There were two moments during The Game Awards last week when I went “Oh!” in excitement, and then seconds later, went, “Oh”, in disappointment. The first was when Warren Spector’s newest immersive sim, Thick As Thieves, was announced. I was sold, all the way up till I realised the game was a multiplayer PvPvE game. The second was Elden Ring: Nightreign. I don’t particularly care for Elden Ring, but I figured it would get a lot of attention – then I realised that this, too, was a multiplayer game.
The common ground between these two games is obvious: both are multiplayer titles. I can’t speak for everyone else, but the word ‘multiplayer’ is enough to get a groan out of me nowadays.
Multiplayer Is A Dirty Word Nowadays
Very few developers are making self-contained multiplayer games anymore – everything is live-service, meant to be played in perpetuity, squeezing more and more money out of your wallet over your years of loyalty. They take up so much of your time that they feel like jobs. Their survival is contingent on player retention, so they use dodgy tactics to keep you coming back and locked in. I’ve always believed these, and gachas, are the worst games. They don’t serve the player, they serve the bottom line.
So when people realised these games were multiplayer before they’d even gotten the chance to be excited, it felt like quite a damper on what should have been a celebration. To be clear, Elden Ring: Nightreign doesn’t seem to be a live-service game at all – director Junya Ishizaki says that the game should feel complete on day one, and that there aren’t exhaustive plans for seasonal updates, new events, and the like. Thick As Thieves does appear to be a live-service game, albeit one that’s session-based and therefore less demanding of your time. According to Eurogamer, the game won’t be free-to-play but a “premium plus” title, which is… encouraging, at least.
It’s hard to say what either game will look like at this point. From what I’ve gathered, Elden Ring: Nightreign is being billed as a “short RPG”, in that every game will have you fighting to survive for three in-game days, or about 40 minutes. During the day, you strengthen your character and look for equipment. There’s a boss battle every night, and a final boss battle at the end of that three day cycle. It aims to condense the core loop of an RPG into short missions while incorporating the rewarding exploration and skill-based combat Elden Ring is already known for.
Thick As Thieves, in turn, is designed to emulate the feeling of playing D&D for the first time. It’s about roleplaying freedom and collaboration, creating emergent stories in tandem with other players.
Multiplayer Is Always A Bigger Risk
These are interesting approaches to multiplayer games, but they still have the same problem: they will live or die by their communities. Both games will have to engage their player bases to return time and time again, and be able to continually offer new experiences so that players won’t get bored and move on entirely. That’s the curse of multiplayer – if you need that continual engagement to survive, you have to create reasons to engage.
I’m sure people are still interested in both these games. I, for one, am very intrigued by what Thick as Thieves has to offer, but I’m also very aware that if it doesn’t manage to grip its audience immediately, it could just disappear all at once like Concord did. No matter how interesting your premise is and how popular the series is, games like these are at a much higher risk of being wiped from the face of the earth completely, simply because they aren’t consistently bringing in returns. The disappointing part isn’t that these games are multiplayer, it’s that they might die because of it.
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ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is a standalone adventure within the ELDEN RING universe, crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the game’s core design.
Join forces with other players to take on the creeping night and the dangers within featuring 3-player co-op.
Take command of uniquely skilled heroes, each possessing their own abilities and distinct flair.
While individually formidable, their skills create powerful synergies when they unite as a team.
Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!
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Thick As Thieves, it’s every thief for themselves!
Chart your rise to master thief in a glittering, gloomy 1910s metropolis blending industry, magic and intrigue. Your choices unlock unique playstyles and strategies that shape your thief character. Tell your story through a fusion of emergent multiplayer gameplay and dynamic storytelling. Immerse yourself in a living world where no two nights are ever the same, ensuring endless challenges and discoveries.REPLAYABLE EMERGENT STEALTH ACTION PvPvE GAMEPLAY
Navigate a realm where every shadow and corner may conceal a fresh challenge—from watchful guards to devious rivals to the ever-shifting, treacherous city itself. Arm yourself with keen awareness and crafty skills to thrive in this unpredictable world.BE THE THIEF YOU WANT TO BE
Every mission is an opportunity, and every opportunity can be approached creatively. Observation, clever planning, and careful execution are essential, but with other thieves around it’ll never be that simple. Improvisation and inventiveness will be key if you are to survive and thrive.THE CITY AND ITS ENDLESS SECRETS
Delve into the city, a world rich in characters, stories, and mystery. Learn about the powerful, the criminal, and the craven as you break into their strongholds and steal both their gold and their secrets. Explore your own personal storyline, mission by mission, shaping your destiny and your journey from a nobody to a legend of crime.A THIEVES TOOL KIT
Your rise through the ranks will open doors – literally. Pick locks, hijack alarms, bamboozle guards, silence civilians, conceal your presence, and escape with your loot bag full. Whether you prefer to play slow and quiet or fast and loud, all the tools are at your disposal. Mastering them will be your challenge as you match wits against diverse hazards and adversaries.LIVING WORLD ALTERNATE HISTORY SETTING
Step into a vibrant alternate-history metropolis at the dawn of the 20th century, where the glow of gas lamps, neon, and magic light the way. Keeping an eye on its inhabitants and their daily habits might just help you.…maybe the housemaid has spoken to her husband, who has spoken to the barmaid after a few drinks…. Understanding the world and its mysteries is vital. The wise thief is the superior thief.
