When we think of video games, we often think of titles that start and end, not unlike a show or a movie. But live-service games offer a different kind of experience, one that tries to go on forever. Fortnite and Marvel Rivals know how to capitalize such an ecosystem, and even if they ever shut down, they would still be considered successful.
That isn’t the fate of all live-service games, since players might have the money, but they don’t have the time to play every game in existence. Without an audience, there is no game, so this are the experiences that tried to compete with the multiplayer juggernauts, and failed almost immediately.
Concord
Sony positioned Concord as a major live-service multiplayer franchise, but weak player numbers and poor engagement caused the hero shooter to collapse almost immediately after launch.
Forza Motorsport
Microsoft promoted the reboot as a long-term racing platform, yet technical complaints, progression frustrations, and declining player interest quickly hurt enthusiasm surrounding the supposedly evolving service model.
