April 11th 2024.
It's no secret that Bungie is going through some tough times. There have been rumors of major job cuts looming, possibly after the release of their highly anticipated game, The Final Shape. Even their other project, Marathon, seems to be facing difficulties before its launch. As a fan, I was surprised when Sony paid such a hefty sum for them, considering how they've been acting flaky for the past few years.
It seems that the recent management problems are to blame, and after scouring Reddit for a couple of hours, it's clear that the people who approved of the purchase may have had second thoughts if they had taken the time to ask gamers. But as usual, our opinions are often overlooked.
The fate of Bungie's Destiny 3 is uncertain. On one hand, it seems like a step back on their promise, but on the other hand, with Destiny 2 in its current state, a new game might be the best solution. However, it's a risky move, and if it doesn't work out, I can see Sony either selling them off or shutting them down. Destiny 3 might end up being a bigger threat to Bungie's survival.
Speaking of games that are facing issues, I'm eagerly anticipating a semi-sequel to God of War this year. However, I can't help but wonder if it's time for the franchise to end. The gameplay in the latest installment, Ragnarök, didn't offer anything new compared to the previous one. And the story seems to have reached its conclusion. Atreus as a playable character doesn't interest me as much as Kratos, but with the game's popularity, I doubt Sony will let it end.
Moving on to EA and their obsession with Battlefield as a big-budget game. It's puzzling why they continue to pursue this when they had the chance to surpass Call of Duty with Battlefield 4, but instead released a broken and buggy mess back in 2013. It's clear that times have changed, and yet they're still focusing on story campaigns that no one wants, instead of giving us another Bad Company game with more destruction effects. It seems like EA doesn't understand what makes the franchise appealing to players, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Lastly, there's the issue of publishers wanting us to stay engaged with their games for as long as possible. While it makes sense for free-to-play or online games with microtransactions, it's harder to understand why it's desirable for a standard, single-player experience. It seems like an illusion of providing value for money, but it also comes at a cost for the developers. We'll dive deeper into this topic in our upcoming newsletter.
Bungie has been a household name in the gaming industry for years, known for their iconic titles such as Marathon and Destiny. However, recent rumors of major job cuts and management problems have left fans, like myself, worried about the company's future.
Even as a dedicated fan, I was surprised when Sony paid a hefty sum to acquire Bungie. It seemed like the company had been acting erratically for the past couple of years. After scouring Reddit for hours, I couldn't help but wonder if the people who greenlit the purchase would have reconsidered if they had asked gamers for their opinions.
My concerns only grew when it was announced that Destiny 3 was in the works, despite the promise of continuous updates and expansions for Destiny 2. While I understand the need for a fresh start to fix the current issues with the game, I can't help but worry about the financial impact it will have on Bungie. If Destiny 3 doesn't meet expectations, I can see Sony either selling them off or shutting them down for good.
My guess is that Destiny 3 will happen, but it will continue to loom over Bungie as a potential threat to their survival. It's a sad thought, but it's a reality that many fans, including myself, fear.
Speaking of sequels, I would welcome a semi-sequel to God of War this year, but I can't help but wonder if the franchise has run its course. While I loved the latest installment, Ragnarök, it didn't offer much in terms of new gameplay compared to its predecessor. And let's face it, the story seems pretty much wrapped up at this point.
But, of course, the game is popular, so it's unlikely that Sony will let the franchise die. I know many fans are excited about the possibility of playing as Atreus in the next game, but personally, I find Kratos and his abilities far more interesting. It's clear that Sony is more interested in churning out safe sequels to established franchises rather than taking risks with new IPs, which is a concern for the future of single-player games on their platform.
Moving on to EA and their obsession with the Battlefield franchise, I can't help but wonder why they continue to invest so much money in a series that has failed to surpass Call of Duty. Their chance to beat the competition with Battlefield 4 was squandered when the game was released in a broken and buggy state in 2013. And yet, they continue to produce story campaigns that nobody wants and refuse to make a new Bad Company game with improved destruction effects.
If I were in charge, I would opt for a low-budget reboot of the franchise, with input from fans and a focus on creating a unique and engaging experience instead of just another corporate product. But unfortunately, I doubt this will ever happen.
Finally, I want to touch on the concept of player engagement and its importance to publishers. While it seems obvious for free-to-play and online games, I'm still trying to understand its appeal for predominantly single-player experiences. Publishers are obsessed with user metrics and player engagement time, but what benefit does it have for them if they've already made the sale? It's clear that the push for extended playtime often results in bloated games and extra content that can affect overall profit margins. But perhaps there's more to this strategy that we're not aware of.
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