LogFAQs > #979826821

I'm not arguing that it's good or bad. It's just what it is.

It's leaked into the console and PC gaming space because that's what people are deciding to spend their money and time on. Which is why these stats are the way they are.

We can argue for regulations or whatever but chances are it would just lead to people spending less but still playing the same games. If people wanted to buy $60-$70 single player physical games that's what they'd do. But most would rather play the hot multiplayer games with their buddies.

These stats came out recently too.
https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/six-year-old-video-games-study-playtime-2024-2638826/

According to Newzoo, the biggest competition that publishers will face going forward will be Fortnite and Roblox, thanks to their unique content pipelines. With both games relying on audiences to create new experiences, both games remain fresh and consistently engaging for their players.

Fortnite and Roblox allow creators to build unique content, resulting in players getting new experiences on a consistent basis, Newzoo said. This third-party strategy lets gaming platforms like Fortnite and Roblox stay ahead of the content treadmill Its essential for studios to remember that they are competing with these platform behemoths for a share of limited player hours.
Shockingly, the Newzoo report also outlines that new, non-annual titles only made up 8% of the total video game playtime in 2023, with the top five new titles played being Diablo IV (1.4%), Hogwarts Legacy (0.8%), Baldurs Gate 3 (0.6%), Elden Ring (0.3%), and Starfield (0.35%).

There is hope for those looking to launch a new game in this environment, but Newzoo notes that publishers and developers will need to be aware of current market conditions, and which games are dominating the space, before they lean into new forays.
Whats most clear from Newzoos report is that gaming habits are currently shifting dramatically, with various factors contributing to older games being more popular and appealing to the current market. Any new games will seemingly face an uphill battle to find and establish their potential audiences in the coming years.

It is what it is. I mean what people here consider the peak of video games is now over 20 years ago. It's inevitable that the way consumers spend and interact with games will change as we age up. No real point worrying about it as long as there's still stuff we like to play.