Cyberpunk 2077 Proves EA and Ubisoft Wrong About Single-Player Games

The reception to anything new from Cyberpunk 2077 proves that single-player games are far from dying.

[CrimsonWing69]

I thought Sony's Santa Monica Studios proved that already...

[THRASHMOUTH]

Exactly! A game that's unreleased hasn't proven anything yet.

[naruga]

Whole ps4 and Switch library proved that ...EA and Ubisoft were always wrong

[himdeel]

Besides when is EA ever right?! I'll wait for a response...actually I rather not, I don't have that much time, I got single player games to play.

[Marcello]

Proving EA & Ubisoft wrong isnt hard. Only thing that EA & Ubisoft are good at in recent years is making pink slime

[InKnight7s]

SE, Naughty Dog and Atlus proved that already.

[Ausbo]

Yeah Sony has definitely proven this already. They are king of SP games

[Kumakai]

It’s not that people don’t like SP games, it’s that they cost a lot, and are extremely risky because more people play multiplayer games for longer. Replay ability etc. the biggest factor is cost vs sales

[Zeref]

what exactly have they proved? That SP games can be successful if you pour a quarter billion dollars into the development?

It's just fact that SP games are risky and expensive. SP games have their place but lets not pretend everyone can make a SP games and sell as much as Cyberpunk or God of War.

Also why is Ubisoft in this? Assassins Creed games have been mostly SP games. Same with Watch Dogs 2. They obviously know SP games have their place in the industry.

[Saigon]

Your assessment of what makes a single player game is so untrue. They do not pour that much money into making a just single player game. Most if not all games developed cost about the same regardless if they are multi-player or single player. Some require more resources but that could be for MP or SP games. MP games don't magically get a discount because it is an online based game. If not, they require more resources because you have to worry about the development of the game, the servers, the bundled content, creating new adventures for new and current customers, etc. Yeah, MP games look to cost more than SP games when you add in the extra content to keep a game afloat.

[CarlDechance]

You and Kumakai are just parroting Phil Spencer's words about SP from a couple of years ago. Spencer has pretty much backed off that perspective of SP since then. We have seen success from all levels for SP games. Whether it is Ori and the Blind Forest or Hellblade. Nier, Yakuza, Divinity: Original Sin, etc.....I mean how many successful SP games have to be made before everyone realizes that it isn't about pouring "a quarter billion dollars" into developing a game.

And I'm not really sure I understand why you are so worried about the finances and "risk" of SP games. It isn't your money and it isn't your risk. It isn't like these devs are working for pennies. If they make a good game then they get a good return. Either way, it isn't your concern.

[Fearmonkey]

I agree, and also the uproar over Fallout 76 being multiplayer and online versus the single player experience that the series is known for. I don't even think EA really believes it, but they think if they keep saying it, it will become true.

[Zeref]

Do yall really think a Singleplayer game can make as much money as a multiplayer game like Fortnite? Nope. That is why they're riskier. You pour a lot of money in it and all of that depends on whether enough people buy it. With Multiplayer games there are multiple revenue streams and they're the more popular category. To deny this fact is just ignorance. There will never be a singleplayer game that will ever be as big as Fortnite and there never has been, the most popular games in the industry have been multiplayer games.

[doggo84]

*insert great recent single player game* proves EA and Active are wrong about single player games

[Fishy Fingers]

Cherry picking just one example doesn’t prove s*** in any argument.

MP games these days are a ‘safer bet’ on paper, no getting away from it (and I’m as unhappy about that as anyone).

[JesusBuiltmyHotrod]

Except as many MP games fail ala Law breakers, That game gear box made, etc...

[LightofDarkness]

Yes, now think of the investment made in those failed MP projects vs. a failed SP blockbuster. They can release the core experience at little cost to the dev/pub and close up shop before they've spent 20 million + if it fails. It's indeed the safer bet, and one that is the most attractive to small studios with little to no funding.

[Fishy Fingers]

Absolutely true. But like I said ‘on paper’. More potential longevity, more revenue streams (micro transactions), less likely to game share etc It’s a numbers game to investors.

A successful MP game will more often than not eclipse a successful SP game when it comes to ROI.

Nothing is a sure fire bet that’s why cherry picking is useless. Pick Fortnite as proof of the F2P model,CyberPunk for SP, Call of Duty for MP or Star Citizen for crowd funding, all while forgetting/ignoring the hundreds that fall by the wayside.

[annoyedgamer]

Hopefully Battlefield flops. EA needs to get hurt financially big time because their influence is too great.

[sander9702]

It's not about risk-reward it's about EA and Ubisoft not being able to make interesting singleplayer AAA games anymore so they want everyone who is good at making singleplayer games (Rockstar, ND and so on) to stop making them so everyone get's used to games as a service because that's what EA and Ubisoft are good at.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

You'd be correct... if the article was arguing that MP isn't any safer than SP. It's arguing that SP games can still be successful too in today's climate.

MP is safer no doubt about that, but that doesn't mean that SP games are soo risky/not profitable that you start canceling your SP games in development because of it, like what EA did with that Star Wars game.

Good thing there still a good number of devs/publishers that still put out quality SP experiences. If EA and Activision don't want to put out SP games, I don't care, I get to keep my money.

[spicelicka]

I think the argument is getting skewed and out of hand. MP games make more money and cost less time and money, that's their inherent nature. Also, with the world getting more connected it's a safer bet for developers.

That in no way means single player games make no money, or should be reduced. There are plenty of successful SP games, but the big ones just take very long to make. A game like Cyberpunk is also going to take like 6 years of total production time, whereas call of duty can recycle MP every year and make similar margins. In fact, most successful AAA MP games take a long time to make.

This is not even an argument really, it's just industry analysis. I love SP games, but the arguments get very cringey and redundant to me from both sides.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Funny because 10 years back SP was the safe bet and MP was the risky move. What happened? Why is it now the opposite? Imo COD last gen was the problem. With each installment they gave little reason to go play their campaign. With a rehash of the same stuff just re skinned so ppl just played MP becasue COD stories are uninspiring. I blame COD because it the top of the mountain in terms of where ppl were playing.

[Lennoxb63]

It's not just COD. MP games have always been more popular. I think with the recent MP success stories making waves on social media, some people are just finding out they are. COD just being the most popular example of that. Of course you have your standout SP titles that are incredibly successful. But that still doesn't mean SP games as a whole have ever been more popular.

[JesusBuiltmyHotrod]

What a mind numbing dumb article....GOW, Witcher, etc..already did this. A gamer that is not out yet has not proven anything.

[PapaBop]

Why call out Ubi? They still offer quality single player experiences even if they are open world with online functionality. They might not be perfect but to put them in the same sentence as EA is a bit harsh.

[Felix_Argyle_Catbro]

Every other week someone proves them wrong.

[TheGoodestBoi]

I'd like to give a big shout out to the Yakuza series. Just finished Yakuza 6.
Yakuza 6 has:
- fun gameplay
- hours of content
- shipped complete no dlc or microtransactions
- was polished upon release and with no day 1 patches that were GBs big

If only more triple A games followed Yakuzas example

[Kumakai]

Sigh. The internet has about as much nuance as a binary clock.....

All people usually love single player games. Including me. But as an adult who works closely with and in the industry, the problem is usually cost/risk.

Statistically SP games cost as much if not more than multiplayer games but usually don’t sell as much or generate revenue after the first play through. Games have become very expensive to make, but their retail costs have largely remained flat (accounting for inflation, games have actually gotten cheaper - SNES titles would cost around $100 today but a fraction of cost to make). This is further complicated by the risk of coming up with NEW IP instead of sequels. No guarantees for success. This is the exact reason MS and Nintendo (and soon probably Sony) are starting to talk a lot about subscription models and the very same reason people are talking more about “games as a service”. Studios can continue to make smaller chunks of game and content for an existing game that keeps the longevity of that title going, so studios can continue to generate revenue without the cost of doing entire sequels. All of this: MTs lootboxes, games as service and subscriptions are all mechanisms to bring costs down so you don’t have to pay $90 for a AAA title. That takes away some of the financial risk and offers a better value to gamers who refuse to pay more for titles. But MTs and lootboxes are now controversial and for good reason.

The result of all this is what spawned the phrase “single player games are dead”. Nobody is saying they are dead from a lack of interest. They are saying they are dying because only a fraction of SP games get made compared to multiplayer counterparts. Most SP games are often exclusives too which further limits sales due to restrictions on system access. Nobody thinks SP games are actually dead, it’s just a slogan to say there aren’t nearly as many these days comparatively to last gen and imply that SP games are officially risky and hard to make.

Of course SP games will continue to be released, but probably with less frequency unless the whole industry changes economically. Some will be huge successes and some will be fail spectacularly, but the take away is that neither result proves anything because the problem is cost, not interest. If the game makes money there will be a sequel. If it doesn’t, it will disappear. There’s no movement to intentionally kill SP games. It’s more like people are scared to dump piles of money into a “maybe”.

Context and nuance...

[Petebloodyonion]

How dare you post something credible backed by things called ... What's the word we never use here on N4G? Oh yeah, logic and facts.
Again how dare you?
Do you want approval? how about starting by saying things like MS, UBI, EA or (any 3rd party publisher who wants to make money) Suck!
Then you should also praise how Shenmue 3 will be so awesome (even if next to nobody will actually buy the game).
Now plz stop posting an educated post like yours, it might break my inner fanboy rage

[Lennoxb63]

You just spoke 100% facts but people rather bury their heads in the sand.

[GrizToof]

No $hit

[Fearmonkey]

I dislike EA but Ubisift isnt really saying single player doesnt matter. They make alot of single player games, though they do indeed love their microtransactions. What is sad is the large collection of old IP that EA has that they never do anything with.

[gangsta_red]

*insert highly anticipated single player game*

*Exclude highly anticipated multi player game*

*Don't take into account the most popular mp games making millions a week*

*Write an article saying EA and Ubi were wrong*

EA just had a hit with that recent jailbreak buddy mp game and Ubi definitely has a great mixture of SP and MP games. Not really sure why an article needs to call these guys out just because a Cyberpunk is getting heat (and rightly so).

[shinoff2183]

Its in ea and ubisofts best interest to say that so they can nickel and dime us with micro transactions. They are definitely wrong though

[Smokehouse]

I thought the demo was great but this article is dumb. “Reception” doesn’t prove anything. There have been amazing games, critical successes that have tanked financially. “Reception” isn’t good for shit and it doesn’t prove anything. God of war sales? That proves everything.

[Relientk77]

Tons of developers prove them all the time. I hope Battlefield 5 flops.

[capjacksparrow]

There are so many multiplayer games out there that making either kind of game is a risk! Look at LawBreakers. The damn thing tanked. Titan fall 2 did okay, I suppose. This doesn't make them bad games (I haven't played either yet), or just means there is too much competition. The thing about multiplayer is this, you still have to spend more time and money supporting the servers, even if it is a failure. Not so much with a single player game. If you hit it big with multiplayer, you make more money, sure. But if you fail, it's an even bigger waste of resources.

[Lennoxb63]

A MP flop still costs less than a SP flop. MP doesn't require anywhere near as much (if any at all) writing/writers, voice acting, mocap, artists, etc. It either takes a small amount of each or none at all. Most of it is just balancing, map design, and testing.

[sagapo]

Red Dead 2 will prove that too

[Parasyte]

Any studio/publisher that says no one wants a single player game is a lie. There will always be a place for them.

[Miss_Vixen]

Sony's God of War, Horizon, Detroit and such already proved this..

[D3athc3ll]

I know this is not a battlefield discussion but please people DO NOT BUY Battlefield V. This way we as gamers got the power by not supporting Devs who screw gamers. This is not about the females in the game, but more about EA's attitude regarding their players "Don't buy it then".

The only way we make sure Devs don't continue with this shit is by making them pay for it. Let EA suffer like with SWBF2. Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaassssssss ssseeeeeeeeeee

[Petebloodyonion]

Totally right! Just like investing in your singing career because Madona, Lady Gaga, Eminem, etc are proving that you can make millions in this industry so, why waste your time studying when can do the same.
My point!
It's easy to say single players are not dead when you take the most exposed and adored game by media and give sells stats.
How about giving the sell stats for greats games like Puppeteers, Bound, any Sega single player game (Vanquish, Binary Domain, sonic, etc.) Evil Within, etc...
Games that don't get a thousand articles on websites.
Yes Perhaps Ubisoft is wrong or Perhaps Just Dance version X (that cost next to nothing to make) sells more compared to a praised games like Watchdog2, Southpark, and Grown-up.

[Sayai jin]

Think many games already proved proved that to be nonsense. The latest GoW, says hello. How many articles are we going to see like this....

[2ndhandcorn]

I will never finish it is an RPG lol.

[EricLane]

I kinda skimmed through the video so I may have missed it but didn't CDPR say there were "multiplayer elements"? Not arguing against this article, just asking and seeking info if available.

[Hardiman]

There's quite a few who try to push the narrative that SP games aren't profitable no time just Ubi and EA! On the flip side there's quite a few who prove SP games are profitable and focus primarily on them! Most of Sony's major IP's are SP and they are still allowing devs to create new ones or reboot them with style like GOW showed.

[Lennoxb63]

Nobody said SP games aren't profitable. They just cost more to make. Which in turn makes it harder to profit from them than MP games.

[Maisay]

These overblown click-bait titles are a clear indication of how shitty a source is.
We need a custom option to block these junk sites.

[Godmars290]

It proved nothing given that EA is of a mindset that does not recognize the value SP games. Present as many examples as you want to them, but even if you get them to make an effort towards SP, it will only be effed up. Mass Effect 2 to Andromeda has proven such.

[Aenea]

Not the first that's proving this either so not sure why yet another article about this needed to be written....

[MWH]

Corporates like EA has one predatory goal, to stir the industry and control it the way it serve them. It's not a matter of right or wrong, never was never will, it's about how to take all the money and create the means to do so.

[medman]

The way some of these "authors" write, you would think they don't realize that Sony and Nintendo have been killing it on the single player scene for decades, delivering many game of the year titles along the way. Add the exclusive pc single player titles to those, and you have the essence of what gaming really is. These "authors" need to stop the nonsense.