Sports games should be live service games
I truly believe that all sports games should adopt a live service model, spanning 3 to 5 years. With each new release, we often encounter discussions on forums lamenting the repetition and lack of in...
Forum Discussion
Annual releases, despite their flaws, often come with a fresh wave of features, improvements, and technological advancements. -- I am sure most of the community would think otherwise, just look at the forum
Developers might become complacent, relying on minor tweaks rather than pushing for groundbreaking enhancements each year. -- I don't personally know any developers but based on what I've read in recent years with over worked / over stressed development teams i would think that the additional time to create something new would inspire and motivate.
A live service model might create a fragmented player base -- I simply disagree with the second paragraph. I don't know many people that play the older games online and offline modes will always be available.
Sports games often serve as snapshots of their respective eras... -- Lets be honest sports eras are multiple years. and you can always download the original roster the game came with.
..consumers are already experiencing subscription fatigue... -- Anyone that buys the game yearly is on a $70 subscription anyway, I'm recommending reducing the price
Sports games have a significant market in physical copies -- This just seems like a poor argument. everything is going digital
GaaS models often incorporate microtransactions..,. -- This game is stacked with microtransactions anyway.
Continuous changes to the game mechanics, features, and rosters can increase the complexity and learning curve for players... -- its on the developers to ensure the game is learnable and the matchmaking online is fair. but ultimately life's tough get a helmet
I just fully disagree with your last paragraph.
Also let's pull the curtain back here. Yes, I used AI to rewrite my original post. Please don't ask AI to provide your counter argument.
EA_Aljo
Community Manager
Community Manager
@ericdan12 wrote:GaaS models often incorporate microtransactions..,. -- This game is stacked with microtransactions anyway.
Obviously, we have microtransactions. I wouldn't call it stacked though. When it comes to WoC, these are almost all entirely esthetic so they're totally optional. Of course there are custom builds that can be purchased, but these are hardly P2W.
With HUT, all you can do is buy points that can be spent on packs. I wouldn't call this stacked with microtransactions though. This mode is still very playable without spending anything extra.
As far as the idea of a subscription instead of purchasing the game goes, I'm intrigued by it for sure. What @KidShowtime1867 mentioned about subscription fatigue is a very real concern though. I have more subscriptions than every for various streaming services as well as gamepass. Adding another to the mix isn't really appealing. However, with as much time as I spend on this game, I'm sure it would be worth it. Especially if the updates released year to year significantly improved the game and it wasn't just tuners, bug fixes and roster updates.
@EA_Aljo ok maybe "stacked" is the wrong adjective but they are there so the other guy's point was weak.
I would just be curious what would happen if this style was adopted by the industry. Personally, I would play NHL 24 for another 2 years with roster updates and tweaks to the tuners for a fee, if in a few years I got a familiar but NEW felling game with unique changes to all modes. Let's be honest though its mostly about the $$ and if enough people continue to buy for $70 each year (like a subscription...) then we will welcome NHL 25, 26, 27, etc.
