KUALA LUMPUR: The release of Neverness To Everness (NTE) this week underscores just how crowded the free-to-play live service space has become.
The action-adventure title blends life simulation and open-world elements, drawing comparisons to paid games like Grand Theft Auto V — but swaps realism for high-flying kung fu combat, gunplay, paranormal anomalies and heavy anime aesthetics.
It follows the recent launch of MONGIL: STAR DIVE, another stylised action title published by Netmarble. While it lacks open-world city exploration, it focuses instead on monster-hunting and collection mechanics.
The free-to-play (F2P) market has seen a surge in releases this year. Alongside these titles is Arknights: Endfield, with Ananta by NetEase also on the horizon — both offering similar open-world action experiences.
This growing list raises concerns of oversaturation, particularly in a space already dominated by titles like Zenless Zone Zero and Genshin Impact. Even developers acknowledge the challenge, with one Arknights: Endfield representative noting the difficulty of standing out in a post-Genshin landscape without a distinct hook.
At the same time, Western studios have struggled to replicate the success of their Asian counterparts. Developers from China and Japan have spent years refining the live service model, giving them a significant edge in both design and delivery.
Apart from outliers such as Fortnite, Western attempts have often fallen short. Even Epic Games has faced criticism over pricing strategies and resource constraints tied to earlier business decisions.
While working conditions and development practices differ across regions, the results are evident. Strong revenues and growing player bases continue to favour established F2P ecosystems, despite concerns over market saturation.
Ultimately, accessibility remains the key advantage. With no upfront cost, players are more inclined to try titles like Arknights: Endfield and NTE over premium games such as Marathon and Arc Raiders. It is a difficult proposition to compete with free.
Short Beats
PlayStation Asia has announced price increases for PlayStation 5 consoles starting May 1, with the standard model now priced at RM2,799, up from RM2,499.
The company has also introduced a 30-day online licence check for digital games, clarifying that it is a one-time verification.
French developer Spiders has been shut down by parent company Nacon, ending an 18-year run. The studio was known for the GreedFall series.
Bandai Namco will re-release Tales of Eternia Remastered, originally released in English as Tales of Destiny 2 in 2001.
The Blood of Dawnwalker, an open-world dark fantasy role-playing game, is set for release on Sept 3 for PC and consoles.
Fighting game veteran Daigo Umehara lost 6-10 to MenaRD in an EVO Japan 2026 Street Fighter 6 exhibition match.
Op-Ed
We discuss the recent PlayStation 5 price hike across Southeast Asia and what it means for Sony’s future.
Games Out This Week
Inkonbini is a narrative-driven convenience store management game following a night-shift worker navigating personal choices and customer interactions.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred expands on the base game with new classes, a reworked skill tree, and a continuation of the Mephisto storyline on a new island.
Neverness To Everness (NTE) is a free-to-play open-world action-adventure game where players take on commissions to deal with supernatural anomalies in a sprawling city.
Invincible VS is a 3v3 tag fighting game based on the animated series, featuring characters such as Invincible, Omni-Man and Atom Eve.
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is a turn-based strategy prequel featuring large-scale battles and both single-player and multiplayer modes.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is a family-friendly adventure set in the Moomin universe.
Aphelion is a cinematic sci-fi adventure exploring a mysterious crash on an alien planet.
Saros is a roguelite action game exclusive to PlayStation 5, set on an alien world filled with hostile enemies.
Recommended Viewings
A retrospective on Super Battle Opera 2004 highlights iconic Darkstalkers matches and players, including Nuki, Sako and Haitani.
