These are the games that you’ll be spending your time playing in 2017. Thankfully, there’s a good chance that you already own quite a few of them. Games are evolving into live services, ensuring play continues long after you’re initially done with them
This console generation has pushed through one the largest shifts in triple-A gaming history that we have ever seen. Studios are attempting to combat spiralling budgets and development pipeline times with the concept of ‘games as a live service’, wherein a videogame’s initial release is just the beginning of something much greater – its true potential lying on the distant horizon after it goes ‘live’. It’s an idea that PC players have long enjoyed through the persistent evolution of MOBAs, such as League Of Legends and DOTA2, not to mention MMOs like World Of Warcraft; as such, many of the biggest releases of 2017 aren’t new releases at all, but older titles still vying for your time and attention with new content, updated mechanics and refreshed game systems. These are the ones worth paying attention to.
Overwatch
Blizzard is the king of games as a service, perfecting the consistent roll out of new content through the likes of Hearthstone, Diablo, StarCraft and World Of Warcraft. It’s no surprise then that Overwatch is leading the charge on console, with the hero shooter set to push through 2017 with a constant stream of new maps, heroes and content to keep you engaged while the hype machine trundles on elsewhere. Blizzard’s big focus for 2017 is on competitive and arena play. If you’ve any aspirations for going pro, the Overwatch World League will be the big point of interest in the coming months, though casual fans should find that a refreshed Arena mode continues to bring new and interesting game modes to the fray to keep those tight battles fresh throughout the year.
Destiny
Destiny has struggled to settle into a satisfying rhythm since its launch back in 2014, though developer Bungie is finally starting to get a handle on it following the Rise Of Iron expansion, which was released in September 2016. While many fans await the launch of Destiny 2 – rumoured to be revealed as part of Sony’s E3 2017 press conference – the rest will hopefully be content with the arrival of smaller, more intimate updates. Following the Dawning Winter Event, which ushers in a second year of the Sparrow Racing League, the SRL will be available for the foreseeable future in private matches to ensure you are still able to chip away at the exotic Thunderlord weapon quests in anticipation of a spring content drop.
The Division
By all accounts, The Division was a huge success. Thought to be Ubisoft’s best-selling game ever, it should come as no surprise that the publisher is eager to keep millions of players running around the abandoned city streets of Manhattan. Co-developers Massive Entertainment and Reflections: A Ubisoft Studio are hard at work, not only with DLC packs but large updates that improve the core game experience. 2017 is set to bring game update 1.5, which promises even more stabilisation and quality of life additions based on player feedback, as well as the final piece of expansion content, Last Stand. By all accounts, The Division shows no signs of slowing down and Last Stand will simply be the next piece of the puzzle as Ubisoft prepares the inevitable sequel.
No Man’s Sky
One of the most divisive games ever made? It’s a bold claim, but judging by the backlash it might not be all that outlandish. Hello Games had been silent since the launch of No Man’s Sky and while the vocal minority took this as an opportunity to highlight how the studio was avoiding accountability, it was actually hard at work on the first major content drop. The free Foundation update was huge and suitably stunning, not only introducing base-building and new game modes, but also bringing a swath of tweaks and fixes to elements of the wider experience. It was impressive, to say the least, and a sign of things to come. It’s a Foundation for Hello Games to build upon in 2017; No Man’s Sky was always designed to evolve over time and the studio just planted the first seeds of its growth.
Rainbow Six Siege
For many FPS fans, Rainbow Six Siege wasn’t just a solid release but the greatest tactical FPS this side of Counter-Strike. It’s a bold claim, but it is also difficult to argue with; Siege has been a constant delight since its launch last year, helped in no small part by Ubisoft’s insistence on supporting the game with regular content updates and DLC. The publisher has revealed that a second year of content is coming, with four new maps and eight new Operators (from brand new CTUs) planned to roll out across 2017. Year 2 will be split into four seasons, with one map and two Operators coming in each alongside new primary and secondary weapons, new cosmetic items and a suite of features and improvements, Siege isn’t going away anytime soon.
Paragon
It feels as if Paragon has been out for an age. In truth, Epic Games has just been slowly rolling out more content to the public since its unveiling in November 2015. The studio’s free-to-play MOBA for PS4 and PC has been through multiple open beta cycles already, though this looks to continue for the foreseeable future – basically, expect to see Paragon stick around for a long ol’ while. Mechanically solid, intuitive map design and cross-platform support provide a solid foundation for play, while the near-constant roll out of new characters and map updates have ensured Paragon is one of the better MOBAs to ever find its way onto console. The meta is only just being established, meaning there is plenty of scope for massive expansion in the coming months.
For more games on PS4 and Xbox One you should check out our console Buyers’ Guides, available to download now
