The video game world has been buzzing with "Live Service" games for a while. These are games designed to keep players engaged over long periods, often with constant updates and new content. However, not every game fits this model perfectly, and some in the industry are starting to voice this concern.
One such voice is Harold Ryan, a veteran of the gaming scene. He used to be the CEO of Bungie, the studio behind massive hits like Halo and Destiny. Ryan spent 16 years helping build those popular franchises before leaving Bungie in 2016.
Since then, Ryan has started his own game studio. His team recently launched two new games, Storm Lancers and Ire: A Prologue. Despite the recent trend, Ryan feels that the Live Service approach isn’t always the right choice. He has seen many games, especially those released around 2024 or 2025, try this model with mixed results. Some have done well, others have struggled.
Ryan stated he would consider making another Live Service game. But he added that it must have a truly good idea. It also needs the right group of players to support it. He thinks the industry sometimes puts too much focus on how a game makes money.
"I think for staying strong in this job, it’s clear we can’t just pick a business plan," Ryan explained. "Then say that’s a good reason to make a game. We think too much about the money side of things."
Ryan hopes that game creators will soon find stable ways to build games. These new methods should keep players happy too. He ended by reminding everyone that not every game can be the number one success story. Still, many games can find their own path to success.