Future of the game?

[Yun]

We are faced with tons of problems with the game, things such as bugs and crashes and whatnot, netcode problem, etc.

But what bugs me the most is that this mess of a port does not have any hint of possible DLC in the future, which means we're getting the final version of the game from the get go (not considering bug fixes and netcode implementation because it's not content per se).

How long do you think the player base will last?
Because in my knowledge games without any content update will stagnate, and with the small number of player base (3k right now) it's just going to go up once more (netcode implementation) and then stagnate.

This is by far my number 1 reason of not owning this game yet.

[Zeus]

the games brand new so its gonna have a lot of players. i guarantee it will fall off in the coming weeks. bbcf has rollback and look where it is now.

[Yun]

Originally posted by Zeus:

the games brand new so its gonna have a lot of players. i guarantee it will fall off in the coming weeks. bbcf has rollback and look where it is now.

Only the players who are diehard fans of BBCF are left huh...
It's still faring way better than MBTL though, which is even sadder.

[Saikyo]

Are you surprised? Its a barely ok port of an old game with delay netcode, better wait at least they patch it with rollback netcode and hope that bring a lot of people online lol.

[TotemMX]

About Netcode, Im from México and Im surprised for good. Over 50 matches, with less 5 matches with lag (3 were my fault, because my PC was downloading something). So I think it depends where you from.

About DLC. The game has all DLC, so its the final version.

[DevilHunterWolf]

This is already the version with all the DLC in it. It's not Definitive Edition in name but that's basically what it is. That's part of why there's Ultimax at the end of the title name instead of only Persona 4 Arena. I would not expect any additional content being added to it. This is just the port to bring it to more modern platforms.

If you're worried about fighting games losing players then you'll basically never buy a fighting game. They all lose players. A new fighting game gem comes out and people flock. Popular games come out and the numbers dwindle as people are playing something else. That's just what happens to all fighting games, even successful ones. Games don't generally have an unending cycle of content. Eventually all the players that are left are if there's a tournament crowd still playing it and just the few dedicated fans playing.

It's not a full priced $60 (or even $70) USD release so it's already at a decently attractive price for a fighting game with all its content (feel free to disagree). It's hot right now because it just got released and then will get another potential spike with the rollback netcode. If you want to play with other players, now is the time to do it. There's not going to be a better time. And if you really want to know it has any staying power, then look up PS3 and Xbox 360 forums for the game and see how healthy the player base remained because it's been a finished game for years.

[Yun]

Originally posted by DevilHunterWolf:

This is already the version with all the DLC in it. It's not Definitive Edition in name but that's basically what it is. That's part of why there's Ultimax at the end of the title name instead of only Persona 4 Arena. I would not expect any additional content being added to it. This is just the port to bring it to more modern platforms.

If you're worried about fighting games losing players then you'll basically never buy a fighting game. They all lose players. A new fighting game gem comes out and people flock. Popular games come out and the numbers dwindle as people are playing something else. That's just what happens to all fighting games, even successful ones. Games don't generally have an unending cycle of content. Eventually all the players that are left are if there's a tournament crowd still playing it and just the few dedicated fans playing.

It's not a full priced $60 (or even $70) USD release so it's already at a decently attractive price for a fighting game with all its content (feel free to disagree). It's hot right now because it just got released and then will get another potential spike with the rollback netcode. If you want to play with other players, now is the time to do it. There's not going to be a better time. And if you really want to know it has any staying power, then look up PS3 and Xbox 360 forums for the game and see how healthy the player base remained because it's been a finished game for years.

Thank you for your opinion. However, I have different opinions on some parts.

The Ultimax is a final package of the game, this part is very true and I don't think there's anything to discuss about it.

The next one, however, is different in my opinion. Losing players in a game is something that will happen. But a game being dead is another thing. There is a reason why i still play Tekken and Strive, when i doubt about other fighting games. I bought MBTL, and that game feels dead with 100 concurrent players, while Tekken and Strive still has healthy playerbase.

What I'm worried about the most is the playerbase. Unlike the 3 mentioned above, P4AU is in a worse spot simply because there is nothing to look forward to in the future, hence there will be no spikes of player base anymore except rollback. Nowadays a lot of fighting games come out with procedural updates because it is also needed to retain their playerbase (while milking their customers' money) simply because a new DLC means players are going to try it out.

Regarding the price, knowing that they put little effort in this port does not make the game attractive in my opinion. The game is simply a port without any retouches, so its +-0. Although I'm not sure about the playerbase in PS3 and Xbox, but looking at Moopoke's stream I don't think there's too many players aside from his circle playing it back then.

I feel like the game will have short lifespan, but nobody knows about the future.

[Zeus]

Originally posted by Uz:

Originally posted by hey_Yun:

Only the players who are diehard fans of BBCF are left huh...
It's still faring way better than MBTL though, which is even sadder.

what, no? plenty of news players on that game. BBCF has really good numbers

https://steamcharts.com/app/586140

[Jill Stingray]

Originally posted by Zeus:

Originally posted by Uz:

what, no? plenty of news players on that game. BBCF has really good numbers

https://steamcharts.com/app/586140

Cross Tag is the one doing good numbers at the moment actually.

I say good with massive air quotes because it's only at 100 average.

[Zeus]

Originally posted by Jill Stingray:

Originally posted by Zeus:

https://steamcharts.com/app/586140

Cross Tag is the one doing good numbers at the moment actually.

I say good with massive air quotes because it's only at 100 average.

but these are not good numbers. not trying to burst anyones bubble if they enjoy the game but its just the truth https://steamcharts.com/app/702890

[JonPringus]

It will probably die pretty soon after Rollback is implemented. You are correct in that modern fighting games do need major content updates and DLC to maintain a sizable active player base. Plus the steam version has the natural setbacks all online fighters have with its stunted player base.

It's great that the game is on Steam for legacy purpose. We don't need to worry about it dying as bad as it was when it was locked behind now 2 generations of old hardware. But the numbers of the game now will at worst be above your typical anime fighter a year after its final DLC releases. It has a lot of things holding it above that, like it's legacy as this great 2D Arcsys fighter, the persona brand, the story, etc. (assuming the servers never shut down, which, why would they? Right?)

Its most equal competition would be Skullgirls before Lab Zero's dissolving and the latest DLC round, and I think the userbases will be around the same if Sega gives out as many copies that Autumn Games has in humble bundles and whatnot. I love games without DLC, and I think that lowers the barrier of entry a whole lot for new players.

So a year after Rollback is implemented and the game finally functions flawlessly, the player base will be maybe a little smaller than SG2E, so online will likely be pretty bad for newcomers, but not the absolute worst.

[DevilHunterWolf]

Originally posted by hey_Yun:

Losing players in a game is something that will happen. But a game being dead is another thing. There is a reason why i still play Tekken and Strive, when i doubt about other fighting games. I bought MBTL, and that game feels dead with 100 concurrent players, while Tekken and Strive still has healthy playerbase.

What I'm worried about the most is the playerbase. Unlike the 3 mentioned above, P4AU is in a worse spot simply because there is nothing to look forward to in the future, hence there will be no spikes of player base anymore except rollback. Nowadays a lot of fighting games come out with procedural updates because it is also needed to retain their playerbase (while milking their customers' money) simply because a new DLC means players are going to try it out.

There's no way Tekken (my favorite fighting franchise) is going anywhere. It's a staple of the genre at this point, same as Street Fighter is. With how much it impressed with its graphics, current roster size, and (from what I've heard anyway) how balanced it is, Tekken 7 is going to remain popular until Bandai Namco succeeds it. If they do. Lord knows how much money they've raked in from all the character DLCs and expensive editions that still don't contain everything. But DLCs can also push people away. Looking specifically in Dead or Alive's direction for that one but giving some side eye glances to Street Fighter V (Capcom Pro Tour related).

Guilty Gear Strive is still a hot title not only because of the season pass but because it has set a new bar for 3D hand drawn looking graphics. People hear "easier for newcomers" and see the graphics in action and they're drawn in. Even though Guilty Gear Xrd has an excellent roster, great look, and a much cheaper sale price, people want specifically Strive. I know it's grossly oversimplifying it (Xrd doesn't have rollback, the whole SIGN and REVELATOR confusion) but people want new games and wowing graphics. But I've also seen the complaints in the Guilty Gear subreddit of how it got harder to find Strive matches after Elden Ring and King of Fighters XV came out. I'll be interested to see how well Strive holds its player base after it runs its course of DLC. Don't know yet if the franchise has finally hit tent pole status or if it will be another entry where players move on.

I know that's the point. There's not any expected new content for P4AU to keep players coming back like the current popular games have done. That's why I say now is the time to play if someone is interested in picking up P4AU to play against others. Some are even quick to call a game dead if there's too many experienced players. It's a weird part of this genre that it "needs" enough players so people can learn characters and still have enough inexperienced players to fight so they don't just get stomped in matches. I know I'm the odd one out but that's why I buy fighting games for local casual and against CPU fights. My enjoyment of a game is not based on new releases and the wind changing directions. But maybe P4AU is casual enough (mashing for an auto combo into a super kind of casual) with enough Persona fandom to keep some players in. Probably not but it has a better shot than something with less name recognition.

[Gen]

This game is almost 10 years old. It got some new patches from the last japanese arcade version, 2.5, but that’s it, it cannot be treated as a “modern” game because it already is done. My thoughts are that re-releasing it is just to check if there is still a market for a P5Arena, which considering how good the IP is and the quality of ArcSys, it would be really awesome, so if you think at it that way, consider that if this game is doing great your “DLC” will be a brand new game.

Shame the PC port is crap, I still cannot play it without crashing :(.

[lowqualitymemes]

this is in the system requirements: "This game may be updated over time and have paid for and free additional content released for it. Please be aware that this may increase the minimum requirements for running the game above the specification stated here." it's probably just rollback but we can hope for something.

[Paratech2008]

Considering I got it for $21 on Steam and the Xbox 360 was $19.99 I'm happy with both purchases. Obviously the 360 purchase was many years ago, maybe almost a decade, but back then my Xbox 360 was purchased for fighting games, as was my Vita. Back then Steam didn't have many fighting games and my PC back then couldn't run many of them, Mortal Kombat, Injustice Gods Among Us, were a couple of examples...

Now my PC is loaded with fun fighting games.

I don't do online. I used to play against my girlfriend but she hasn't played in years and won't play any fighting games where I have any significant time played on them.

[Yun]

Originally posted by DevilHunterWolf:

I know that's the point. There's not any expected new content for P4AU to keep players coming back like the current popular games have done. That's why I say now is the time to play if someone is interested in picking up P4AU to play against others. Some are even quick to call a game dead if there's too many experienced players. It's a weird part of this genre that it "needs" enough players so people can learn characters and still have enough inexperienced players to fight so they don't just get stomped in matches. I know I'm the odd one out but that's why I buy fighting games for local casual and against CPU fights. My enjoyment of a game is not based on new releases and the wind changing directions. But maybe P4AU is casual enough (mashing for an auto combo into a super kind of casual) with enough Persona fandom to keep some players in. Probably not but it has a better shot than something with less name recognition.

I guess its up to how people value a fighting game. I personally love playing with others online, so it's kind of hard to justify the purchase for now.
Thank you for your opinion!