EA's Star Wars & Anthem Will Make the Same Mistakes as The Division & Destiny

"I have some issues with always-online shooters that I really hope EA deviates from with Anthem and the ex-Visceral Star Wars game." -- PlayStation Enthusiast

[Nodoze]

Say what you will, I still enjoy The Division.

[HeyNowChillax]

It's fun game to play during a winter snowstorm in NY. PS4 Pro patch was also a nice bump.

[Skull521]

The mistake was releasing these "MMO" type games with far to little content. I did everything there was to do in both the Division and Destiny in 3 sittings, then I never touched them again. The promise of more content weeks out didn't keep me playing, I'm not buying sequels to either because of it.

[JBaby343]

"I did everything there was to do in both the Division and Destiny in 3 sittings, then I never touched them again."

You platinumed the division in 3 sittings? It took me months. Or am I misunderstanding when you say you did everything there was to do?

The Division was great for campaign Co-op with friends but I always hated the gank-fest that was/is the dark zone.

Also, does this mean Visceral's Star Wars game is still in production just with a different dev?

[starrman1985]

The Division was great, I am tempted to pick it up on PS4 with the new update on its way. One thing that The Division did right (unless it's changed now) was zero microtransactions!

[_-EDMIX-_]

I don't own it, but many folks on PSN say its still pretty good as I find many exaggerate the game.

From those who actually play it, I hear great things many times.

[Edito]

For me The Division is one of the worst games of this generation.

[datriax]

They're not mistakes, when they're intentional. May wanna reword that.

[TheLeapist]

Uh you can do something intentionally and still have it be a mistake.

[madforaday]

It is only a mistake if the person who did it, thinks it is a mistake.

[Aenea]

@mad

Lol, what? So if a doctor makes a mistake and the patient dies it's not a mistake if they don't think it's one?

If a cop kills an innocent person or not a mistake if the cop doesn't think it is?

Silly logic!

[datriax]

Jesus. Please tell me you are mentally impaired mr. semantics.

[TheLeapist]

@datriax Instantly jumps to name calling. Doesn't understand how to use basic words.

Yeah you're going places.

[_-EDMIX-_]

lol

[slate91]

I hope not, so much promise.

[Cy]

If Anthem doesn't have a non-linear single player then BioWare is dead. And so is Anthem, probably.

[zaherdab]

dead for you maybe ... if this genre wasn't successful for developers they wouldnt keep investing in it

[IanTH]

Well, at least we saw EA come to the realization that Battlefront was impacted by not having a campaign, and then rectified that in the sequel. I'm hoping that since Anthem is clearly a cornerstone IP for them, they'll take that lesson and make sure Anthem has wide appeal by not focusing solely on a multiplayer experience.

It had a great 1st showing, but if we find out that the solo experience is an afterthought? Then I think there will be a sizable portion of the game-buying public that will decide not to pony up on launch day and EA will feel the pain come NPDs.

We know big publishers will almost unashamedly be chasing after the MTX and GaaS trash in every new release. And we know these types of post-launch content thrive more connected games where you face off/pair up with others where you can show off your trinkets (or buy an advantage). So at the very least, we can expect this to be some variant of always online, though hopefully I'm wrong.

So sure, solo players will likely not figure into this after-sale income in a meaningful way, but I still can't imagine EA chasing that to the potential exclusion of 1/4 to 1/3 (or whatever) of their overall sales of the base game. I think we'll see a campaign that will be balanced for solo or co-op play. If not, well...that'd be a shame.

[zaherdab]

the mistakes of selling millions of copies ?

[-Foxtrot]

This is what it goes like now when they are announcing something like this

"We're proud to announce our new open world..."

Ooooooo

"Online focused co-op driven multiplayer game"

Urgh

Because now in the time of MTs and Loot boxes among other shitty things you know online is a gateway to those things. Then playing with friends is developers greatest excuse to revolve the game around letting the player create their own replay value as they'll be playing with groups of friends grinding in the same areas fooling around rather then in a single player driven game where the develop will have to work harder to create more content for replay value as the player will be alone and looking at more things within the world to help drive them along in the game longer.

[Cmv38]

sadly you're correct. Weird how loot and grinding is fun in Diablo and borderlands, but sucks in destiny.

[Aenea]

Could that also not be rather subjective? I hated it in borderlands and never really got into Diablo.

[FPS_D3TH]

Same. Diablo puts me to sleep and while I enjoy borderlands I play destiny a ton when I can.

[zaherdab]

it's a new type of experience in my opinion and most lootboxes are optional for enjoyment ... you can get through the main campaign easily spend 40 hours+ without having to feel the need to grind or pay a dime ... I know a lot of people would disagree but if i am getting this much gameplay time out of these games i fine with them having lootboxes or whatever as long as i had fun and i wasn't force into these transactions

[Joe913]

I agree new experience and developers have to make money some how I wonder how many people complaining about MT and loot boxes buy used games because I hope people know used games is the reason for DLC, MT, and loot boxes I dare anyone who disagree explain to me how that is not a true statement so you can't be mad at people for wanting to get paid for the stuff that they make lol.

[Darkstryder360]

Completely forgot about The Division.

That, and No Man's Sky will probably be the most disappointing titles of this generation.

[madforaday]

Well, No Man Sky had 3 or 4 content patches so far that made the game way better. Say what you will about the game which was AWFUL when it came out but now it is pretty decent if you are looking for a laid back space exploration game.

[RommyReigns]

I would add Star Wars Battlefront EA (1) to that list, after the nostalgia factor wore off (which for me lasted around 12 hours since I absolutely love Star Wars) I saw how deeply flawed the game was, the controversy surrounding the online only and utter lack of campaign or single player (which surprisingly Overwatch got a monstrous pass on by reviewers and the media, only a few reviewers had the guts to expose it), the best gun in the game by a mile and longest time to unlock (the Han Solo gun) handed out to Deluxe players at the start, the season pass etc etc. The biggest disappointment of 2015. (Fortunately I was able to get most of my money back selling the physical copy of the game. I still have the steelbook which I use for the Harmy's Despecialised Trilogy, and that currently sells for around £10+ on eBay atm)

[Gaming4Life1981]

Hopefully Anthem will be one of my top games of next year just off the trailer alone. Day one buy for me. Im downloading battlefront 2 on the 1x right now thru ea access and as a diehard star wars fan im sure ill love it just like I loved the first one.

[TheHan]

Both games aren’t bad, I like The Division and Destiny 2, can’t wait for The Division 2, just some of the armor and stuff should probably be thought of more before they just implement it in game.

[corroios]

The lack of content is huge. This kind of game demands huge amount of loot, weapons and gear and they lack.

In D2 is sad and now they are bringing back more guns from D1.

[michellelynn0976]

SWBF will be a bust. It will sell well it's first week, then fall flat.

[quenomamen]

Its the grinding that get tired, some people like it tho.

[CrimsonWing69]

Look, these kinds of games aren't inherently bad. I just wish EA wouldn't feel like they need to make their games follow the model of Destiny or the Division.

I feel in a way EA will make all their AAA titles follow this model as it will bring them in the most revenue for a single game.

[FITSniper]

I agree on the Division. While I enjoyed it, the potential for the story wasn't really realized. It was there but you kind of glossed over it. If they had made it more like Uncharted at the beginning and then brought in all the extra online stuff and side mission/collection missions after you beat the main story (other than the ability to do coop), it would have been a better game. It's biggest problem by far though was the bullet sponge enemies. Multiple clips by multiple people to take down an enemy? An enemy being able to rush straight into and entire clip of automatic shotgun blasts to the face? Cmon.

I'm ok with the idea of the open world, online shooter. But I pray they don't mirror the new Star Wars game after The Division.

[Hardiman]

Sho nuff!

[Zjet]

Yup needs an offline single player mode...

So did for honor, rainbow six, skull and bones coming out...

[Fishy Fingers]

This guy has some serious foresight.

Either way, don’t like it, don’t buy it. But don’t whine about it, there are plenty of games for all tastes.

Personally I sure as hell got my money’s worth out of the Division (first month or two) and from what I’ve seen of Anthem so far I’m sure that’ll be no different.

[TheColbertinator]

Wait until a price drop. I got The Division for 20 moolah and it was well worth it.

[MrCrimson]

hope theres more substance in the games mentioned in this headline than in this article, shouldn't be difficult.

[neolego]

Great read. I'm very worried for anything EA is doing right now. It will be an interesting few years for EA.

[zerocarnage]

The division is still there and still hot to this day and unless you play it now you can't really say anything. Sure the division had its hiccups early on but it has gotten better with time.

Star wars is a compete different game to the other three mentioned and anthem that is yet to be released a.d no one can even talk crap about it until it's out there, period..

Destiny I won't mention, as Activision and bunjie can jump off a cliff..

[jugo14]

the division is hot garbage....are you kidding me?