Online action RPG Babylon's Fall will shut down in February 2023, but PlatinumGames wants to keep creating live service games despite its recent failure according to CEO Atsushi Inaba. Babylon's Fall will have lasted just a year in the market once the game servers shut down. However, PlatinumGames could learn from the failed endeavor to create a compelling new title.
In an interview at VGC, PlatinumGames CEO Atsushi Inaba broke his silence a month after the announcement of Babylon's Fall's impending shutdown. Inaba is unable to comment on certain areas of games developed with partners like Square Enix, but he implies that restrictions placed by a publisher led to an undesirable situation in game development. He asks VGC and readers alike to inquire about the situation with Square Enix since the company is the publisher of Babylon's Fall. However, Inaba says PlatinumGames wants to keep developing live service games despite the failure of Babylon's Fall. The shutdown of Babylon's Fall has not affected the company's outlook on live service games at all according to Inaba.
Inaba apologizes for the disappointment caused by Babylon's Fall, and he understands the frustration of dedicated players who purchased and supported the title. Although PlatinumGames is extremely sorry about the outcome of the product, the company wants to take what it's learned from the experience to influence future live service games. According to Inaba, PlatinumGames wants to develop live service games and put the company's efforts into moving forward with the live service initiative. PlatinumGames plans to focus more on the core mechanics of its live service games going forward as well.
Inaba says fun game mechanics and the performance of the live service itself are two major factors for creating a successful live service title. If one is valued more than the other, or they're not connected, the live service game may not turn out as intended. Inaba suggests the disconnect between the two factors led to the downfall of Babylon's Fall, and PlatinumGames may look back on the situation going forward into new projects.
The CEO is open about the future of PlatinumGames and live service, but it will be up to the company to deliver an exciting live service experience that retains a healthy player base. Additionally, many fans look forward to PlatinumGames' Bayonetta 3 for Nintendo Switch, so the desire for single-player games remains strong. PlatinumGames should strike a balance between the desires of players to prevent another Babylon's Fall.
Babylon's Fall is shutting down early next year, but players may still take part in the final season starting November 29. The final season of Babylon's Fall features new events and rewards leading up the last day of service in February.
Babylon's Fall services shut down on February 27, 2023.
Source: VGC