Concord’s Fall, Service Games & Episodic Storytelling

This week, Andrei and Marc discuss the ill-fated release of Concord (0:00), and the pitfalls of live service games, how they’re built and launched, and the challenges they face. Then, they move outwards to chat about the slow ramp down of Destiny 2: The Final Shape (18:19) and what happens when games stay the same for years. Comparing Destiny’s slowing cadence, Marc dives into World of Warcraft: The War Within (29:06) and its successful launch and the renewed storytelling momentum that the game showcases. Lastly, they chat about live service game incumbents and challengers (specifically Path of Exile 2 and Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred) (49:40) and the difficulty with dislodging certain games from their throne.

Hosts: Andrei Zanescu & Marc Lajeunesse
Producer: Marc Lajeunesse