In recent years, the gaming industry has witnessed fluctuations in the live service gaming model, with standout successes like Fortnite alongside disappointments such as Suicide Squad: Kills the Justice League. Despite the challenges faced by some live service titles, Sony remains committed to exploring this model’s potential. As Sony persists in its pursuit of live service ventures, the time may be ripe for the revival of MAG, an underrated PlayStation 3 shooter.
Originally developed by Zipper Interactive and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2010, MAG stood out as a groundbreaking multiplayer shooter exclusive to the PlayStation 3. With the capacity for up to 256 players to engage in online battles, surpassing the player count of most console multiplayer games of its time, MAG was ahead of its era. Given the scarcity of large-scale shooters in today’s gaming landscape, reintroducing MAG’s massively multiplayer online gameplay with an enhanced focus on scale and strategy could offer Sony a promising opportunity for success.
Despite its current lack of recognition, MAG introduced players to unique gameplay mechanics that distinguished it from contemporary shooters, notably its vast online battlefields. While most console shooters of its time accommodated only a limited number of online players, MAG’s six multiplayer modes unleashed anywhere from 64 to 256 players onto the battlefield simultaneously. The closure of MAG’s servers in 2014 left a void in the console gaming scene that remains unfilled.
If Sony chooses to revive MAG for the PlayStation 5, a mere graphical upgrade won’t suffice; the game’s depth and scale must also be enhanced. Providing players with a genuine sense of ownership over the territories they fight for could be achieved by taking inspiration from Amazon’s MMO, New World. Implementing a similar system where players engage in activities like crafting, fortifying defenses, or acquiring new skills within conquerable outposts on a persistent battlefield would enrich the gameplay experience and elevate the stakes of in-game conflicts.
A potential MAG sequel should elevate the scope and scale of combat, drawing inspiration from the massively multiplayer online shooter, PlanetSide 2. With PlanetSide 2 facilitating battles among up to 2,000 players on a single, seamless map, adopting a similar approach for MAG’s successor would significantly amplify the scale of in-game skirmishes. Such an expansion would provide Sony with a distinctive exclusive title capable of attracting new players to the PS5 platform.
By retaining the strengths of the original title while substantially expanding the scope and scale of gameplay, a MAG sequel holds the potential to be a major success for Sony. Although launching a new live service title in today’s gaming landscape entails risks, a well-executed sequel to this often-overlooked shooter could deliver another essential exclusive for PS5 players.
