Gaming Trends: Are AAA Games Getting Too Long?
A former Starfield developer, Will Shen, suggests player fatigue is growing with the abundance of lengthy AAA titles. This saturation of the market with extensive games, he argues, may be fueling a resurgence of interest in shorter gaming experiences.
Shen, a veteran developer with credits including Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, points to the success of games like Skyrim as contributing to the prevalence of "evergreen" titles – those with massive amounts of content. However, he notes that many players don't complete games exceeding ten hours, highlighting the importance of game completion for story engagement and overall product satisfaction. This observation, shared in an interview with Kiwi Talkz (via Gamespot), suggests a significant portion of gamers are tiring of the extensive playtime demands of many modern AAA releases.
The impact of this trend is already visible, Shen suggests, with the rise in popularity of shorter games. He cites the success of Mouthwashing, an indie horror game, as an example. Its relatively short playtime, he believes, was a key factor in its positive reception – a longer version with added side quests might not have been as well-received.
Despite this shift, longer games remain a significant part of the industry. Starfield, itself a lengthy RPG, received a substantial DLC expansion, Shattered Space, in 2024, and further expansions are rumored for 2025. This suggests that while player preferences may be evolving, the market for expansive AAA titles continues to thrive.
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