Live service-style games are a divisive topic- their appeal is clear to see, at least conceptually, based on the fact that they hold the promise of a growing and evolving game that continues to offer new content. But that can also be a double edged sword, and as recent examples have shown us, can lead to games being released in an unacceptable and unfinished state, as they promise improvements in the future.
FromSoftware is the last studio you’d picture doing something along those lines- the likes of Dark Souls and Bloodborne have had some excellent multiplayer mechanics (though Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will not), but they’ve largely been developers of single player experiences. However, according to studio chief Hideki Miyazaki, FromSoftware are very interested in “taking a crack” at service style games, and the studio working on such a game in the future is, according to him, a possibility.
“There’s always the possibility,” Miyazaki told Telegraph. “These games are definitely fun. And we’re interested in the patterns they are taking. If we did it, it might be a bit different! But we’re definitely interested and there’s definitely that possibility in the future. We’d love to take a crack at them some day.”
According to Miyazaki, however, the industry needs to strike a balance, and deliver content that appeals to both, live service audiences, and those who enjoy single player experiences. “Single-player action games don’t feel too rare in the current climate,” he said. “While Devil May Cry 5 has some online elements, it’s coming out two weeks before our game. And that’s a very single-player focussed experience. We’ve also had God of War and Spider-Man.”
“We do need this diversity in the industry,” he continued. “Regardless of what FromSoftware is doing, we need people making battle royale games and live services and we need people making single-player focussed experiences. We feel that this diversity is what will keep everyone going.”
Games that rely on live service models have been quite inconsistent in their success so far- while many have launched in a poor state, others have instead managed to turn things around and deliver some great content. It’d be interesting to see how FromSoftware approaches such a style of game- whenever that ends up happening.
