By “This is no slight on any developers who have done that.”
BioShock originator Ken Levine recognizes why much of the sector continues to pursue the live service craze, yet in his upcoming title, Judas, the studio Ghost Story Games is simply aiming for this: “You purchase the game and you receive the complete experience.”
The single-player, narrative-driven rogue-like remains an enigma, revealed for PS5 in December 2022. Nevertheless, in a recent discussion with Nightdive Studios (via GamesRadar), Ken Levine referred to it as an “old-school game” where you obtain the full experience for the asked price.
“You purchase the game and you receive the complete experience. There’s no online feature, there’s no live service, because everything we create is in service of narrating the story and immersing the player,” he articulated.
Acknowledging the challenges the gaming industry currently endures, Levine comprehends why a studio might follow live service trends and integrate additional monetisation strategies where typically none would exist. “This is no slight on any developers who have chosen that path, as making games is costly,” he clarified, and he doesn’t “fault anyone for attempting to earn a livelihood.”
As a counterpoint, however, Levine highlights the recent triumphs of Baldur’s Gate 3, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as evidence that it’s still possible to produce single-player games and generate a healthy return.
“These are titles that are truly traditional single-player experiences, and they lack that form of monetisation, and I believe the audience rewards these games, particularly in the AAA segment, since they can become so costly that consumers seek alternative forms of monetisation,” he added.
Levine will be optimistic that Judas can join this group upon its eventual launch on PS5. The title currently does not have a release timeframe and hasn’t been showcased since March 2024. At the very least, Levine’s remarks essentially affirm that you will not be purchasing character outfits or engaging in any Battle Passes in Judas.
[source youtube.com, via gamesradar.com]
Liam was raised with a PlayStation controller in hand and an admiration for Metal Gear Solid. In recent times, he has been enjoying the latest and most exciting PS5 titles while also supporting Derby County. That last detail, however, is his downfall.