For years now the most celebrated (and financially successful) titles have included at least some form of multiplayer functionality. The tendency has become so pervasive that Frank Gibeau, President of EA Games, believes that the traditional single-player only games are destined for extinction. The studio head clarified his statements in an interview with Develop.
“…it’s not only about multiplayer, it’s about being connected. I firmly believe that the way the products we have are going they, need to be connected online. Multiplayer is one form of that…I volunteer you to speak to EA’s studio heads; they’ll tell you the same thing. They’re very comfortable moving the discussion towards how we make connected gameplay – be it co-operative or multiplayer or online services – as opposed to fire-and-forget, packaged goods only, single-player, 25-hours-and you’re out. I think that model is finished,” Gibeau conlcuded. “Online is where the innovation, and the action, is at.”
Are single-player only games going the way of the cartridge? Give us your verdict below, E-Gs!
I would not like SP only games to go away, especially on handhelds. I don’t want to have the always on feature, as that pretty much equates to the DRM that is present in the PC Assassin’s Creed II port. Seriously, it is a bad idea. Not all games are meant to be always connected, and not all games warrant multiplayer. I wish publishers would just let developers make more original IPs and then give those games the proper marketing they deserve.
This might eventually be the inevitable future of the industry, but not until internet speeds come way down in price, go way up in speed, and most of the country is connected by fast internet (let alone other countries; this is for you Zky).
TL;DR Should not happen right now as it is a bad idea, but probably the future when new consoles roll around (Handhelds in the way off future, cause very few have internet built into them).
Adding online also allows for even more purchased DLC for that branch of the game.