Industry Veterans Sound Alarm Over Troubled Game Development Landscape
Concerns are mounting over the game industry's direction, with veterans highlighting funding woes and studio closures. Developers grapple with player expectations and the increasing risks of repetitive game design. This environment fuels player disappointment with current AAA offerings and live service models.
Coverage across 5 outlets
The Sunday Papers
This article discusses various topics in game design and the industry, including Bruno Dias's thoughts on meaningful choice in narrative, Oma Keeling's analysis of modernism and postmodernism in platformers like Fallstruktur and Automaton Lung, and Justine Barron's critique of media bias regarding Long Covid. It also touches on the politics of Dungeons & Dragons, advice for writing about indie games from Michael Brough, and the Itch.io manifesto jam.
The Steam Controller + Zach Cregger's Resident Evil Movie | Kurt & Lucy Gotcha Covered
This article touches on various gaming-related topics including the Steam Controller, a potential Resident Evil movie directed by Zach Cregger, and a discussion about Xbox's future strategy. It also mentions trailers and announcements for games like Subnautica 2 and Star Wars: Galactic Siege.
The Sunday Papers
This article rounds up recent discussions and investigations within the game development industry. Topics include the resurgence of the Australian game development scene, the risks of developers repeatedly making similar games, the creation of soundtracks for extraction shooters, the challenges of crowdfunding, and critical perspectives on the use of AI in writing.
Massively Overthinking: So how panicked are we about the state of the games industry?
Industry veterans Brenda and John Romero expressed deep concern over the current state of the games industry, citing funding issues, AI concerns, and studio closures. The Massively OP staff discusses these worries, with some feeling resigned and others cautiously optimistic about a potential industry correction, particularly concerning the future of MMORPGs.
Issues and Activism
An unnamed "peak dev" responded to accusations of a "lazy dev cycle" by stating that any update is a bonus, not a right. This sentiment highlights ongoing discussions within the game development community regarding player expectations and developer practices.
EasySMX D05 review
This article discusses the current state of the gaming industry, with commenters expressing disappointment in the quality of AAA games and the prevalence of live service titles. They lament the shift from the past, where more diverse and numerous games were released by smaller teams, and question the high development costs and focus on profit over player experience.
