Many of today’s most popular games were released years ago. Why is this and what does it mean for the industry?
Could you play a single video game forever? There may not be endless books or endless movies, but there are games that people devote thousands and even tens of thousands of hours to. A Polish fan of the sports strategy simulator Football Manager holds the Guinness World Record for spending 10,887 hours on a single campaign – that’s 453 days. You’re not alone, these days people spend more time than ever playing old games. According to a study by analytics company Newzoo, the 10 most played games of 2023 were released an average of seven years ago. While gamers were once obsessed with new consoles with more advanced graphics, today’s technological advancements are less important and older games are constantly being updated, so many people see no reason to switch. We enter the world of eternal games. But what does this mean for the future of the medium?
There are some common features in these titles. They usually lack a linear narrative, which makes it less interesting if you’ve already seen the ending. Rather, they offer systems that change each time: roguelike games like Spelunky; deck builders like Hearthstone; or strategy games like Civilization and Total War. Then there’s a deeper level, complex system games like Dwarf Fortress and RimWorld, whose online fans don’t even play anything else. The online community of Perpetual Games is also very active, many of them creating mods to refine the game’s graphics or gameplay. Other games that keep players engaged for a long time are simply fun: life simulations like Animal Crossing or The Sims, or open worlds like Grand Theft Auto or Skyrim, where there’s always something new to discover.
Despite the fact that players keep coming back for many years, the list of the most played games in 2023 is not topped by these games, but by the so-called. live services. These are usually multiplayer titles played online and regularly updated with new content. Most of them are free to play, the developers make money from microtransactions. These are usually shooter, arena fighter or sandbox titles and are famous far beyond the world of gamers: Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft, Call of Duty. These games strike a balance between a comforting familiarity and a sense of novelty with each update. Dramatic changes like Diablo IV’s recent “Loot Reborn” update, which some critics say finally “fixed the game,” are rare. Such a package will soon be coming to Final Fantasy XIV and Destiny 2 – both of which have a loyal following due to their complex stories unfolding over many years.
Some of the most profitable titles – such as Fortnite and Roblox – are not just a game, but a platform within which players can create their own games for others to try. This slyly means that developers can profit from content they didn’t create. It also points to the fundamental importance of community in live service games: sometimes you log in to complete missions and earn points, but you also show up to hang out with your friends in a virtual space that feels like home.
Over the past few years, many developers have tried to launch new “legacy” games to compete with the likes of Fortnite. But development costs are rising, and companies are naturally interested in making titles that generate profits in the long run. However, this is punishingly difficult to coordinate well. Two attempts at superhero branding, Marvel’s Avengers and DC Suicide Squad, were lambasted by fans and critics alike for trying to cram in live-action elements that didn’t feel natural. Retaining fans even after a successful launch can be difficult: this year’s space shooter Helldivers 2 initially looked like it might be a contender for the gaming pantheon of eternity, but a series of botched changes turned fans against the developer.
Big game companies are trying to build new live service games with blind optimism, but today’s latest games have to compete not only with other new releases, but also with a long line of well-resourced games that are well-loved. In a time of mass layoffs and studio closures, developers need to think hard about the future of the industry and whether it is sustainable. For players, the equation is simpler. They will simply play whatever is most attractive, no matter how old it is. The medium that was once obsessed with novelty has come to appreciate quality and realize that sometimes the old stuff was better.
Source: sg.hu
