Premium live-service games are failing. Why is Diablo 4 a success?
Live-service games face challenges with high-profile failures; success arises from creating quality experiences instead of strictly adhering to the live-service model.
Bethesda Veteran Says Players Are "Fatigued" By Seemingly Endless Games
Players are experiencing fatigue from lengthy games amid a saturation of offerings in the gaming industry.
Destiny: Rising, the upcoming mobile game, highlights how great Destiny used to be
Destiny: Rising aims to recapture the original game's grindy essence but faces challenges in player engagement and enjoyment compared to Destiny 2.
Promoting Better Discovery in Elden Ring's Combat Systems
Elden Ring's communication about buffs and debuffs limits player creativity and engagement.
Players struggle to understand gameplay mechanics without community support.
Improving communication of game mechanics could enhance player experience.
Silent Hill 2 remake's strange photo puzzle has been solved, hinting at new layer to its story
Players uncovered a hidden message in Silent Hill 2 remake's photos, deepening the game's narrative experience.
Assist Me In Designing a Board Game - Part 3 | HackerNoon
The game design aims to teach happiness metrics through life choices in an engaging and educational format.
Premium live-service games are failing. Why is Diablo 4 a success?
Live-service games face challenges with high-profile failures; success arises from creating quality experiences instead of strictly adhering to the live-service model.
Bethesda Veteran Says Players Are "Fatigued" By Seemingly Endless Games
Players are experiencing fatigue from lengthy games amid a saturation of offerings in the gaming industry.
Destiny: Rising, the upcoming mobile game, highlights how great Destiny used to be
Destiny: Rising aims to recapture the original game's grindy essence but faces challenges in player engagement and enjoyment compared to Destiny 2.
Promoting Better Discovery in Elden Ring's Combat Systems
Elden Ring's communication about buffs and debuffs limits player creativity and engagement.
Players struggle to understand gameplay mechanics without community support.
Improving communication of game mechanics could enhance player experience.
Silent Hill 2 remake's strange photo puzzle has been solved, hinting at new layer to its story
Players uncovered a hidden message in Silent Hill 2 remake's photos, deepening the game's narrative experience.
Assist Me In Designing a Board Game - Part 3 | HackerNoon
The game design aims to teach happiness metrics through life choices in an engaging and educational format.
Weaning mobile game players off in-app purchases with effective D2C marketing
D2C strategies are complex for mobile game developers, requiring expertise beyond game creation to effectively manage web shops.
'Super Smash Bros.' Creator Calls Out a Gaming Trend That's Bad for Players and Developers
Game developers should prioritize offering fun experiences over focusing on playtime lengths.
Almost 19,000 new games were released on Steam in 2024, more than any year before
The games industry saw significant growth in Steam releases in 2024, but discoverability issues persist.
Black Ops 6 Had Call of Duty's 'Biggest Ever' Launch Month, Says Activision
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has achieved unprecedented player engagement in its first month, marking it as the most successful launch in the series history.
Palworld Adding Arena Mode That Looks Like PvP
Palworld Arena announced as a new PvP mode in the game.
Pocketpair has found a compelling way to introduce PvP despite initial concerns.
A good game like Concord just isn't good enough anymore
Concord, a game that struggled to engage players, has been shut down just weeks after launch due to poor reception and low player counts.
Weaning mobile game players off in-app purchases with effective D2C marketing
D2C strategies are complex for mobile game developers, requiring expertise beyond game creation to effectively manage web shops.
'Super Smash Bros.' Creator Calls Out a Gaming Trend That's Bad for Players and Developers
Game developers should prioritize offering fun experiences over focusing on playtime lengths.
Almost 19,000 new games were released on Steam in 2024, more than any year before
The games industry saw significant growth in Steam releases in 2024, but discoverability issues persist.
Black Ops 6 Had Call of Duty's 'Biggest Ever' Launch Month, Says Activision
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has achieved unprecedented player engagement in its first month, marking it as the most successful launch in the series history.
Palworld Adding Arena Mode That Looks Like PvP
Palworld Arena announced as a new PvP mode in the game.
Pocketpair has found a compelling way to introduce PvP despite initial concerns.
A good game like Concord just isn't good enough anymore
Concord, a game that struggled to engage players, has been shut down just weeks after launch due to poor reception and low player counts.
HPL Games: Pioneering The Future Of Mobile Gaming With Blockchain Integration | HackerNoon
HPL Games is reshaping mobile gaming by integrating blockchain technology, enabling players greater flexibility and value through a tokenized in-game economy.
Monster Hunter Now's first IRL event proves that the Pokemon Go-like app is here to stay for another "5, 10, or more" years
Monster Hunter Now targets core mobile gamers with a supportive, enjoyable gaming experience, prioritizing player engagement over aggressive monetization.
Electronic Arts, Xsolla talk 5 best practices for mobile game monetization
Mobile game monetization requires clear value propositions to entice users into web shops.
Reducing friction in payment processes is crucial for converting engaged players.
HPL Games: Pioneering The Future Of Mobile Gaming With Blockchain Integration | HackerNoon
HPL Games is reshaping mobile gaming by integrating blockchain technology, enabling players greater flexibility and value through a tokenized in-game economy.
Monster Hunter Now's first IRL event proves that the Pokemon Go-like app is here to stay for another "5, 10, or more" years
Monster Hunter Now targets core mobile gamers with a supportive, enjoyable gaming experience, prioritizing player engagement over aggressive monetization.
Electronic Arts, Xsolla talk 5 best practices for mobile game monetization
Mobile game monetization requires clear value propositions to entice users into web shops.
Reducing friction in payment processes is crucial for converting engaged players.
Pokemon TCG Pocket players are heads over heels for a new addition to the cosmetic store
The newly introduced Mew coin from the Mythical Island pack update has become a favorite among players, inspiring memes and enhancing community engagement.
NBA All-Star 2025: Warriors will host new tournament format at Chase Center
The NBA All-Star Game this season will adopt a new competitive tournament format featuring four teams, aiming to reduce scoring and increase engagement.
KD on new All-Star format: 'I absolutely hate it'
Kevin Durant and other stars criticize the NBA All-Star Game's new tournament format, favoring a return to the traditional East-West matchup.
The NBA can tinker with the All-Star Game all it wants, but there's only one fix
The primary solution for an exciting All-Star Game is to encourage players to compete hard during the match.
NBA Emirates Cup: Toronto Raptors hope to make more of a splash in second in-season tournament
The NBA's In-Season Tournament, now the Emirates NBA Cup, enhances excitement in the regular season and boosts player engagement.
NBA All-Star 2025: Warriors will host new tournament format at Chase Center
The NBA All-Star Game this season will adopt a new competitive tournament format featuring four teams, aiming to reduce scoring and increase engagement.
KD on new All-Star format: 'I absolutely hate it'
Kevin Durant and other stars criticize the NBA All-Star Game's new tournament format, favoring a return to the traditional East-West matchup.
The NBA can tinker with the All-Star Game all it wants, but there's only one fix
The primary solution for an exciting All-Star Game is to encourage players to compete hard during the match.
NBA Emirates Cup: Toronto Raptors hope to make more of a splash in second in-season tournament
The NBA's In-Season Tournament, now the Emirates NBA Cup, enhances excitement in the regular season and boosts player engagement.
Blizzard Is Giving Out Free Diablo 4 Boosts (And Automatically Unlocking Those Annoying Lilith Altars)
Diablo 4 introduces a "Welcome Back" booster, allowing players to elevate a character to level 50 and unlock crucial game features.
Blizzard's updates have restructured gameplay, making this booster a necessary aid for returning players.
Hunt: Showdown Is Having Its Best Day Ever On Steam Following Ambitious 1896 Update
Hunt: Showdown's 1896 re-launch significantly boosts player engagement, showcasing the effectiveness of major updates and enhancements.
Helldivers 2 Players Crush Illuminate Invaders In Under A Week
The Helldivers 2 update introduced a new alien race, leading to significant player involvement and a quick repulsion of their invasion.
Helldivers 2 players reckon the Democracy Space Station saga is starting to drag a bit, cue speculation about exactly how final its "final phase" might be
Players are eagerly waiting for rewards after significant efforts in Helldivers 2, but uncertainty about the final phase of construction lingers.
'Overwatch 2' Is Finally Giving Players What They What - But Only for Another Week
Overwatch 2's Junkenstein's Laboratory mode has been extended due to its positive reception and player desire for extended gameplay experiences.
As Arrowhead unleashes a "massive Terminid outbreak", Helldivers 2's napalm barrageless legions cite low morale as a factor in their latest defeat
Community frustration contributing to Helldivers 2 Major Order failure
Players experience low morale and frustration with game updates
Disconnect between Arrowhead's decisions and player sentiment
Blizzard Is Giving Out Free Diablo 4 Boosts (And Automatically Unlocking Those Annoying Lilith Altars)
Diablo 4 introduces a "Welcome Back" booster, allowing players to elevate a character to level 50 and unlock crucial game features.
Blizzard's updates have restructured gameplay, making this booster a necessary aid for returning players.
Hunt: Showdown Is Having Its Best Day Ever On Steam Following Ambitious 1896 Update
Hunt: Showdown's 1896 re-launch significantly boosts player engagement, showcasing the effectiveness of major updates and enhancements.
Helldivers 2 Players Crush Illuminate Invaders In Under A Week
The Helldivers 2 update introduced a new alien race, leading to significant player involvement and a quick repulsion of their invasion.
Helldivers 2 players reckon the Democracy Space Station saga is starting to drag a bit, cue speculation about exactly how final its "final phase" might be
Players are eagerly waiting for rewards after significant efforts in Helldivers 2, but uncertainty about the final phase of construction lingers.
'Overwatch 2' Is Finally Giving Players What They What - But Only for Another Week
Overwatch 2's Junkenstein's Laboratory mode has been extended due to its positive reception and player desire for extended gameplay experiences.
As Arrowhead unleashes a "massive Terminid outbreak", Helldivers 2's napalm barrageless legions cite low morale as a factor in their latest defeat
Community frustration contributing to Helldivers 2 Major Order failure
Players experience low morale and frustration with game updates
Disconnect between Arrowhead's decisions and player sentiment
Suicide Squad Fans Get Hyped For Deathstroke As Offline Mode Arrives With Final Season
Deathstroke's addition to Suicide Squad revives excitement among players as Season 4 approaches, marking a positive change amid ongoing game criticisms.
Would you play one of 2024's worst-rated AAA games if it was on sale for 95% off? You're about to find out
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is experiencing a significant 95% discount, aiming to boost player interest after a disappointing launch.
Suicide Squad Fans Get Hyped For Deathstroke As Offline Mode Arrives With Final Season
Deathstroke's addition to Suicide Squad revives excitement among players as Season 4 approaches, marking a positive change amid ongoing game criticisms.
Would you play one of 2024's worst-rated AAA games if it was on sale for 95% off? You're about to find out
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is experiencing a significant 95% discount, aiming to boost player interest after a disappointing launch.
Palworld Early Access roadmap revealed as the game sails past 7 million copies sold
Palworld has achieved massive success, surpassing 7 million copies sold and breaking the 2 million concurrent player barrier.
The development team will address critical issues and bugs first, and then focus on implementing improvements and planned future updates.
PlayStation's Failed Sci-Fi Shooter Proves This Gaming Trend Is Finally Dead
Concord's poor player engagement indicates significant challenges for live-service games in the current market, raising questions about future game development strategies.
Ubisoft is giving up on XDefiant
Ubisoft's XDefiant will shut down on June 3, 2025, after struggling to maintain long-term player engagement despite an initially strong launch.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Hackers Are Already Playing As Next Season's Character
Hackers leaked unreleased characters and seasonal content in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Warner Bros. and Rocksteady are actively working to remove leaks and spoilers from the internet.
The game's first season faced criticism for its grind-heavy approach and low player numbers on Steam.
From Clicks to Value: TapSwap's Sustainable Approach to Tap-to-Earn | HackerNoon
Tap-to-earn games aim to be accessible but face questions about sustainability and engagement.
Baldur's Gate 3 Studio's Next Game Will Likely Launch In Early Access Too
Early access is crucial for developers to maintain a constant dialogue with players and reduce risks in game development.
Despite its benefits, early access can be daunting as it transforms companies into live-service entities but also provides agility for survival.
Palworld Early Access roadmap revealed as the game sails past 7 million copies sold
Palworld has achieved massive success, surpassing 7 million copies sold and breaking the 2 million concurrent player barrier.
The development team will address critical issues and bugs first, and then focus on implementing improvements and planned future updates.
PlayStation's Failed Sci-Fi Shooter Proves This Gaming Trend Is Finally Dead
Concord's poor player engagement indicates significant challenges for live-service games in the current market, raising questions about future game development strategies.
Ubisoft is giving up on XDefiant
Ubisoft's XDefiant will shut down on June 3, 2025, after struggling to maintain long-term player engagement despite an initially strong launch.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Hackers Are Already Playing As Next Season's Character
Hackers leaked unreleased characters and seasonal content in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Warner Bros. and Rocksteady are actively working to remove leaks and spoilers from the internet.
The game's first season faced criticism for its grind-heavy approach and low player numbers on Steam.
From Clicks to Value: TapSwap's Sustainable Approach to Tap-to-Earn | HackerNoon
Tap-to-earn games aim to be accessible but face questions about sustainability and engagement.
Baldur's Gate 3 Studio's Next Game Will Likely Launch In Early Access Too
Early access is crucial for developers to maintain a constant dialogue with players and reduce risks in game development.
Despite its benefits, early access can be daunting as it transforms companies into live-service entities but also provides agility for survival.
Are you a fan of Dragon Quest 3 and Square Enix's HD-2D look? You better let the developer know, as the JRPG's producer is worried you'll all get "bored" of them
Square Enix's Masaaki Hayasaka is concerned about potential player boredom from too many HD-2D remakes in a short timeframe.
Despite being a 20 year old single-player game, Half-Life 2 just hit an all-time high concurrent player count thanks to that anniversary update
Half-Life 2's new update has led to a record peak in concurrent players, underlining its timeless appeal.
Monster Hunter Wilds Beta Begins With Almost 500,000 Concurrent Players On Steam
Monster Hunter Wilds beta launched successfully with high player engagement, exceeding 460,000 concurrent users shortly after release.
Concord aside, PlayStation is having a great year
Concord's launch underperformed significantly, falling short of expected player engagement and sales projections, signaling potential financial disaster for its developer.
As Deadlock soars to a six figure player count on Steam, take an early look at Valve's latest when it was a lot more sci-fi, and a lot less unique
Deadlock's pre-release success highlights the impact of strategic leaks and community engagement on player interest.
Gabe Newell says Half-Life 2: Episode 3 didn't happen because he was 'stumped'
Story development in gaming should be meaningful and not just a continuation for continuity's sake.
The odds of Baldur's Gate 3 being owned by The Pope just got better, as Larian's head of publishing shouts out mods for helping it outdo numbers from last year
Larian's embrace of mods has led to significant increases in player engagement for Baldur's Gate 3.
Despite being a 20 year old single-player game, Half-Life 2 just hit an all-time high concurrent player count thanks to that anniversary update
Half-Life 2's new update has led to a record peak in concurrent players, underlining its timeless appeal.
Monster Hunter Wilds Beta Begins With Almost 500,000 Concurrent Players On Steam
Monster Hunter Wilds beta launched successfully with high player engagement, exceeding 460,000 concurrent users shortly after release.
Concord aside, PlayStation is having a great year
Concord's launch underperformed significantly, falling short of expected player engagement and sales projections, signaling potential financial disaster for its developer.
As Deadlock soars to a six figure player count on Steam, take an early look at Valve's latest when it was a lot more sci-fi, and a lot less unique
Deadlock's pre-release success highlights the impact of strategic leaks and community engagement on player interest.
Gabe Newell says Half-Life 2: Episode 3 didn't happen because he was 'stumped'
Story development in gaming should be meaningful and not just a continuation for continuity's sake.
The odds of Baldur's Gate 3 being owned by The Pope just got better, as Larian's head of publishing shouts out mods for helping it outdo numbers from last year
Larian's embrace of mods has led to significant increases in player engagement for Baldur's Gate 3.
Following Arrowhead's update announcement, PlayStation asks Helldivers 2 players how they feel about the game, cue "over 5,000 responses" in less than an hour
Helldivers 2 community shows high engagement with over 5,000 survey responses collected in under an hour.
Helldivers 2's hail Mary patch has brought players back in droves
Helldivers 2 has seen renewed player engagement due to a recent patch improving weapon balance and gameplay dynamics.
As Helldivers 2 gets a nice player number bump following "the best patch ever", Arrowhead challenges them to outdo both the bugs and bots
Helldivers 2's Patch 1.001.100 successfully rejuvenated player engagement and balanced gameplay, garnering widespread community praise for its enhancements.
The Galactic Frontline News network is a fan effort to keep up with all things Helldivers 2
GoMan creates a comedic in-character news broadcast to keep Helldivers 2 players informed about game lore and updates.
Helldivers 2's latest Major Order was (mostly) a narrative success
Helldivers 2 has done something most other games couldn't, and they'd kill for it
Helldivers 2 sales defied norms by increasing post-launch.
Game popularity led to server capacity woes.
Following Arrowhead's update announcement, PlayStation asks Helldivers 2 players how they feel about the game, cue "over 5,000 responses" in less than an hour
Helldivers 2 community shows high engagement with over 5,000 survey responses collected in under an hour.
Helldivers 2's hail Mary patch has brought players back in droves
Helldivers 2 has seen renewed player engagement due to a recent patch improving weapon balance and gameplay dynamics.
As Helldivers 2 gets a nice player number bump following "the best patch ever", Arrowhead challenges them to outdo both the bugs and bots
Helldivers 2's Patch 1.001.100 successfully rejuvenated player engagement and balanced gameplay, garnering widespread community praise for its enhancements.
The Galactic Frontline News network is a fan effort to keep up with all things Helldivers 2
GoMan creates a comedic in-character news broadcast to keep Helldivers 2 players informed about game lore and updates.
Helldivers 2's latest Major Order was (mostly) a narrative success
Connections Bot Brings AI to The New York Times Games Section
The NYT Games section introduces the Connections Bot, utilizing AI for player engagement and performance analysis.
Connections Bot enhances gameplay by comparing user scores with others and interpreting guessing patterns.
Barker: Tennis awaits next great rivalries as U.S. Open begins
The U.S. Open is currently lacking major player rivalries, crucial for drawing interest and excitement to the sport.
15 Weirdest Video Games Ever Made
Weird games challenge players to think differently and engage uniquely with storytelling.
Web3 Gaming in 2024: Evolution, Trends, and Market Dynamics | HackerNoon
Web3 gaming is shifting from play-to-earn models to a focus on engaging gameplay alongside earning potential.
The player base in Web3 gaming has dramatically decreased, highlighting market challenges.
A small core group of hardcore players remains in the Web3 gaming ecosystem.
Polygon is currently the leading platform for active gaming smart contracts, outpacing other blockchains significantly.
You'll Never Miss a Cinematrix Again
Cinematrix has launched an archive feature for players to access previous puzzles and grids, responding to player demand for more content.
Apex Legends' Victories Against Cheaters And Bots Detailed In "First Of Many" Blog Posts
The Apex Legends team is shifting its strategy to balance transparency on anti-cheat measures with the effectiveness of its safeguards.
'Makes you want to go harder.' The significance of the Dolphins' coveted orange practice jersey
The Miami Dolphins have introduced a tradition where a player chooses the practice playlist, enhancing team spirit and engagement.
WoW: The War Within Is More Of The Same, But That's Not A Bad Thing
The War Within expansion for World of Warcraft emphasizes evergreen features and continues the successful back-to-basics approach of the previous Dragonflight expansion.
Publishers Pivoting To Live-Service Games Have Most Devs Worried
Game developers express concerns over sustainability and impact of live-service games, preferring a return to paid DLC.
As Playday 3 players flock to its predecessor, its latest patch promises over 300 fixes
Payday 3 struggles to gain players with Payday 2 still being more popular.
Recent hefty patch for Payday 3 included 300 bug fixes and improvements.
Skull And Bones Breaks Records At Ubisoft Despite Reportedly Low Player Numbers
Skull and Bones players spend over four hours daily
Season 1 update brings new content like boss battles and warships
AdInMo Appoints Contextual Tech Guru as Chief Product & Technology Officer
Richard Brindley appointed as AdInMo's CPTO with experience in ad tech and product development.
AdInMo focuses on using data platform to enhance in-game advertising by collecting contextual signals.