"For decades, competitive multiplayer games have existed, and the concept of a game that can't be "finished" has been around for about as long as games themselves. But when I talk about the games that undermine the very concept of a backlog, I'm not talking about online-only PVP titles like Arc Raiders or Team Fortress 2. I'm instead talking about the growing list of live-service games, many of which can be played solo, that have campaigns with "endings" but also keep growing,"
"I finished Diablo 4 in 2023 and really enjoyed it. With that completion, it was crossed off my backlog. But since then, it has received numerous seasonal updates, adding new content and narrative elements. It has also received an expansion and is getting another one later this year. I booted the game up last week to check it out again and realized that, well, shit, Diablo 4 is back on my backlog."
Backlogs are becoming outdated as live-service and 'forever' games continually expand with updates, seasons, and expansions, preventing clean completion. Many live-service titles include solo campaigns with nominal endings but receive ongoing content that reopens completed games. Diablo 4 was finished and crossed off a backlog but returned after seasonal updates and expansions. The Division 2 grew beyond its original main campaign into a larger, persistent game with more missions and story, resisting removal from a backlog despite hundreds of play hours. Some games, like Anthem, risk becoming unfinishable if servers shut down or support ends.
Read at Kotaku
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