Soulframe Bets on Community to Survive Live Service Market
▼ Summary
– The live service gaming market is challenging for both players and developers, with Soulframe entering this competitive space despite uncertainties.
– Soulframe’s creative director admits Digital Extremes lacks confidence, maintaining a cautious approach rooted in their survival-focused history with Warframe.
– Unlike other studios, Digital Extremes avoids Early Access for Soulframe, prioritizing slow, thoughtful development to build player engagement and care.
– Despite inspiring similar games, Digital Extremes’ success with Warframe hasn’t been easily replicated, as they focus on passion rather than business strategies.
– Soulframe aims to offer a unique, hopeful fantasy experience, reflecting the creators’ desire to counter cynicism with optimism and healing themes.
The live service gaming market has become increasingly competitive, with many titles struggling to maintain player engagement long-term. Digital Extremes, the studio behind Warframe, is now venturing into this challenging space with Soulframe, but they’re taking a decidedly different approach, one rooted in caution, community, and creative passion rather than rushed monetization.
During a recent interview, Soulframe creative director Geoff Crookes admitted the team doesn’t have all the answers. “I don’t know,” he said when asked how the game will survive in such a crowded market. “Even after ten years of Warframe, we still feel like we’re surviving by the skin of our teeth.” This humility reflects Digital Extremes’ history, a studio that has weathered uncertainty before finding success.
Crookes explained that Warframe itself didn’t start with a polished business plan. Instead, it grew organically from a passion project, evolving based on player feedback. “We never set out to create a template for live service games,” he noted. “We just focused on what excited us and built from there.” This philosophy is now guiding Soulframe, with the team deliberately avoiding early access models in favor of a slower, more thoughtful development cycle.
Unlike many studios rushing to monetize unfinished products, Digital Extremes is prioritizing engagement. “We want players to care about what we’re making,” Crookes emphasized. “That means taking our time, listening to feedback, and ensuring the game resonates before pushing it out.” This approach contrasts sharply with recent live service flops like The First Descendant and Wayfinder, which saw rapid player drop-offs after initial hype.
Thematically, Soulframe also diverges from typical fantasy tropes. Inspired by romanticism and environmental themes, the game explores themes of healing and optimism, a reflection of the developers’ own perspectives. “Steve and I are at a point where it’s hard not to feel cynical about the world,” Crookes shared. “This game is our way of channeling that into something hopeful.”
While the live service landscape remains unforgiving, Digital Extremes’ commitment to community-driven development and meaningful storytelling could set Soulframe apart. Whether it succeeds remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: they’re not taking shortcuts.
(Source: EUROGAMER)
