Days Gone Studio's New IP Is a Live-Service Game

Days Gone developer appears to be moving well outside its comfort zone in order to join Sony's ongoing foray into live-service games.

Admin note: Updated this to rumor. Job listings can be a good indicator, but let's remember nothing is final until officially announced. ~Christopher

[Sonic1881]

This game will determine the fate of Sony Bend. Not looking to good if it's a live service game.

[Lightning77]

That's the regime within Sony to have some of their studios make a LS games.

[_SilverHawk_]

Days gone is an amazing game which I believe was unfairly criticized for things a lot of other games gets a pass for. The game is very good but had a few bugs on launch that was quickly patched the day of release. There are so many games that took months to iron out most of the bugs that are highly praised so I can understand if the dev team decides to go a different route.

It's a tricky thing to try to make a sequel of a game because I've seen sequels improve a lot over the first game with new worlds and mechanics and get lower review scores while other games sequel have the same world with minor changes but get better review scores. Whatever the days gone developers are making I believe will be a good game because I know they are a good game studio.

[sushimama]

Helldivers 2 proves you can make fun live service games that don't feel like they're nickle and diming you. I am optimistic

[Cacabunga]

Oh no! Another boycott

[Magic_Spatula]

Yea. That has been planned for years.

[S2Killinit]

No, Sony is not allowed to have LS. Everyone else yes, but Sony is not allowed. We wont allow it.

[sushimama]

Why? It's obvious at this point of what not to do when making a live service game. Plus you can see from Helldivers 2 that fun games can be made that don't feel like Microtransactions are weighing you or the game down.

[GhostScholar]

For every helldivers 2 there are so many that aren’t good. Let’s not assume every sony live service game is gonna be helldivers 2.

[--Onilink--]

To be fair, while Helldivers 2 has been great and quite successful, its only been out for a month and a half.

Its success from a launch standpoint has already been proven, but whether it succeeds as a Live Service game (in particular as one to be used as a model for others) is not really something we know yet.

The whole point of devs and publishers going for live service is the consistent revenue they provide over several years, not just 1-2 months

[porkChop]

It's been obvious for years though. That hasn't stopped dozens of live service games crashing and burning on release for making the same mistakes again and again. This industry doesn't learn.

[S2Killinit]

Why is it automatically bad? Maybe its a good game. I reserve my judgement until we see it.

[ThePacemaker]

Unless it is a hit like Helldivers ||, the studio will not survive unfortunately.

[Redemption-64]

That is a lie. They can make a single player that players would claim they want, but would not support. They can make a good live service game like Helldivers 2. As long the game is good and the mtx are not bad, the game will do well. Their last game was a single-player game, yet most only got the game when it was heavily discounted.

[DarXyde]

Quite unfortunate.

Sony really should not be asking their long time studios to be making these games. Haven, Bungie, fine. Not Bend.

[Obscure_Observer]

"Not looking to good if it's a live service game."

It´s Amazing news!

It could be a spiritual successor to Syphon Filter with multiplayer/co-op mechanics.

Bring it on, Bend!

[-Foxtrot]

I'm going to say this as someone who really enjoyed Days Gone

Why would you go and create an open world, multiplayer game with live service elements if you're previous game which was only a single player title came out flawed?

Wouldn't you want to create a new single player game to refine and fix your last mistakes to master what you were going for the first time before jumping into uncharted territories with online, multiplayer and live service which is a completely different beast entirely.

I can't be the only who thinks this right?

Just seems like your setting yourself up for failure in my opinion, you're giving yourself and your team bigger challenges to overcome in an already oversaturated market, a market where live service games made by people who are used to online and multiplayer are even struggling themselves.

It might be good, who knows, but at the moment it just seems they are biting off more than they can chew.

[isarai]

Wasn't up to them, it's Jim's orders

[phoenixwing]

Isarai is completely right. bend already had wanted to do the sequel which is why the one guy stepped down from their studio because he didn't get to. Their marching orders were to do this from Sony.

[smolinsk]

Exactly.

[JackBNimble]

Phoenix
That doesn't take away from the fact that when this LS fails , that Bend will be dismantled whether Ryan gave the "marching orders" or not.

[just_looken]

Though you are right like Isarai said sony wanted 12 live service games asap they have no say in the matter just work for there over lords like isomiac in there marvel slave factory.

[phoenixwing]

honestly having to make marvel games isn't so bad, there's a diverse lineup of characters to choose from. what's really bad about it is that they have to consult with sweet baby inc about political crap to add to their games or take away from it

[Nooderus]

That's a nasty little run on sentence with misspellings.

[just_looken]

@pho

Its not making marvel games its about the leak were even into mid ps6 we wil still be getting spiderman/wolverine from a dev studio that once did infamous and of course the ratchet games.

But no everyday they go to work on 2 ips for the next 8+years

[victorMaje]

Yup as others mentioned, not up to them.
My only hope now is for Bend to hold on & make it to a time & state that will allow them to properly start working on Days Gone 2.

[jznrpg]

The pitch for Days Gone 2 was a multiplayer game as well .

[MrCrimson]

They just see their competitors profits and want to replicate. They ask all these studios to do something they've never done before and the results are exactly as you would expect (lacking). This has been happening for a decade in the industry. Dice and Battlefront/Battlefield are the best example.

[Lightning77]

I full expect to see this game announced at SGF.

It's definitely not Days Gone 2 it's a new LS IP. Hope it looks and plays good.

[shinoff2183]

Live service online. Sorry to say they can keep it

[sushimama]

Like Helldivers 2 ??

[Barlos]

Yup I feel the same. I am never buying into LS crap, no matter how good the game is supposed to be.

[shinoff2183]

Sushimama. Yes exactly like helldivers.

[DustMan]

If they drop it at 39.99 and a progression system that isn't entirely bogged down by MTX like Helldivers 2 they could have something in general moving forward. However I fell like HD2 may just be an exception to the rule.

[shinoff2183]

Easy pass then. Fk all that. Shame I really really liked days gone.

[Obscure_Observer]

You knew for a long time that Days Gone 2 wasn´t coming.

Your outrage makes no sense.

[LG_Fox_Brazil]

But the question is: will it be able to be another Helldivers 2?

[Charlieboy333]

Even if it is, my question is who is going to play all these live service games constantly? Doesn't matter if they are all Helldivers 2 quality, there is only so much time and people tend to dedicate themselves to maybe a couple of service games at a time ( if that ).

[Crows90]

Well...yes. however, once you're more or less topped off on one you really only go back for the updates. Or in some cases even once a season starts.

[Barlos]

Couldn't care less if it was, I wouldn't be buying it either way. LS is an instant deal breaker for me.

[Obscure_Observer]

"Couldn't care less if it was, I wouldn't be buying it either way. LS is an instant deal breaker for me."

And Sony couldn´t care less about you or your feelings.

[CrimsonWing69]

That’s the thing. Why does Helldivers 2 get praised but then this has everyone doomin’ and gloomin’? If we start getting GaaS as a majority of releases people don’t have anyone to blame but themselves for opening this door. I hope most of these GaaS games fail so we can get back to traditional games.

I always ask this question: Why do publishers choose to develop a game with a GaaS design vs just making a traditional game? There’s only one answer and it’s all centered around continual monetization with a dev budget spread thin over many years.

[Lightning77]

"If we start getting GaaS as a majority of releases people don’t have anyone to blame but themselves for opening this door. I hope most of these GaaS games fail so we can get back to traditional games."

In Sony's case if these LS games fail, major lay offs, studio down sizes and even possible studios shut downs (worse case)

I said this already but if these LS games fail it won't be a glamorous as going back to what they do best. There will be casualties and slow production, shifts and changes. If they succeed, they can make traditional SP games while supporting the LS game. That's the best case scenario.

Buy Bends new game if it looks good, plays good and fun. If it doesn't then don't buy it, no need to force yourself for some agenda.

I think Bends game is releasing next year tbh. I think it's closer than we think.

[porkChop]

History says probably not. Almost every live service game fails. Realistically if HD2 is successful the other games likely won't be. Traditionally people dont jump from live service to live service. They find one game they really click with and invest their time and/or money into that.

[Knightofelemia]

I enjoyed Days Gone and was really hoping on a sequel. But making an LS game nah I am good.

[CrimsonWing69]

Oh great…

[ravens52]

Tf man. Fn Jim Ryan

[smolinsk]

They tried to make a classic Sony high level game but failed. Days Gone was not to the level Sony demand on so many points so I understand Sony not letting them make a second one or even a new single player. Now they can make up for it with this smaller Live service game and if that makes it Big Maybe then they can make another Big AAA single player game.
I really like Sonys High level of standard to secure the games are top sellers.

[phoenixwing]

from what i could tell days gone got targeted by political media who had reviews saying how they didn't like the white biker dude. then the game which ran so poorly and got marked down was fixed within a day after being sold which unfortunately wasn't fast enough to fix the damage. all in all it was actually a good game. it also sold well but sony cares more about a pedigree of high review scores sometimes than the actual sales numbers.

[smolinsk]

It had nothing to do with a white dude or anything like that silly stuff. But it was a little weird playing as a Biker dude from a Biker gang. Just silly. The Bike was fine and ran perfectly. Really good bike gameplay.
It was the story that was off and dull The world felt empty other then the really fun hords. Other then that the game really had nothing. Very obvious it was Bends first open world game. The game lacked character.
It sold ok but not Great as Sony other Big AAA games does. Sony care alot about game scores yes and that is exactly why they are the best at it.

[Redemption-64]

Had 0 to do with a white guy. That is just a stupid thing some people say. Gamers are to blame not the media. Game might have sold around 8M, but I recall the dev saying ‘don’t complain if there’s no sequel if you didn’t buy it full price. In order words, most gamers refused to actually buy the game at full price for whatever reason, got it when it was heavily discounted. Now most are complaining the studio isn't doing a sequel. If you didn't think the game was good enough at full price, why should the studio make a new one?

[boing1]

Good luck. You'll needed.

[YourMommySpoils]

Well that's the end of that, isn't it?

[1nsomniac]

Days Gone was such a good game. Maybe even one of the best of the generation. I hold my hands up and admit I slammed it on release - I can’t even remember why now. So I share the responsibility of not seeing a sequel. A real shame. The devs deserved better.

[Solitariussaint]

RIP

[TheKingKratos]

This is so stupid

Wtf are you thinking guys and Sony really needs better management

[jznrpg]

They already said it was a multiplayer game many months ago so that made it fairly clear it was love service. The Days Gone 2 pitch was also multiplayer so either way it would have been live service

[DeputyB]

If this was before Helldivers 2 I'd be "fml and these live service games", but now that I see that companies can actually make a Live service game that doesn't feel gross I won't instantly right this one off. Only time can tell how this one will go.

[Psychonaut85]

Sony is Old Yellering Bend Studio. Damn shame. Days Gone was underrated

[dRanzer]

Oh for f sake

[IAMRealHooman]

They could be sneaky and make Syphon Filter. CBDC( yellow hazmat suit guys) were in Days Gone and Syphon Filter. That could appease both Days Gone fans and the LS, by making a MP Syphon Filter with hints leading into Days Gone.

[Barlos]

Days Gone Studio's new IP won't see a sale from me then.

I don't care how good they are, I'm not buying into live service games. I thought Helldivers 2 looked pretty great in the early trailers, but it being live service turned me off immediately. It's a definite deal breaker for me.

[darksky]

Days Gone was one of the best games I played. Too bad a sequel is no longer on the cards.

[mudakoshaka]

Live Days?

[VincentVanBro]

Ah man, well I guess their run is over then. GaaS titles seem to be the final death rattle for formerly awesome studios these days.

[MetroidFREAK21]

No 😍

[SpacedDuck]

Damn shame. Gaming does not need another "live service" games that falls apart within the first year.

[MrCrimson]

Another Live Service Game - another future dead studio.

[Ready4nxtgen]

How, just how can u literally screw up such a good thing

[P_Bomb]

Days Gone deserves better.

[GhostScholar]

That hurts me. Days gone was so good. I’d give anything if Sony would have green lit a sequel

[where-eagles-dare]

Congratulations Sony Bell end. I have absolutely zero interest in your live service sh*tty title. Days Gone 2 would have been a day one title.

[Aussiesummer]

Days gone was mediocre at best, looks like they are lowering that bar even further. Go bend.

[Aphrodia]

Hopefully they're taking over the Factions 2 project.

[Fonsecap]

Why?...

[DefenderOfDoom2]

Interesting that they pitched a open world Resistance game. But I would rather have INSOMNIAC work on a new Resistance game .

[anast]

I heard it's our fault.

[Demetrius]

Naughty dog, insomniac canceling their online titles should of been a sign for Sony bend to not go into that territory of dead on arrival titles, look at suicide squad 🤦🏾 smh these devs do not think of their fans nowadays smh days gone will always be one of my most favorite post apocalyptic titles, these mfs must not be the same sony bend staff from 2019 and back cause ain no way they would do a idiot move like this yo

[Kosic]

If it was a live service based on the days gone universe. That could be interesting. But it's hard to do a good live service game

[Inverno]

There is such a stigma with live service that even when a good studio is working on one people already have their minds set that it'll be bad. With that said, this might kill the studio and that's not good at all so I hope they make a good game.

[HankHill]

Live service games are a-ok according to fanboys on this site, so why not? Now I see why they increased the price of PS Plus.

[InUrFoxHole]

Good to hear

[neomahi]

What a tragedy and waste of talent. 989 Studios, people. Syphon Filter, Uncharted: Goldyn Abyss, Days Gone..... What a sad day.......

[leemo19]

What a shame, Instead of continue Days Gone story after the cliffhanger ending In the first. Sony rather make Bend do pointless live service game instead. Live service game hardly ever successful

[Pyrofire95]

YAY!
..................
............
.............
.................
no...

[senorfartcushion]

Just what Sony need: more competition against THEMSELVES?