Summary
After spending years developing many single-player adventures, Warner Bros. is looking to transform its gaming division by turning its biggest franchises into live-service titles. Because of the success ofFortnite, WB Games is hoping to capture that same audience,starting withSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. If that also proves successful, then the studio will seemingly have no reason not to pursue this idea further. That may mean that Traveller’s Tales’LEGOgames will have taken on a whole new form.
While aLEGOlive-service game from Traveller’s Tales could take on many forms, there is one concept that seems tailor-made for an experience like this. Already, the studio was able to deliver a massive crossover with the toys-to-lifeLEGO Dimensions. With a few tweaks and changes, that type of game could find new life within the live-service genre. As long as it is given the same amount of care that the original game got, it could be exactly what WB Games needs.
Traveller’s Tales is Sitting on a Live-Service Gold Mine
LEGO Dimensions Already Felt Like a Live-Service Experience
After the success ofSkylandersandDisney Infinity,Traveller’s Tales wanted a slice of the toys-to-life market. So, it leveraged the massive catalog of franchises that LEGO has at its disposal to deliver an experience unlike any other withLEGO Dimensions. While it worked a lot like other toys-to-life titles, the toys were actual LEGO sets and almost every IP imaginable was present within. It was not limited to LEGO set lines, either, as Traveller’s Tales seemed to go all out with this co-op collect-a-thon adventure.
TheLEGO Dimensionsstarter pack featured Gandalf, Batman, and Wyldstyle as playable characters. The story explored their worlds while also exploringThe Wizard of Oz,The Simpsons,Back to the Future, and evenDoctor Who.Just like with every toys-to-life game before it, players would have to purchase these characters as physical toys if they wanted to actually play as them. As the years went by, the number of purchasable characters grew to encompass 30 different franchises.
The way that these games worked felt a lot like the live-service games of today. Instead of featuring a constantly evolving online space, these games were more of a constantly evolving co-op experience. The microtransactions featured a wide assortment of crossovers but were physical rather than digital. This led to a pretty unique genre. However,almost every toys-to-life game has been discontinued. Yet, that does not mean the concept has to die.
A LEGO Dimensions Sequel Could Deliver What WB Games Wants
LEGO Dimensionswasdoing crossover content long beforeFortniteeven considered it, which makes it feel like the perfect title to deliver that live-service game that WB Games may be looking for. Instead of being toys-to-life, aLEGO Dimensionssequel could simply be a classic co-op LEGO game. However, instead of just giving players purchasable character packs, this game could put a new unique twist on its predecessor’s model.
LEGO Dimensions 2could give players another massive multiverse story that follows up on the ending of the original game. As the months go by, Traveller’s Tales could further expand it by introducing new franchises via microtransactions. These characters could follow in the footsteps of the original by giving players a new character to play, a new world to explore, and a new vehicle to drive around. Story packs could also make a comeback, but instead of being a microtransaction, they could be seasonal events.
While it may not exactly deliver the full live-service experience,LEGO Dimensionsseems to have built some strong foundations that could be expanded upon if WB Games wants every studio to jump into the live-service genre. It would not only be a great way to let the concept live on, but it could also be a fantastic thrill ride for fans of these many franchises. On top of all of that, there are virtually limitless ways it could be expanded as the years go by.
Lego Dimensions
WHERE TO PLAY
When a mysterious and powerful vortex suddenly appears in various LEGO® worlds, different characters from DC Comics™, The Lord of the Rings™ and The LEGO®Movie are swept away. To save their friends, Batman™, Gandalf™ and Wyldstyle™ bravely jump into the vortex and quickly find themselves fighting to save all of LEGO humanity.Let creativity be the guide to a building and gaming adventure—journey through unexpected worlds and team-up with unlikely allies on the quest to defeat the evil Lord Vortech. Play with different minifigures from different worlds together in one LEGO videogame, and use each other’s vehicles and gadgets in a way never before possible. LEGO Bad Cop™ driving the DeLorean Time Machine…why not?! The LEGO® Ninjago™ Masters of Spinjitsu fighting alongside Wonder Woman™…yes, please! Get ready to break the rules, because the only rule with LEGO Dimensions is that there are no rules.
