During GDC, a firm called Newzoo spoke about a study that relates to video games in 2024. The study suggests that almost everyone plays older games. The newer games have little chance of success which proves difficult for developers.
Players Favorite Old Classics
PC gamers are shown to be the fiercest defenders of classic games. In 2024, 67 percent of time recorded gaming on PC reported spending it on games older than six years. Here are some of the most played games:
Games that have come out between two and five years account for 25 percent of time played on PC. Remaining new games from 2024 account for 8 percent. This means a majority of players prefer sticking to familiar experiences and not trying fresh ones.
Analyzing Console Gamers Shows They Follow a Similar Trend
For PlayStation:
- 44% of total playtime is spent on games older than six years.
- New releases make up only 15% of playtime.
For Xbox:
- 49% of playtime goes to older titles.
- New games also account for just 15%.
Even though console players have a willingness to try new games compared to those on PC, the latter still remains in the lead.
Tough Competition in the Gaming Market
The report indicates an increase in competition for the consumer’s time. Even though the hours devoted to gaming is on the rise, most of it is concentrated around major AAA titles. Newzoo’s take on this is describing it as zero-sum competition where newer games have a tough time fulfilling players owing to established favorites.
In 2024, the average player engages with:
- 10 games on Steam
- 10 on PlayStation
- 9 on Xbox
Even with this variety, new releases fail to gain a major share of playtime.
Console Game Revenue Declines
Beyond that, analysts predict a 14% decline in console game revenue. Revenue should drop to $19.9 billion in 2024 compared to 2023. The decline stems from fewer blockbuster releases compared to major hits like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and Baldur’s Gate 3, which dominated 2023.
Challenges for Developers
The sad truth is that game developers are put in a difficult position. Since players are glued to old games, newer titles will have a harder time getting attention. In order to maintain competition, game developers need to put their efforts toward captivating content, live-service updates, and thoughtful advertisements.
The verdict on the gaming industry for 2024 is obvious: players are still fond of the classic games. Newer games will have to put in a lot of effort to compete and capture the gamers’ focus.
Source: Giz China
