The PlayStation live service era is looming closer, with Bungie’s Marathon coming soon and Horizon’s multiplayer game in the works. While Sony has reportedly run into some issues, like the apparent cancelation of Deviation’s exclusive game and the delay of The Last of Us’ multiplayer spin-off, there is still a lot in the works. From Haven’s Fairgames to a number of unannounced projects, a multiplayer era is coming for PlayStation, though Sony seems to be missing one obvious opportunity: LittleBigPlanet.
While there are some other dormant PlayStation franchises that could certainly work with a live service approach, such as the FPS series Killzone and Resistance, LittleBigPlanet’s creative playground is even more ideal for the model. While Sackboy: A Big Adventure was a cute way to utilize the series’ mascot without crafting a proper LittleBigPlanet game, a return to form for the franchise would absolutely be welcome, and a free-to-play PS5 release could be the perfect way to guarantee its success.
Why LittleBigPlanet Suits a Live Service Model
Though not every live service game is free-to-play, many are, as the approach guarantees a huge player base. More and more gamers can continue trying out a free-to-play title, and as the gaming industry grows in popularity, in theory a successful live service title will do the same. A larger audience also means more players will be invested enough to engage with cosmetic microtransactions, making the game money to continue funding support. Considering LittleBigPlanet’s history with DLC, this is a perfect formula already.
Every mainline LittleBigPlanet game has been packed full of downloadable skins for Sackboy, and while Sackboy: A Big Adventure offered free outfits, the proper LBP games gave players dozens of options for paid skins. Many of these designs were from other video game franchises, with LittleBigPlanet being a hub for crossovers long before Fortnite ever existed. Metal Gear Solid, Assassin’s Creed, Marvel, DC, and nearly every PlayStation exclusive gamers can think of appeared as downloadable skins, and with each attire only costing a few dollars, nobody really complained. This formula could be massively successful if LittleBigPlanet expanded its audience with a free-to-play release.
Alongside an in-game marketplace full of PlayStation homages and original skins, a “Creator Pass” could keep players hooked. Inside it, Media Molecule or another developer could include a free track with some basic outfits and new creation tools, while the premium track could feature far more detailed and sought after cosmetics. This way, the game’s creation suite could continuously get bigger, with all players unlocking the upgrades free of charge while die hard fans can spend some extra cash for new cosmetics.
Beyond this monetization format, everything fans know and love about LittleBigPlanet and its user-generated content could remain intact. Fans could build levels and movies for others to play and watch, craft proper mini-games to duke it out with their friends, or make goofy structures to laugh at. Every so often, Media Molecule could drop batches of story levels, giving players more developer-made content as the years go on. And with social media being more prominent than ever, the best creations could be highlighted with ease, drawing more attention to the game.
Considering that the big issue with Media Molecule’s Dreams is a small audience, as the tools the game offers are remarkable, avoiding that scenario with another LittleBigPlanet game would be crucial. Fortunately for Sony, it is already planning to lean into a model that guarantees something like this would not happen again. By taking LBP in the free-to-play direction, Sony could guarantee it becomes more popular than ever, while live service elements could result in a significant profit. For fans, LittleBigPlanet could become bigger than it ever was, ensuring that a revival like this is a victory for all parties involved.
