10 Confusing Trends The Gaming Industry Is Convinced You Like
1. Games As A Service
Every gaming generation has that one major scourge that leaves gamers tearing their hair out in frustration. Years ago, it was loot boxes. Now, it's two simple yet infuriating words - live service.
Games as a service are nothing new, but the sheer amount of modern releases that desperately attempt to insert themselves into this category is staggering. For those unaware, the concept of live service gaming centres on retaining your player base through updates, new maps, new story arcs, and more. Rather than building a great game, letting it live, and then moving on to the next project, it's all about forging a brand and milking it for as long as possible.
There are plenty of examples of this model done right, like Fortnite, Fall Guys, or Helldivers 2. But titles like Concord, Foamstars, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, Marvel's Avengers and plenty more show that many companies are willing to shell out lazy products with repetitive game design and a lack of player-focused fun all in the name of corporate greed.
The plight of the modern gamer is knowing that companies think you love this stuff without realising they're slowly poisoning you against them.