Sony has abruptly shut down multiplayer services for PlayStation 5 launch exclusive Destruction AllStars, and it doesn’t sound like they’re ever coming back.
Destruction AllStars was the shallow if fleetingly enjoyable driving and third-person brawling hybrid, where you ran around an arena finding cars to drive and then crashed them into other people. “In desperate need of depth and content, Destruction AllStars is at least a fun whizz around the corner,” Wes wrote in Eurogamer’s Destruction AllStars review.
Sony, in an email sent to Destruction AllStars players yesterday (as reported by The Verge), announced its intention to close server support for the game, albeit in several months’ time, in November. However, because of “ongoing technical issues”, multiplayer services have already been taken offline and “shall remain offline”, so online support has effectively ended.
Sony stated Destruction AllStars has been removed from sale on the PlayStation Store and will no longer be available to buy there. It also said while single-player modes are to remain accessible, they may be adversely affected when multiplayer servers are formally turned off on 25th November, 3pm UTC.
“After this date, Arcade Mode single-player challenges shall remain playable for returning players,” Sony wrote, “however functionality and player experience may be impacted due to the server shutdown. Otherwise, all remaining game services will be taken offline.”
Any virtual currency (Destruction Points) owned by players is redeemable within single-player modes up to the server shut-off date. “We appreciate the support and enthusiasm of the Destruction AllStars community,” Sony concluded.
It’s not clear how many people were regularly playing Destruction AllStars (and I can’t check the numbers on my PlayStation Welcome Hub because I never installed the game) but I expect it was a small number. Nevertheless, it’s the latest in a string of multiplayer games taken offline recently, which include Anthem, Highguard, Spellcasters Chronicles, Destiny 2 and Concord.
These closures fall within the argument consumer rights movement Stop Killing Games is making, which is that consumers deserve clearly stated end-of-life procedures for games with significant multiplayer components, which otherwise stop being playable when servers are turned off.
Stop Killing Games believes you shouldn’t suddenly have something you’ve paid for abruptly taken away from you, and it’s an argument that’s now been heard in the European Parliament, where it’s had a strong positive response. Stop Killing Games would like to see features built into a game whereby it can live on past a server shut-off moment, either with single-player modes like Destruction AllStars has (providing they continue to work), or by handing multiplayer hosting to the game’s community.
It’s a debate that only seems to be gaining momentum with every new live service game that’s closed.
