In the eyes of many who played it,Killzoneis a franchise that deserved more love than it ever received - both from other gamers and Sony itself.Killzone 2,3, andShadow Fallall delivered some top-notch campaigns. Each entry offered stellar multiplayer experiences and cutting edge visuals, too, with eventhe PS Vita gameKillzone Mercenaryshining brightly. The series deserves a comeback, and to make it succeed, live service would be the way to go.
With Sony picking up Bungie and various reports suggesting that it is determined to make some successful live service titles - withDestruction All-Starsbeing a failed attempt at this - it only makes sense to do so with an established IP. Of all its dormant franchises,Killzonejoins Insomniac’sResistanceas a perfect live service candidate, as it is easy to imagine its multiplayer being supported for years.
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Killzone Can Continuously Provide Fresh Content and Cosmetics
When looking at successful live service games likeCall of Duty, it is important to provide a wide variety of content. Fortunately, theKillzonefranchise is in a perfect position to do just that. If done correctly, Guerrilla Games or anotherPlayStation Studiosdeveloper can revitalizeKillzone, keeping players coming back with exciting content drops.
Starting with maps,Killzonealready has an array of classics to pull from. While a launch lineup would surely be full of original maps that have not been seen in previous games, post-launch Seasons could start to restore some classics. Much like howCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2brings back Shipment and Shoot Housein its inaugural Season, extra content forKillzonecould see the legendary Radec Academy and Blood Gracht brought fo life on next-gen consoles.
A live service style could see new weapons and modes added toa next-genKillzoneas well. While fresh Assault Rifles and Shotguns being dropped at a consistent rate would be nothing surprising, extra modes is whereKillzoneupdates could shine. The co-op Intercept mode could come after launch and be consistently updated with new areas, objectives, and enemy types, making the game feel like a full package.Killzone 3’s Operations could return and be expanded upon as well, with another coming each Season to freshen things up. Ranked play and never-before-seen modes are also viable options.
As is always the case with games of this style, cosmetics would have to be a big deal, as they would be Sony’s main source of revenue. Fortunately, the orange-eyedHelghastand ISA are ripe for exciting customization options. The Helghast have already worn different outfits depending on their roles and the locations they fight in, while the ISA essentially being traditional soldiers ensures they can wear anything. Perhaps the developer of this hypotheticalKillzonegame could let players customize each piece of their attire, equipping different helmets, armor pieces, and so on.
With Sony making a big push to releasePlayStation exclusives on PC, launching thisKillzonegame on both platforms at the same time could guarantee a larger player base on day one. From there, Sony would just have to keep that sizable audience engaged, andKillzoneis an IP that truly seems built for that task. While the series will likely stay dead for the foreseeable future, it would be a welcome surprise to see it revived and built to suit a modern audience. Though some players may naturally be concerned whenever the phrase live service is mentioned, games likeFortnitehave shown how beneficial it can be.Killzone’s issue has always been lasting mainstream appeal and not quality, as the games have been consistently great. As such, a live service approach (and maybe even a free-to-play format) could be exactly what it needs.
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