PlayStation's live-service push has been a bit of a mixed bag so far. In the span of just 12 months, Sony has canceled The Last of Us' multiplayer game, which was set to be the company's flagship live-service product, and it released Concord, which was pulled from storefronts and shut down just two weeks after launch. But PlayStation also released Helldivers 2 between those two events, which sold 12 million copies in its first three months and broke records to become PlayStation's fastest-selling game of all time.
It seems likely that PlayStation is now approaching all live-service projects in active development with caution, and that likely includes Haven Studios' Fairgames. To succeed, every live-service game needs a unique hook, and while Fairgames' PvPvE heist loop looks fun, it might want to borrow an old mechanic from Call of Duty to get it over the finish line.
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Fairgames Should Take Inspiration from Call of Duty: Black Ops' Wager Matches
Call of Duty: Black Ops' Wager Matches Explained
Introduced in 2010's Call of Duty: Black Ops and then never seen again, Wager Matches allowed players to bet their CoD Points in a series of party game modes. Six players would join a Wager Match, pay the buy-in specific to that mode, and compete to earn their share of the prize money. The player ranked 1st in the lobby at the end of a match would receive 50% of the pot, the 2nd spot would get 30%, the 3rd spot would get 20%, and the rest of the lobby would walk away with nothing.
Call of Duty: Black Ops' Wager Matches gave players four party modes to choose from, including Sticks and Stones, One in the Chamber, Gun Game, and Sharpshooter. Players were also given a few different playlists to choose from, each one requiring a different buy-in from the player. The Ante Up playlist required a small buy-in of just 10 CoD Points, while the incredibly risky High Roller playlist required an absurd buy-in of 10,000 CoD Points.
Back in 2010, CoD Points were simply a set of in-game currency that could be earned easily through gameplay, and could be used to purchase new weapons, camos, and Killstreaks. As such, wagering CoD Points struck a nice balance of feeling thrilling while not risking anything that couldn't be earned back in just a few hours.
Wager Matches never returned to Call of Duty, and they likely never will, given that CoD Points are now purchased using real-world cash.
How Fairgames Could Put its Own Spin on Black Ops' Wager Match System
Based on its debut trailer from May 2023 and the accompanying PS Blog post, Haven Studios' Fairgames revolves around competitive heists, where players need to form teams, rob from the rich, and fend off other heist crews looking to claim the prize for themselves. It seems fair to assume that Fairgames will revolve around money, and it could make that an even more integral part of the experience by borrowing Call of Duty: Black Ops' Wager Match system.
Before setting off on a heist in Fairgames, players could use their earned in-game cash to place bets on various match conditions, such as being able to extract within a certain time limit, or being able to take down a certain number of guards with specific weapons. Completing these bets could reward players with more cash to use on upgrades and new gear. That small addition could keep players engaged with Fairgames' live-service loop for a bit longer.
Fairgames is in development for PlayStation 5 and PC.
