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'''[[wikipedia:Games_as_a_service|Games as a service]]''' (also known as live-service games) is a business model that is designed to continuously monetize games after they are initially sold (or given out for free), typically with new updates, DLC, and microtransactions. A common practice with this business model is having the ability to pre-emptively purchase this content with the promise that it will be released at a certain time, and will feature all of the content that was promised in the products listing. Games as a service also typically have a premium currency that you purchase with real-world currency to purchase in-game items.
{{StubNotice}}


== Issues ==
'''[[wikipedia:Games_as_a_service|Games as a service]]''' (also known as live-service games) is a business model designed to continuously monetize games after they are initially sold (or offered for free), typically through new updates, DLC, and microtransactions. A common practice in this model is allowing players to pre-purchase content with the promise that it will be released at a specified time, and will include all features advertised in the product's listing. Games as a service also typically has a premium currency, which players purchase with real-world currency to acquire in-game items.  
While GaaS provides an incentive for a developer to continue to produce content for their game, once the developer or publisher decides to stop supporting the game, it often becomes completely unplayable.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games"] Accursed Farms. April 2, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.</ref> There is very little legal recourse for the user to recoup the cost of purchasing the game or any content purchased within. The [[End-user license agreement]] typically absolves the publisher of any such duty, as it states that you are purchasing a license rather than actually owning the software.<ref>[https://www.kelleherbros.com/blog/2024/3/27/digital-ownership-2-the-eula-era Precarious Digital Ownership: The EULA Era] Kelleher Bros. March 27, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2025.</ref>


== Examples ==
==Issues==
While GaaS incentivizes developers to keep producing content for their game, the game often risks becoming completely unplayable once support is discontinued.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games"] - youtube.com - accessed 2025-01-24</ref> There is very little legal recourse for the user to recoup the cost of purchasing the game or its in-game content. The [[End-user license agreement|End-User License Agreement (EULA)]] typically disclaims the publisher's obligation to refund or compensate users, as it clarifies that they are purchasing a license rather than actually owning the software.<ref>[https://www.kelleherbros.com/blog/2024/3/27/digital-ownership-2-the-eula-era Precarious Digital Ownership: The EULA Era] - kelleherbros.com - accessed 2025-01-28</ref>


=== Ubisoft ===
Additionally in some scenarios, content offered and even sold on GaaS may also be discontinued or revoked from consumers while the service continues.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Phil |date=Aug 23, 2020 |title=Here's everything being removed from Destiny 2 at the end of this season—it's a lot |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-everything-being-removed-from-destiny-2-at-the-end-of-this-seasonits-a-lot/ |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=PC Gamer}}</ref>
 
==Examples==
 
===Ubisoft===
{{Main|Ubisoft}}
{{Main|Ubisoft}}
XDefiant, developed by Ubisoft, is an example of a game as a service. On December 3rd, 2024, the game announced the shutdown of its servers on June 3rd, 2025.<ref name=":0">https://archive.is/ueESQ</ref> 49 days before the shutdown announcement, executive producer of XDefiant, Mark Rubin<ref>https://archive.is/nEche</ref> posted online that the game had no plans of shutting down after season 4, while the game was still in season 2, and they had recently discussed their plans internally for the second year of content<ref>https://archive.is/XmekP</ref>. The shutdown post announced that the last 30 days of purchases would be fully refunded.<ref name=":0" />
XDefiant, developed by Ubisoft, is an example of a game as a service. On December 3rd, 2024, the game announced the shutdown of its servers on June 3rd, 2025.<ref name=":0">[https://archive.is/ueESQ "'XDEFIANT IS SUNSETTING' Tweet"] - archive.is - archived 2025-01-28</ref> 49 days before the shutdown announcement, executive producer of XDefiant, Mark Rubin<ref>[https://archive.is/nEche "Mark Rubin Profile"] - archive.is - archived 2025-01-28</ref> posted online that the game had no plans of shutting down after season 4, while the game was still in season 2, and they had recently discussed their plans internally for the second year of content.<ref>[https://archive.is/XmekP "Mark Rubin claims NO plans to shut down after season 4"] - archive.is - archived 2025-01-28</ref> The shutdown post announced that the last 30 days of purchases would be fully refunded.<ref name=":0" />
 
The shutdown of ''The Crew'' is one of the central issues of the [[Stop Killing Games]] campaign. Despite the game containing some code for an offline mode<ref>[https://steamcommunity.com/app/241560/discussions/0/3803901559414708777/ Offline Mode is in the game] steamcommunity.com - accessed 2025-02-06</ref> from the start, it was not made accessible to the user due to the game's [[Digital rights management|digital-rights-management]] (DRM),<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qKNY64-QSc The Crew Offline Mode - Setting The Record Straight] youtube.com - accessed 2025-01-28 </ref> leaving the game in a completely unplayable state.
 
===EA===
{{Main|EA}}
In recent years, EA has garnered a reputation for being a company involved in these sorts of practices, and has received criticism for over-reliance on microtransactions and DLC.
 
=== Bungie ===
{{Main|Bungie}}
The [[Destiny (game)|Destiny]] franchise is Bungie's primary source of revenue, and its current title, Destiny 2, has had a significant amount of content offered in the game that has been forcibly vaulted by the company.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Glagowski |first=Peter |date=Jun 9, 2020 |title=Bungie To Remove Four Planets And All But Three Raids From Destiny 2 |url=https://www.thegamer.com/destiny-2-content-removal/ |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=The Gamer}}</ref> Most notably, player-purchased content, including singleplayer content that shouldn't necessitate access to a server, has been removed from the game.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=The_Observer |date=Jun 18, 2021 |title=How could Bungie get away so easily with removing paid content from Destiny 2? |url=https://www.neogaf.com/threads/how-could-bungie-get-away-so-easily-with-removing-paid-content-from-destiny-2.1610927/ |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |website=NeoGAF}}</ref> In mid 2022, Bungie did promise to stop removing content from the game,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=Aug 23, 2022 |title=Destiny 2 Promises No More Axing Old Parts Of Game, Something That Players Hated |url=https://kotaku.com/destiny-2-lightfall-vaulting-sunset-forsaken-expansion-1849446608 |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=Kotaku}}</ref> but not all legacy content has been reintroduced to the game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=GB Times Gaming Team |date=Mar 21, 2025 |title=Why is Bungie Removing Content from Destiny 2? The Content Vault Controversy Explained |url=https://gbtimes.com/gaming/why-is-bungie-removing-content/ |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=GB Times}}</ref><!-- I want a better source left here please. -->
 
Bungie's previous GaaS title, Destiny, requires an always-online connection, and while the company has stated that they will maintain legacy support for both modern platforms,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bungie |title=Legacy Support for Destiny 1 Activities |url=https://help.bungie.net/hc/en-us/articles/360049201951-Legacy-Support-for-Destiny-1-Activities |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |website=Bungie Help}}</ref> and legacy console editions,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bungie |title=Destiny 1 on Legacy Consoles |url=https://help.bungie.net/hc/en-us/articles/360049497531-Destiny-1-on-Legacy-Consoles |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |website=Bungie Help}}</ref> it is plausible due to software degradation for the servers<ref>{{Cite news |last=MorphNeo |date=Jul 29, 2024 |title=Destiny 1 - Have they really SHUT IT DOWN? - Error: This version of Destiny is no longer available. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfYzX58wMBs |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=YouTube}}</ref> though, that the title could eventually become unplayable for consumers, especially as error frequency grows more common over time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=javagat10 |date=Jan 29, 2023 |title=Destiny Server issue on Xbox 360. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/DestinyTheGame/comments/10o1t6l/destiny_server_issue_on_xbox_360/ |access-date=Mar 31, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ICE BREAKER (Timelost) |date=Jul 19, 2025 |title=Is destiny1 servers shut down permanently? |url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/264186352?page=0 |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |website=Bungie Forums}}</ref>


The shutdown of ''The Crew'' is one of the central issues of the [[Stop Killing Games]] campaign. Despite the game containing some code for an offline mode from the start, it was not made accessible to the user due to the game's [[DRM]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qKNY64-QSc The Crew Offline Mode - Setting The Record Straight] whammy4. December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2025. </ref> Thus, the game was left in a completely unplayable state.  
Bungie has also announced ''Marathon'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bungie |date=May 24, 2023 |title=Bungie Announces Marathon; Nathan Fillion To Return to Destiny 2 for The Final Shape Expansion |url=https://press.bungie.com/Bungie-Announces-Marathon-Nathan-Fillion-To-Return-to-Destiny-2-for-Th |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=Bungie Press Room}}</ref> a reboot for their older franchise. This game has the plausibility to release as a live service title as well considering Bungie's recent history with their games.<!-- Future-proofing for when Marathon's release date is announced sometime in August according to leakers, or when the game has been properly released soon after. I am betting on it repeating the same problems as Destiny 1 & 2.
- JamesTDG -->


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Services]]
[[Category:Services]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

Latest revision as of 09:10, 31 March 2025

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Games as a service (also known as live-service games) is a business model designed to continuously monetize games after they are initially sold (or offered for free), typically through new updates, DLC, and microtransactions. A common practice in this model is allowing players to pre-purchase content with the promise that it will be released at a specified time, and will include all features advertised in the product's listing. Games as a service also typically has a premium currency, which players purchase with real-world currency to acquire in-game items.

Issues[edit | edit source]

While GaaS incentivizes developers to keep producing content for their game, the game often risks becoming completely unplayable once support is discontinued.[1] There is very little legal recourse for the user to recoup the cost of purchasing the game or its in-game content. The End-User License Agreement (EULA) typically disclaims the publisher's obligation to refund or compensate users, as it clarifies that they are purchasing a license rather than actually owning the software.[2]

Additionally in some scenarios, content offered and even sold on GaaS may also be discontinued or revoked from consumers while the service continues.[3]

Examples[edit | edit source]

Ubisoft[edit | edit source]

Main article: Ubisoft

XDefiant, developed by Ubisoft, is an example of a game as a service. On December 3rd, 2024, the game announced the shutdown of its servers on June 3rd, 2025.[4] 49 days before the shutdown announcement, executive producer of XDefiant, Mark Rubin[5] posted online that the game had no plans of shutting down after season 4, while the game was still in season 2, and they had recently discussed their plans internally for the second year of content.[6] The shutdown post announced that the last 30 days of purchases would be fully refunded.[4]

The shutdown of The Crew is one of the central issues of the Stop Killing Games campaign. Despite the game containing some code for an offline mode[7] from the start, it was not made accessible to the user due to the game's digital-rights-management (DRM),[8] leaving the game in a completely unplayable state.

EA[edit | edit source]

Main article: EA

In recent years, EA has garnered a reputation for being a company involved in these sorts of practices, and has received criticism for over-reliance on microtransactions and DLC.

Bungie[edit | edit source]

Main article: Bungie

The Destiny franchise is Bungie's primary source of revenue, and its current title, Destiny 2, has had a significant amount of content offered in the game that has been forcibly vaulted by the company.[3][9] Most notably, player-purchased content, including singleplayer content that shouldn't necessitate access to a server, has been removed from the game.[3][10] In mid 2022, Bungie did promise to stop removing content from the game,[11] but not all legacy content has been reintroduced to the game.[12]

Bungie's previous GaaS title, Destiny, requires an always-online connection, and while the company has stated that they will maintain legacy support for both modern platforms,[13] and legacy console editions,[14] it is plausible due to software degradation for the servers[15] though, that the title could eventually become unplayable for consumers, especially as error frequency grows more common over time.[16][17]

Bungie has also announced Marathon,[18] a reboot for their older franchise. This game has the plausibility to release as a live service title as well considering Bungie's recent history with their games.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games" - youtube.com - accessed 2025-01-24
  2. ↑ Precarious Digital Ownership: The EULA Era - kelleherbros.com - accessed 2025-01-28
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Savage, Phil (Aug 23, 2020). "Here's everything being removed from Destiny 2 at the end of this season—it's a lot". PC Gamer. Retrieved Mar 31, 2025.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "'XDEFIANT IS SUNSETTING' Tweet" - archive.is - archived 2025-01-28
  5. ↑ "Mark Rubin Profile" - archive.is - archived 2025-01-28
  6. ↑ "Mark Rubin claims NO plans to shut down after season 4" - archive.is - archived 2025-01-28
  7. ↑ Offline Mode is in the game steamcommunity.com - accessed 2025-02-06
  8. ↑ The Crew Offline Mode - Setting The Record Straight youtube.com - accessed 2025-01-28
  9. ↑ Glagowski, Peter (Jun 9, 2020). "Bungie To Remove Four Planets And All But Three Raids From Destiny 2". The Gamer. Retrieved Mar 31, 2025.
  10. ↑ The_Observer (Jun 18, 2021). "How could Bungie get away so easily with removing paid content from Destiny 2?". NeoGAF. Retrieved Mar 31, 2025.
  11. ↑ Gach, Ethan (Aug 23, 2022). "Destiny 2 Promises No More Axing Old Parts Of Game, Something That Players Hated". Kotaku. Retrieved Mar 31, 2025.
  12. ↑ GB Times Gaming Team (Mar 21, 2025). "Why is Bungie Removing Content from Destiny 2? The Content Vault Controversy Explained". GB Times. Retrieved Mar 31, 2025.
  13. ↑ Bungie. "Legacy Support for Destiny 1 Activities". Bungie Help. Retrieved Mar 31, 2025.
  14. ↑ Bungie. "Destiny 1 on Legacy Consoles". Bungie Help. Retrieved Mar 31, 2025.
  15. ↑ MorphNeo (Jul 29, 2024). "Destiny 1 - Have they really SHUT IT DOWN? - Error: This version of Destiny is no longer available". YouTube. Retrieved Mar 31, 2025.
  16. ↑ javagat10 (Jan 29, 2023). "Destiny Server issue on Xbox 360". Retrieved Mar 31, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ ICE BREAKER (Timelost) (Jul 19, 2025). "Is destiny1 servers shut down permanently?". Bungie Forums. Retrieved Mar 31, 2025.
  18. ↑ Bungie (May 24, 2023). "Bungie Announces Marathon; Nathan Fillion To Return to Destiny 2 for The Final Shape Expansion". Bungie Press Room. Retrieved Mar 31, 2025.
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