140°

Why Games Sequels With Continuity are Hard

"I love a good book or movie trilogy. Seeing the same characters go through different adventures and watch their character arcs unfold. It isn’t something you see in video games very often though. Certainly there are long games that have a series of side stories and game series that often have similar themes or are set in the same world, but it is rare to see the same characters hold real continuity across games. Why are games sequels with continuity so hard? Let’s have a think shall we."

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gamertime.co.uk
blawren43187d ago

It's hard to foster creativity with continuous storyline. I'd prefer no sequels ever.

Red_Renegade3187d ago

i don't agree with that at all.

blawren43186d ago

I just don't feel that when gamers try and dictate the direction of a series, rather than the DEVS, which we see alot of...That's not a paper mario game, that's not a metroid game, that doesn't feel like a zelda game. Makes it hard to change direction without backlash. These are not necessarily continuing stories, but returning IP. Making new games, keeps the focus on the game at hand and seems to allow for creative games.

NukaCola3186d ago

Uncharted did it right. Oddworld too.

SaveFerris3187d ago

Keeping the story consistent through sequels is important as well. Bioware should have gotten Drew Karpyshyn to write the entire trilogy of Mass Effect instead of just the first two.

220°

Marathon Development Update

Marathon was slated to launch on Sept. 23, 2025 across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation, but Bungie will share the new release date in the fall.

Jin_Sakai1h ago

Probably best just cancel it. The game has flop written all over it.

-Foxtrot4h ago

Yeah, you can delay it as much as you want but you ain’t gonna wash that stink off.

Killer2020UK2h ago

It will lessen though and possibly make all the difference if it launches in a state that rectified a lot of the issues people had with it. A LOT of ifs of course.

RaidenBlack31m ago

If you really gotta play ... play the better extraction shooter this year : ARC Raiders

ZeekQuattro3h ago

Delaying the inevitable. Bungie hoping the negative publicity will blow over. 🙄

darthv723h ago

They can't cancel it until a themed controller has been released first... like concord.

ZeekQuattro2m ago

I anxiously wait for that and a Marathon Secret Level episode.

dveio3h ago

If they were absolutely certain about the quality of Marathon, then they had not delayed it just now.

So they've basically just confirmed what everyone, well, a lot of people saw: Marathon is not ready yet, still no soul to be seen.

Tacoboto2h ago

"Doubling down on the Marathon Universe"

They're doubling down on soul, thank goodness this feedback illuminated that for them...

RaidenBlack28m ago

and N4G was littered with comments like : Marathon looks really good, maybe you're a hater and the likes blah blah ... especially under articles which compared it with Arc Raiders ....

2h ago
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170°

Rumor: The Witcher 3 Will Get a New DLC in 2026

According to Polish podcasters Rock and Boris, CD Projekt RED is reportedly planning a third DLC for The Witcher 3, set to release in 2026.

jznrpg4d ago

Sign me up. I haven’t played it since it released on PS4 so I could go for another run with a new DLC.

M3talDiamond4d ago

Day 1 but Please release a PS5 Pro patch also

repsahj4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Please include a free Switch 2 upgrade for the switch 1 versions!

Show all comments (9)
80°

Inside the ‘Dragon Age’ Debacle That Gutted EA’s BioWare Studio

The latest game in BioWare’s fantasy role-playing series went through ten years of development turmoil

In early November, on the eve of the crucial holiday shopping season, staffers at the video-game studio BioWare were feeling optimistic. After an excruciating development cycle, they had finally released their latest game, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and the early reception was largely positive. The role-playing game was topping sales charts on Steam, and solid, if not spectacular, reviews were rolling in.

HyperMoused5d ago

Its easy they called the die hard fans people in their nerd caves who will buy anything and then went woke to reach modern audiences....insulting the nerds in their caves along the way showing utter contempt for their fan base. very hapy it failed and any company who insults their fan base and treat their customers with contempt and insults, in future, i also hope fail.

neutralgamer19924d ago

It’s disappointing but not surprising to see what's happening with Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the broader situation at BioWare. The layoffs are tragic — no one wants to see talented developers lose their jobs. But when studios repeatedly create games that alienate their own fanbase, outcomes like this become unfortunately predictable.

There’s a pattern we’re seeing far too often: beloved franchises are revived, only to be reshaped into something almost unrecognizable. Changes are made that no one asked for, often at the expense of what originally made these games special. Then, when long-time fans express concern or lose interest, they’re told, “This game might not be for you.” But when those same fans heed that advice and don’t buy the game, suddenly they're labeled as toxic, sexist, bigoted, or worse.

Let’s be clear: the overwhelming majority of gamers have no issue with diversity, LGBTQ+ representation, or strong female leads. In fact, some of the most iconic characters in gaming — like Aloy, Ellie, or FemShep — are proof that inclusivity and excellent storytelling can and do go hand in hand. The issue arises when diversity feels performative, forced, or disconnected from the narrative — when characters or themes are inserted not to serve the story, but to satisfy a corporate DEI checklist. Audiences can tell the difference.

When studios chase approval from a vocal minority that often doesn’t even buy games — while simultaneously dismissing loyal fans who actually do — they risk not just the success of individual titles, but the health of their entire studio. Telling your core customers “don’t buy it if you don’t like it” is not a viable business strategy. Because guess what? Many of us won’t. And when the game fails commercially, blaming those very fans for not supporting it is both unfair and self-defeating.

Gamers aren’t asking for less diversity or less progress. We’re asking for better writing, thoughtful character development, and a respect for the franchises we’ve supported for decades. When you give people great games that speak to them — whether they’re old fans or new players — they will show up. But if you keep making games for people who don’t play them, don’t be surprised when those who do stop showing up

Armaggedon4d ago

I thought the writing and character development were fine. Sometimes things just dont resonate with people.