If there's one #gaming series I just continue to give reprieve to, amongst all the #shovelware, #liveservices and #AAA wankery, it's the #Yakuza series.

#SEGA proves that as a publisher they can churn out fun games that aren't exploiting the user, that gives you enjoyable characters like #Kiryu and #Majima, along with satisfying game mechanics and the slew of mini games.

Of course the real reason you pay $60 is to play #Mahjong as Majima. That alone sinks it.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3061810/Like_a_Dragon_Pirate_Yakuza_in_Hawaii/

EA will never convince us to make a live-service game, It Takes Two developer says, after suggestion BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard should have been | Eurogamer.net

I hope more developers follow suit. "Live Services" have turned out to be mostly nothing but tripe.

Speaking with Eurogamer during a preview event for Hazelight's upcoming co-op caper Split Fiction, which EA is once again publishing, Fares stressed his aversion to live service games. "We will not have them, I do not believe in them," he said in no uncertain terms.
"I think [live service] is not the right way to go," the studio founder furthered. "I hope more and more [developers] focus on their passion, and what they believe in. At the end of the day, we see clearly - and Hazelight is living proof - that when you trust in your vision and go with it, you can still reach a big audience. That's what I want people to focus on."
Fares continued: "I have an understanding that publishers have a lot of, you know, worries about the 'money issue'. But, I think also you have to understand that we are working with a piece of art here, so you have to respect the creativity as well. They have to meet in the middle. You can't also be too much focused on creativity. You can't just say 'give me $100m, I want to do what I want to do'.
"But, there has to be a balance. It can't just be towards the finance side. So, no, it will not happen with a Hazelight game, ever. I guarantee."