How do you define Live Service/Games as a Service?

In addition, what examples would you give for each type?

For me, Live Service is the manner in which post launch content is delivered. It (1) is typically free content, fixes, or balance changes to the game, and (2) requires an online-connection to facilitate these updates. Games as a Service in my mind is both a revenue and content delivery model designed to retain high concurrent player numbers. In essence, revenue is generated on behalf of the player, often through microtransactions, regular paid-for content, or subscription fees. Lastly, these games are always-online to better facilitate content delivery, while also ensuring they can handle a large influx of players on the companies respective servers.

If I were to give examples of some notable live service titles, I'd include:

- Mass Effect 3 + Andromeda (specifically, the multiplayer elements
- Dragon Age Multiplayer
- Monster Hunter World
- Assassins Creed
- Warframe
- Destiny 2
- The Division franchise

Examples of GaaS titles would be:

- Destiny 2
- The Division 2
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- World of Warcraft

I dont believe Microtransactions are indicative of a live service game, though it is a common practice to include them. For example, Monster Hunter World was a game that received frequent- albeit free - updates, cosmetics, monsters, gear, and events, but had no microtransactions store, though you could buy cosmetic packs on a platforms respective store (e.g. PSN). Live Service also doesnt necessitate that a game be multiplayer, or online-only. Assassins Creed Odyssey can be played offline if you dont want to engage with its live service elements like new events, content drops, or daily/weekly quests for rewards. That said, it supported those updates through a microtransactions store. Same goes with Valhalla.

Theres also a degree of overlap between live service and GaaS as well. Destiny 2 constantly receive new updates, balance changes, and new (or reoccurring) events, which is supported by both a microtransactions store, as well as paid-for Seasonal DLCs and Expansion. These underpin a live service title. The game is also GaaS because it is always online, seeks to keep players invested at all times through seasonal content updates every 3-5 months, and uses the paid-for and microtransactions systems to support itself. The revenue made from those systems helps keep it alive.

I'd be curious to see what everyone else believes these games to be, as the reason I brought this up is largely because of conversations around what a Live Service Dragon Age would have been. Personally, I already thought Inquisition was live service just due to its multiplayer component getting free updates.