying to reach is totally the opposite."

Then the community needs to stop thinking in boxes and try and consider the positives of the model as well as the negatives.

@RoomWithaMoose Is No Man's Sky a live service? (The answer is yes, by the way.)

@crossbit "Games receiving permanent updates or additions at no extra charge to players isn't what anyone associates with the term live service nor any of its connotations, so don't try to be clever."

Well they should, because that's what it means. Obviously there was no charge in this particular example, but the "cost" was obviously interactive promotion/advertising for Astro Bot.

@PloverNutter You would if they added a new weapon every month over a prolonged period of time, each coming with associated challenges and content.

Fortnite wasn't planned as a live service either, it just evolved into one.

No one is denying that this is on a completely different scale, but the concept is still exactly the same. And it demonstrates it doesn't have to be bad.

@Markatron84 Haha, whoops!

@JalapenoSpiceLife C'mon man. I understand not liking the game and being critical of it etc. But there will be people devastated over this, we don't need to laugh at them.

@MrPeanutbutterz I mean, there is a level of dedication to doing something like this. Unhealthy and obsessive, maybe, but I certainly wouldn't have the patience.

This is an absolutely crazy story and a great article, Echo. I'm also not fussed about Trophies any more personally. Like, I'm happy to unlock them when I can, but I'd never put myself through anything like this.

Fascinating, though.

@Bionic-Spencer This is basically where I'm at. You're effectively making a new game at that point.

It's dead!

@breakneck A great weekend awaits!

@Ravix Never.gif

@2huwman Some people may want to use this, others may not. That's totally fine.

@dskatter The weekly Special Bots, the countdown, the regular updates — that’s live service.

The scenario you described is live service.

Stuff like this is stuff you can do with live service support by the way.

/ Runs.

Amazing guide, thank you Stephen! Can't wait to use this when I start playing the game!

@Old-Red "We also never got further developments of IPs like Jak and Dexter, so we'll never know what heights they would have reached."

Sure, but then you never get Uncharted or The Last of Us. 🤷‍♀️

@Golem25 In my opinion, Horizon is vastly superior to Killzone. I also have enjoyed Uncharted and The Last of Us more than Jak & Daxter.

All of these transitions have also been more commercially successful, but that's not really the point.

You're making bad comparisons because Guerrilla didn't work on Concord. In fact that was an entirely new team with a brand new idea. In any creative space, there will always be things that fail to resonate.

It doesn't mean you shouldn't try, though.

@awp69 Every game is a risk, though. It didn't pan out and it's easy to say in hindsight, but if you don't experiment then you don't get anything.

So yes, it's easy to say now, but a new Resistance would have been better than Concord. However, you wouldn't have got Resistance at all if Insomniac had been forced to only ever work on Ratchet & Clank.

@NoHope That's really not what they meant, though. They were just pointing out there'd be no God of War or Spider-Man scale title this year, and as much as we all love Astro Bot here, it's perfectly fine to admit this IP isn't on the scale of those. (Yet.)

Can't wait for that Unit 13 soundtrack!

@Grumblevolcano That's just not true, though, is it?

@Oram77 Epic week incoming!

Wow, I'm not surprised but still, what an impressive achievement from the Asobi team. I've not had a chance to play yet but I can't wait!

Can’t wait. They have a great foundation to work from, now they just need to fill the world (and school) with as many fun and magical activities as possible.

This will be a fantastic game!

@NoCode23 I have a lot of nostalgia for that viewpoint from classic GTA. I know it's slightly different here, but invokes similar memories.

I think this looks great. Definitely potential here!

This really does look like a PS3 game on steroids. And I really mean that in the nicest possible way; it's not a criticism at all.

The presentation is just incredible.

@Danloaded Oh, it's definitely getting panned by critics. But I don't think it really matters.

Unbelievable post-release support yet again.

Amazing interview, Rob! What an incredible opportunity!

@colonelkilgore I believe Concord's failings are multifaceted, with Sony's disconnect with its fanbase being one element of many.

However, I think the company's decision to axe this game in two weeks signals a much bigger issue: how did this game ever make it to market with this being the outcome?

@colonelkilgore Out of interest, what tune has been changed?

@Anguspuss We all thought they’d at least try! That’s why this is so shocking!

@Oh_fiddlesticks Nah this is done. This is unprecedented to take it offline so quickly. It won’t be coming back.

I’m actually shocked. 🤯

@DonJorginho It could still happen, I suppose.

@Bez87 Mobile games are great, though.

@Kidfunkadelic83 It's only a few hours long (and great fun). You could definitely get it done before next week.

Remember, only the Special Bots transfer so you wouldn't necessarily need to do everything else.

@riceNpea I don’t believe it’s possible to get a coffee for less than £4 in London, unless you’re going to Greggs or something.

@koverby Haha yeah, they’re very difficult.

@Netret0120 Can't wait for Hogwarts Legacy 2!

Who's an Astro Boff, then?

@Mortal That's correct!

@LifeGirl Somewhat true but I think there’s plenty of room within that portfolio of “Swiss army knives” to have a PlayStation. For many millions and millions and millions of people, the PlayStation will remain one of the ways they consume their games.

I just don’t see that changing in the near future.