Arrowhead Game Studios
Helldivers 2was on top of the reality . Released in February to surprise plaudits , PlayStation and Arrowhead ’s co - op shooter quickly became the sort of success tale that any gaming company would want to emulate . In a world of live service risks , this one was paying off thanks to a consecrated community whose commitment to republic showed no signs of slowing down .
Then it all came break apart down in an jiffy .
Arrowhead Game Studios
On May 3 , developer Arrowhead revealed that it was implementing a change that would force Steam thespian tolink a PlayStation accountin order to keep playing . It seemed like a small enough ask on paper , but the move came with unintended consequences that left players furious . After a feverish weekend filled with revue bombing , refunds , and harassment aspire at its developer , PlayStation ill-use in toreverse its decisionand , hopefully , salve its gilded goose .
That chaotic sequence of events should serve as a pedagogy moment for any publisher eyeing live service secret plan . Even the rare success are n’t unfailing hard currency cows ; the high-pitched advantage comes with even higher risk .
Betting on live service
On paper , Helldivers 2had done everything right since its release . For starters , it was anchor by strong third - somebody shooting andthoughtfully apply co - op play . That nitty-gritty gave PlayStation and Arrowhead a destiny of flexibility that other games like it do n’t always have . It tolerate them to charge $ 40 for it rather than push it as a costless - to - play game and still meander in give microtransactions . Even a buggy launching occupy with server issues could n’t take hold it back . These are thing that have torpedo plenty of game in the yesteryear , butHelldivers 2was outstandingly substantial .
heavy gameplay is part of the equation , but there are a few other factors to deliberate . For one , it ’s a live service game that showed player it had a plan for the future . Arrowhead has a Dungeons and Dragons - likeGame Masteron its staff who influence the direction of its story live in reply to players . It ’s not the kind of plot where you ask to pose around look for a DLC to see what ’s next . Arrowhead showed it was committed to maintain things reinvigorated . That help it make a loyal rooter biotic community that was quick to defend the party ’s every move .
These are the exact thing that every publisher prays for when releasing a live service game — but few actually achieve them . Just front at other less successful endeavor this year likeUbisoft’sSkull and BonesandSquare Enix’sFoamstars . Both failed to elicit the same chemical reaction , leaving their futures less certain . It might leave you call for why either fellowship would take such dear gamble , butHelldivers 2showed why some miss shots can be worth the effort . When you get a game that hits , one that keep players pumping in clip and money consistently , it ’s a publishing house ’s dream come true .
Hard lessons learned
But a successful launching is just one battle in a long war , and Sony con that the hard way . The worry started when Arrowhead announced that microcomputer histrion would require to connect their PlayStation explanation to keep playing . It was a controversial change right away , with some players noting that they did n’t hope Sony ’s notoriously leaky security measure . It was n’t long before a more serious issue emerged , though . Players quick point out that PSN is n’t available in several country , which mean that those who buy the game would be lock in out of it once the change went into effect .
The dominoes fell from there . The plot was delist from 170 land , cratering its potential participant foot . A wave of “ overwhelmingly negative ” Steam reviews followed . More utmost fan took to social media to plague Arrowhead employees and aim ire at its community manager , despite the fact that it appear to be a top - down PlayStation conclusion that Arrowhead had little say in . Public persuasion turned on a dime , tarnishing a dear game ’s reputation instantly . Order was seemingly restored once PlayStation reversed its programme a few day afterwards , but PlayStation is now result with some voiceless lessons .
While newspaper publisher beg for success like that ofHelldivers 2 , this is the other side of that unrecorded service coin : It ’s an unforgiving business model . One unfit decision is all it takes to destroy a successful game ’s impulse . Just look at last year’sPayday 3 . Though its precursor was a massive striking with a dedicated community , the threequel’salways - online requirementleft devotee feeling burned . That decision was exasperate by a launching plagued with server issues , during which the secret plan could not be played for the effective part of its first few days . Payday 3still has n’t recovered from that here and now . Its Steam review article are “ mostly negative ” and its musician base is anaemic compared to that ofPayday 2 . That ’s the form of stressful tightrope dissemble that publishers commit to when chasing the hot servicing dream .
Helldivers 2seems to have averted its first crisis for now , but PlayStation has to be extra deliberate as it moves forward . When you make a live service game , you ’re sign on a risky contract . You might make a fortune , but you ’ll forever be at the mercy of fans who can release the valve off anytime they want . It does n’t matter if actor are strap out in good or bad religion . A little mistake could be all it takes to crush the community ’s trust for good . Once you lose that , you do n’t have a secret plan anymore .
Is it worth it ? That ’s for PlayStation to adjudicate .
