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Before we get to the final part of my look at replayability in video games, there is one element we need to discuss first. Whenever a game must create something new for the player to experience, it all comes down to procedural or random generation and both elements are essential to understand about replayability.

Randomized Content:

This part is going to be quick, as we have talked about it at length in the past. Whenever a game has to generate anything — Biomes, Items, Enemies, and so on, there are two broad categories. Randomly generated refers to a game pulling from preset, or already generated, elements and placing them in the game space. The use of loot-boxes and gacha design are another big example of randomized content; as the game is simply picking from choices and not making anything new.

The major differentiation between randomized and procedural content is that randomized content has already been set. The game is technically not creating anything new or original, but simply pulling from a hard list of defined choices. When you want the game to actually make something, that’s when procedural comes into play.

Procedural Content:

Procedural content is when the game will generate content either during the running of a game, or at the initial load. Be it new loot drops, game spaces, or enemy types, there are a lot of options here.

All procedural generated content is about setting an algorithm, or set of instructions for the game engine to follow, when creating something during the play. This is where the concept of “loot tables” that we talked about in an earlier part came from.

It’s important to understand that procedural generation still relies on fixed elements defined and created by the designer for the game to use when creating something new. With all that said, it’s time to ask a not so simple question.

What’s Better?

While it may be easy to separate the two forms of design, it’s not really a case of which one is better, but how to apply them in a game.

Having a large enough pool of random content can be just as effective as procedurally generating it. Not only that, but many of the best and most replayable games will use a combination of both. With the Binding of Isaac, the items generated randomly came from a fixed pool of items, and the levels were procedurally generated from a set of fixed rooms. Figuring out what content will add the most bang for your buck can keep improving a game’s replayability.

With both XCOM Enemy Within and XCOM 2 War of the Chosen, a lot of the new content added was supplemental; increasing the choices that could show up without directly adding to the game length. For games built on being replayed over multiple playthroughs, being able to make each one feel different is crucial. Understanding what aspects keep people coming back and extending those is a big part of improving replayability in your game.

With procedural generation, typically once you have a defined algorithm, you’re not going to add a new one. Just like with random generation, the best way to improve is to add more elements for the game to draw from when building its content. New item modifiers, enemy types, environmental details, and more, are just a few of the examples.

Time for the Finale:

Like I said, this entry is on the short side, as we’re going to pull it all together for the final piece. Up next, we’re going to talk about what everything we’ve discussed means for replayability, and what you need to think about in terms of design.

In wake of the news that Call of Duty developer Treyarch isn’t planning on including a campaign mode in Black Ops 4, True Achievements took a look at how many of its users typically play campaigns anyway. 

The unofficial achievement tracker pulled from its own data reserves to analyze what percentage of overall campaign-related trophies Xbox players typically earned during their time with a number of single player and multiplayer games.

While the data does paint an interesting picture of how far people tend to progress in campaign modes, the numbers themselves should be taken with a grain of salt. The Xbox-centric report doesn’t list how many players it’s pulling its data from, and the numbers themselves are potentially skewed by privacy settings on Xbox’s end or the opt-in trophy tracking data gathered by True Achievements’ platform.

Additionally, it seems that the ‘Story Participation Average’ metric that True Achievements uses here could likely include all campaign-related trophies, including higher difficulty or side-quest bound trophies that may not be required for a full playthrough of any given game. 

With that all in mind, the data gathered by True Achievements shows that, looking at games in the Call of Duty series since Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 3 had the highest Story Participation Average with an average of 36 percent of storyline achievements unlocked by players. Black Ops 3 had the lowest percentage for the series at 4 percent while the most recent release, Call of Duty: WWII, had 29 percent.

True Achievements does note that Black Ops 3 handles achievements differently than most games in the series, however, something that likely contributed to its low story participation average, but even so only 9 percent of tracked players earned the achievement for beating the game on any difficulty setting.

The report also dives into how that story participation metric plays out in other series, many of which are primarily single-player titles. Those games can be found in the graph below, with the Mass Effect series boasting the highest story participation average at 50 percent and the side-quest riddled Fallout series claiming the lowest slot with only 16 percent.

The numbers are at their most interesting when True Achievements breaks down a series into individual games, however. So while the Batman Arkham series only hits 33 percent story participation for the series as a whole, the very first game (Batman: Arkham Asylum) saw 58.14 story participation and the most recent game (Batman: Arkham Knight) only 28.77 percent. 

We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox!

Inside Xbox Episode 3 Debuts May 17
Inside Xbox, Episode 3 will debut on May 17 at 6:30 p.m. EDT/3:30 p.m. PDT. This month’s episode will feature five hotly anticipated games, including breaking news, new feature announcements, exclusive gameplay and much more. We’re keeping most of those under wraps for now so as not to ruin the surprise. Of course, center stage for our May episode will be the Xbox exclusive zombie apocalypse survival game State of Decay 2, which launches globally on May 22nd. State of Decay 2 asks one question not easily answered. How will you survive? We’ll go in-depth on the world simulation that powers the game, showcasing how the emergent gameplay is brought to life, creating distinct stories,… Read more

PC Digital Game Gifting is Here
Last Fall, the Microsoft Store enabled gifting of select Xbox One digital games, Xbox One downloadable game content (durables only), and Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. This feature has been a huge hit with our fans and has made buying presents for friends and family even easier, especially around the holidays. Today, we’re excited to announce that we have expanded digital gifting to include PC games and PC downloadable game content (e.g. map packs, skins). Further, all Xbox One games are now eligible for digital gifting. Here’s how to start sending digital gifts in the Microsoft Store: Head over to the Microsoft Store on Windows 10, on the Xbox One… Read more

Minecraft’s Bedrock Update Coming to Nintendo Switch Digitally and in Retail on June 21
The launch of Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition last year was a big moment for us, and now it’s time to take the next step in the evolution of this beloved franchise. We’re happy to announce that the Bedrock version of Minecraft will launch June 21 for the Nintendo Switch system, both digitally on Nintendo eShop and as a physical release at retail. As with our recent Better Together update for Xbox One, players who already own Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition will be able to digitally upgrade to Minecraft for free. Minecraft will be the first game on Nintendo Switch to feature cross-play support across Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Windows 10 PCs, Android devices, iOS phones and… Read more

Celebrate the Release of Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” in 4K Ultra HD on Xbox One
To celebrate the digital and 4k Ultra HD disc release of “Black Panther,” Marvel Studios and Xbox are excited to announce the Xbox One X Black Panther Custom Console Sweepstakes. After the death of his father, the king of Wakanda, young T’Challa returns home to the isolated high-tech African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king – and Black Panther – is tested when he’s drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, he must release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the… Read more

ID@Xbox Game Fest: Xbox One X Enhanced Games
With the Xbox One S and Xbox One X video games now have the ability to look better than ever with 4K Ultra HD visuals. There are now more than 200 games that feature Xbox One X Enhancements and independent developers have provided some fantastic contributions. To celebrate how far gaming has come, ID@Xbox Game Fest will feature over 35 of the best Xbox One X Enhanced, 4K, and HDR titles available. Now is a wonderful time to stock up on content to show off that fancy new 4K TV with games like: Ark: Survival Evolved – Stranded on the shores of a mysterious island, you… Read more

How Warframe’s Whip Wielding Warrior Khora Came to Be
Something I learned a while back is that ideas need room to grow and change. The development of Khora, the 35th Warframe, complete with her own Abilities, weapons, and play style, is a testament to this idea ever since I first envisioned her. The deep secret behind Khora’s original inspiration was my mascot, “Stir-Fried,” a character I used as a vehicle to explore new styles or learn new techniques. Her weapon of choice was a metal spoon that she could change the shape and size of to handle whatever challenge stood in her way. Fusing everything from Iron Maiden torture devices, spiders, burlesque dancers to Vogue models, and a sprinkle of Stir-Fried’s Abilities, Khora was forged… Read more

Laser League Blasts into Xbox Game Pass Today
As a developer, Roll7 has always been dedicated to creating games that are simple to pick up and play, but we want to make games that have a deep amount of potential for skillful play. As a small developer based in London, UK, this year happens to be our 10th anniversary, so we’ve come a long way! We were first on Xbox One with our skateboarding title OlliOlli (currently available with Xbox Game Pass). A couple of years back we also launched side-scrolling cover shooter Not A Hero on Xbox One. With Laser League we wanted to take this to a different level, not only visually (Laser League is our first 3D game), we also wanted to allow our players to pit their skills against each… Read more

Side-scrolling Brawler Raging Justice Now Available on Xbox One
Hey guys, Anna here! One half of the husband & wife duo that is MakinGames. We’re a small team behind the development of the savage side-scrolling beat ’em up, Raging Justice, a nostalgia-inspired game that, with the help of Team17, has launched today on Xbox One! Raging Justice is a classic beat ‘em up game of epic proportions, dragging the savage charm of the genre kicking and screaming into the 21st century! The city is in chaos! Crime and corruption is at an all-time high, with thugs wreaking havoc on every corner. It’s up to you to punch, kick and brawl your way through the deadly streets, to bring those punks to justice. It’s been a long journey from seven… Read more

Star Wars Battlefront II: The Han Solo Season Coming to Xbox One May 16
He’s played the scoundrel and the hero, and in Star Wars Battlefront II: The Han Solo Season, you’ll get to experience a little of both. You in? The fun begins May 16 with a trip back to the original trilogy, before jumping into new content for June inspired by the upcoming film “Solo: A Star Wars Story” — but more on that later. First, let’s talk about what you’ll be able to play this month. Revisit Jabba’s Palace What happens when you don’t pay a Hutt on time? You end up as an accent piece in his throne room… a lesson Han Solo learned the hard way. This month, fans of Star Wars Battlefront can revisit Jabba’s Palace in Star Wars Battlefront II as part of The… Read more

Conan Exiles Launches From Xbox Game Preview Today
And so it begins anew! Today Conan Exiles finally shed its Game Preview wings and launched in full on Xbox One. The open world survival game set in the universe of “Conan the Barbarian” is finally ready for the masses. Conan Exiles Xbox Game Preview started on the August 16, 2017 and with today’s launch, the game has been massively expanded with lots of new content and features. We have listened closely to the community during the Xbox Game Preview process and kept on improving and expanding the game before launch. In Conan Exiles you must survive in a vast and seamless world, build a home and kingdom, dominate your enemies in single and multiplayer. Do battle against… Read more

Descenders Races to Xbox Game Preview on May 15
Hey all! I have some rather exciting news to share today. You might remember that we announced downhill biking game Descenders for Xbox One right here on Xbox Wire earlier this year. I’m happy to announce today that the game is launching next week on May 15 via Xbox Game Preview! Descenders is an extreme downhill mountain biking game from Dutch developer RageSquid, and it’s heavily focused on going very fast, and pulling off sick stunts. Every world you ride through has been procedurally generated before you play it, so you never play the same level twice, and it’s always a new experience. RageSquid has been working hard to pump Descenders full of content for the Xbox One launch,… Read more

Great Xbox Console Savings Just in Time for Summer
Starting on Sunday, May 13 we’re kicking off two weeks of Xbox deals on Xbox One X and Xbox One S. From May 13 to May 19, get $50 off all Xbox One S bundles for a limited time. Then the following week, from May 20 through May 26, you’ll get a $50 gift card when you purchase an Xbox One X from participating retailers! That means you can pick up the Xbox One S PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (1TB)’ bundle for only $249, and drop into a competitive survival battle where you’ll engage in a heart-racing fight to be the last player left alive. Loot supplies, find weapons, and gear-up to take on the competition. Emerge as the lone survivor in a thrilling game experience full of… Read more

Wield the Infinity Gauntlet in Fortnite Battle Royale for a Limited Time on Xbox One
Fortnite fans, this is your moment… wield the Infinity Gauntlet and dominate the island. Become Thanos in the Infinity Gauntlet Limited Time Mashup, available now! Drop in solo as you hunt for and fight over the Infinity Gauntlet. The first to equip the Gauntlet will transform into the mighty Thanos and wield the Gauntlet’s power! You will need some serious firepower to take down Thanos. Only Rare, Epic and Legendary weapons appear in this Limited Time Mashup. Take down Thanos, equip the Gauntlet and claim victory! This collaboration started as a simple phone conversation between… Read more

Destiny 2: Warmind Available Now for Xbox One
Are you ready to head back to Mars, Guardian? You’ll have your chance to explore the red planet yet again starting today with the release of Warmind, the latest expansion pack for Destiny 2. In Warmind, you’ll do battle against a thawed-out Hive army that was lurking underneath the planet’s polar ice caps. Longtime Destiny players will be happy to see a familiar face (well, hear a familiar voice): The Warmind known as Rasputin makes its first appearance since the original Destiny. Players will fight alongside a new ally, Ana Bray, in an effort to reach Rasputin’s core. In addition to introducing a patrol zone called the Hellas Basin, the expansion pack will bring in a second raid… Read more

Back in March we finally got news that PQube would be publishing BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle in Europe, putting an end to fears us 2D fighting fans outside of Japan and North America would be left out in the cold. Well, that nebulous ‘summer 2018’ release window has finally been whittled down to an actual date – 22nd June! Ta da!

If you’re new to the series – and to this game in particular – it’s a 2D fighter which enables you to pick two characters from the BlazBlue universe along with those from Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In-Birth and RWBY. There’s a brand new Story mode, and an updated combat system to make it a little more palatable to newcomers.

Will you be picking up the latest entry in the BlazBlue series when it finally leaps – kicking and screaming – onto Nintendo Switch? Dust off your fighting shoes and leave a comment or two below…

We’ve recently had some bugs with the Cavern Crawl not counting wins correctly. There are two classes of bugs that have caused this. The first is a more general rare case that has happened intermittently where the Cavern Crawl didn’t update its progress based on wins. This scenario has been fixed for some users and will take a few days to go through all affected cases. The second class of bugs happened yesterday for a few hours where the client was displaying incorrect information as to which heroes should be played. Users affected by that have been given Cavern Crawl Keys and additional Battle Points.

– All heroes suggested for banning in Mutation are now banned.
– Fixed a bug that would cause super blink dagger to not show up in its mutation.