8 Live Service Games That Fell Flat

Live service games promise endless fun with constant updates and thriving communities. But some titles crash hard, leaving players frustrated and servers empty.

From broken launches to greedy monetization, these games failed to deliver on their big promises. Here’s a look at eight live service games that disappointed me and many others, ranked from least to most disappointing.

The Day Before (2023)

This zombie survival shooter hyped itself as a groundbreaking open-world experience. I was drawn in by trailers showing intense action and a gritty world, but the reality was a mess.

The game launched in early access with broken mechanics, empty servers, and visuals that looked nothing like the promos. Just four days after release, the studio shut down, citing financial failure, and the game vanished within a month. It felt like a scam, leaving me and others stunned by the sheer collapse.

Babylon’s Fall (2022)

Square Enix teamed up with PlatinumGames for this action RPG, promising epic combat and a rich fantasy world. I hoped for a hit, given Platinum’s track record with fast-paced action.

Instead, ‘Babylon’s Fall’ was bland, with repetitive missions and a forgettable story. Its live service model pushed cosmetics and grind-heavy gameplay, but players dropped off fast—Steam had just one concurrent player months after launch. Servers shut down within a year, a rare misstep for both companies.

Chocobo GP (2022)

A kart racer with cute ‘Final Fantasy’ chocobos sounded like a blast to me. The core racing mechanics weren’t bad, offering tight controls and colorful tracks.

But ‘Chocobo GP’ locked fan-favorite characters behind steep paywalls, souring the fun. The live service model felt like a cash grab, with season passes and microtransactions galore. Support ended quickly, and I was left wishing for a simpler, fairer racer.

CrossfireX (2022)

‘CrossfireX’ aimed to bring the mega-popular Asian FPS ‘Crossfire’ to Western audiences, backed by Xbox and Remedy. I expected a polished shooter with global appeal.

It flopped hard with clunky controls, outdated graphics, and a campaign that felt tacked on. The free-to-play model couldn’t save it, as bugs and poor design drove players away. Servers shut down within a year, proving this cross-cultural experiment was a bust.

Anthem (2019)

BioWare’s ‘Anthem’ had me excited with its sci-fi world and flying exosuits. The idea of teaming up for epic missions sounded like a dream.

But the game launched with thin content, repetitive quests, and bugs that broke immersion. Promises of a grand overhaul never materialized, and support ended in 2021. I wanted to love ‘Anthem’, but it felt like a missed opportunity from a studio known for better.

Marvel’s Avengers (2020)

A big-budget superhero game from Crystal Dynamics sounded like a sure win to me. Playing as Iron Man or Thor in a live service world had massive potential.

Sadly, ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ was a grind fest with dull missions and a buggy launch. Microtransactions for cosmetics pushed too hard, alienating players who wanted a meaty story. The game limped along before support fizzled out, leaving me wishing for a single-player epic instead.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint (2019)

I loved the tactical vibe of earlier ‘Ghost Recon’ games, so ‘Breakpoint’ seemed like a natural fit with its open-world setup. The promise of constant updates kept me hopeful.

It delivered a generic shooter weighed down by loot systems and microtransactions, plus Ubisoft’s ill-fated NFT experiment. Bugs and a weak story didn’t help, and the game never recovered from its rocky launch. I felt let down by a series I once admired.

Halo Infinite (2021)

‘Halo Infinite’ had a solid core with tight gunplay, and I was thrilled to jump back into the Master Chief’s world. The free-to-play multiplayer raised expectations for a lasting hit.

But slow content updates and missing features like co-op campaign at launch frustrated me. The live service model leaned hard on battle passes, and promised fixes came too late. It’s still alive, but the initial fumble dimmed its shine.

Which live service game let you down the most, or is there another flop I missed? Drop your thoughts in the comments!