Summary
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueputs a new spin on the DC Universe and has players taking the role of the villains. With quirky characters like Harley Quinn keeping things wacky and beloved heroes like Batman turning to the dark side, it’s far from the ordinary offering, but like many modern games, it has live service features.
These live service features have divided players, with some enjoying them while others see them as incredibly superfluous. One of the biggest problems they introduce is that they require the player to connect to the Warner Bros. server. Although it works most of the time, when it doesn’t, players are also blocked from the single-player mode, which is a major negative, as is seen inSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
There’s nothing inherently wrong withlive service games. For those who enjoy them, it allows them to play online with other players and keep coming back for new waves of content, adding several more hours to a game. However, live service isn’t universally adored because it has the potential to introduce connectivity issues and inconveniences. One of the biggest issues makes itself apparent inSuicide Squad: KTJL.
Suicide Squad: KTJL’s single-player modehas not been well-received critically but still provides some degree of fun for players who want to try out some superpowers and perhaps even enjoy a few laughs. Typically, single-player modes shouldn’t require online access, as the player is playing alone. However, that isn’t the case withSuicide Squad, which requires a connection to the Warner Bros. server.
The online requirement is a problem because there are instances when it is not possible to connect to theWarner Bros. gaming serverfor whatever reason. Not only are players blocked out from the live service aspect but they are blocked from the single-player game as well. This can be incredibly frustrating, but the worst part is that Suicide Squadisn’t the only game to have this issue.
Other games have the same problem, leading to widespread frustration. Many players purchasegames with single-player elementsto be able to play them without an internet connection. The need to be always online is usually a product of live service elements being included, which is part of the reason why this gaming format has come to be loathed by some.
This is the case withDiablo 3where a failure to connect to the server prevents players from accessing the single-player mode. It’s easy to understand why this is annoying for those who are uninterested in the multiplayer aspect of the game. For some games, players won’t enjoy all aspects of the single-player mode without an internet connection. This is true forHalo Infinite, as well as Remedy’sQuantum Break,which requires the player to be online to view the cutscenes.
The Future of Always-Online Live-Service Gaming
It appears that players aren’t out of the woods just yet and that this is a problem that isn’t going anywhere soon as more studios push for live service elements. For example, Warner Bros. has discussed alive service version ofHogwarts Legacy. This doesn’t mean that live service is inherently bad; the complaint is that it has the potential to encroach on the enjoyment of single-player gaming.
With more live service games on the way, it could be the case that players will be dealing with always-online single-player games more frequently. The success or failure of the movement will determine a lot about the future of gaming.
