Live-Service Games Reach the Top on PS5 and Xbox

According to recent analysis, live-service games are among the content that gamers spend the most time on on PS5 and Xbox consoles. According to Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker data, 40% of total game time spent on these consoles in the US in January was spent on the 10 most popular live-service games. In addition, more than 70% of these gamers played at least one of these games.

The Power of Live-Service Games in the Industry

Successful games such as Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox and League of Legends are among the main examples of the popularity of live-service games. Circana analyst Mat Piscatella stated that live-service games have tied gamers to platforms for a long time and that this has changed the dynamics of traditional game sales. While gamers once gravitated towards newly released games, interest in these free or constantly updated games is now increasing.

However, despite the intense interest in this game genre in the industry, there are also some risks. According to a survey conducted last year, 70% of game developers expressed concerns about the sustainability of live-service games. The biggest concern is the loss of interest of players and the increasing competition among such games.

It is also known that Sony has difficulty with live-service projects. The cancellation of two live-service games developed by Sony Bend and Bluepoint studios in January brought the risks in such projects to the agenda once again. In addition, some live-service games, such as Concord, had to be shut down shortly after their release.

However, there are high hopes for the future of the industry. Major productions such as Nintendo’s Switch 2 and GTA 6 are expected to bring a different breath to the industry this year. However, for now, live-service games continue to maintain their strong position on consoles.

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