Unlike recent releases in high-profile FPS franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield, Respawn Entertainment's shooter Titanfall did not have a traditional single-player mode (though there is a "campaign multiplayer" option), instead opting for a multiplayer-centric experience. Looki ng ahead, however, it's possible that a future installment in the series could feature a traditional single-player campaign, Respawn COO Dusty Welch says.
"Would I rule it out for the future? Certainly not," Welch told Ga me Informer.
At the same time, Welch said Respawn's efforts on a single-player mode would not come at the cost of advancing the franchise's online-focused approach.
"I think that there's a lot of reward in continuing to push the paradigm that Titanfall introduced, which is this always-connected, real live visceral multiplayer universe," Welch said. "We learned a lot, and I think it's up to us to think about how we apply the learning to make the next game even more expansive and more engaging than the first."
"I think that there's a lot of reward in continuing to push the paradigm that Titanfall introduced, which is this always-connected, real live visceral multiplayer universe" -- Dusty Welch
In a separate interview with GamesIndustry International, Welch said Respawn--unlike other AAA console game makers--is going to continue to focus on the "games-as-a-service" model. This, Welch said, means delivering new content on a regular basis similar to the way Zynga (FarmVille) and Riot Games (League of Legends) support their offerings.
"I do see opportunities for [AAA] products to really usher in a focus on engagement and retention," Welch said. "I think that's an important element that is currently missed by consoles and by console makers. And it's something that if no one else does, I can say it's something we're going to focus on."
One area Respawn could look to as a means to drive deeper engagement is the eSports scene. Though there are no immediate plans to court eSports players with Tita nfall or a future installment in the series, Welch said Respawn is most definitely interested in competitive gaming.
"I think it would be interesting to take some more steps in the eSports direction," Welch said. "I don't know if we will, though. There's obviously a lot of work to do in the game and in the code and in the spectator mode and some others things. I think it's certainly something that the audience is begging for, and it gives us a lot of encouragement thinking beyond this current Titanfall and into the future."
Titanfall launched in March for Xbox One and PC, and came to Xbox 360 the next month. According to publisher Electronic Arts, it is currently the best-selling Xbox One title to date.
Looking ahead, EA announced in May that i t had signed a new agreement with Respawn for more Titanfall "experiences," which could come the PlayStation platforms in addition to Xbox and PC. No new games have been announced, however, as Respawn is instead continuing to support the original Titanfall with new DLC and updates.
Respawn recently hired veteran God of War designer Stig Asmussen as the company's new game director for an unannounced project.
| Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch |
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