Co-op games aren't as prevalent as they used to be, as many modern titles now trade-in couch co-op for more modern features such as online multiplayer and battle royal modes. Although the genre doesn't have as much star power as it used to, it seems like a few upcoming games are attempting to revive the dying feature. In fact, the ninth console generation could see a resurgence of fantastic co-op games if modern trends continue.
Upcoming titles like Outriders and It Takes Two seem to center themselves around both couch and online co-op, something gamers haven't seen in quite some time. A few other games like A Way Out also made co-op its primary focus but didn't make a big enough splash to revive the once-great gameplay mechanic. However, the smaller co-op titles help spark players' interest enough that big-name publishers and developers seemed to take an interest in co-op shortly after their release. With Square Enix propping up Outriders and Capcom backing titles like Monster Hunter: Rise, it appears cooperative gameplay is making somewhat of a comeback as the industry transitions to the ninth console generation.
Gamers are always craving something new and exciting from upcoming games, especially when they utilize next-gen technology. Since co-op games were on the verge of extension (at least in the AAA gaming market) for the better part of a decade, many gamers might be drawn to it now since it offers something they haven't seen in quite some time. Sometimes bringing back a dying gameplay feature and modifying it for a modern audience can be just as effective as introducing innovative mechanics and trailblazing forms of storytelling.
Nostalgia seems to play more of a role in the video game industry with each passing year. The eighth console generation saw countless remakes, remasters and reboots, proving nostalgia is big business in the wild world of gaming. Co-op titles tend to strike a nostalgic nerve within gamers, taking them back to some of their most cherished video game moments.
Playing through the first Halo campaign for the first time with a friend and cleaning up the streets in Final Fight are memories cemented in the minds of many gaming veterans. Some consoles like the Intellivision Amico even prioritize co-op gameplay in hopes of taking gamers back to their roots. If the industry wants to continue riding the wave of nostalgia, developers might start implementing cooperative gameplay in more of their titles. Targeting that nostalgic nerve and bringing back the beloved gameplay feature might prove to be more profitable than most people expect.
The resurgence of upcoming co-op titles has more than a few gamers jumping for joy. There is nothing like beating an overpowering boss or plaything through a vivid story-driven game alongside your best pals. If games like Outriders and It Takes Two become runaway successes, it might inspire more developers to experiment with the struggling feature. Who knows? It could lead to innovative cooperative features that could change the course of the industry. Although the co-op renaissance is still in its early stages, it has more than a few video game fans excited for the industry's future.