The Problem With The Videogame Industry - Part 8, Multiplayer Being Prioritized Over Single Player
0Multiplayer used to solely be a side activity when it comes to videogames. Multiplayer was something that was accessed primarily after the completion of the single player portion of any game released to market. The modern industry however has turned further towards multiplayer because of monetization practices. It's far easier to develop and monetize multiplayer games because the player base makes up their own experience. A well written story with likable characters is not needed. Linear environments are not suitable for multiple various game variants because they have to be large enough to incorporate several players at once.
If a game dies within a few years by having its servers shut down, the publisher can easily make a sequel and reuse the same assets incorporated into the previous game or if the game wasn't successful, not much as been lost in terms of financial investment. Multiplayer these days is an easy cop-out for most genres including RPGs and shooters. It is only essential in specific niche genres such as fighting and racing.
Singleplayer should always be prioritized over multiplayer simply because it takes far more effort to make a fantastic single player experience complete with a well written narrative, intricate level design, and focused character dynamics compared to a simple minded multiplayer experience where the main activity is to respawn continuously for hours.