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 driving a resurgence in popularity of shorter gaming experiences.
Shen, a veteran with experience on titles including Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and Starfield, points to the success of games like Skyrim as contributing to the prevalence of "evergreen" titles offering hundreds of hours of gameplay. While this formula has proven successful, as evidenced by Starfield's launch, he notes a significant portion of players are tiring of this model. In an interview (via Gamespot), Shen highlighted that many players don't complete games exceeding ten hours, emphasizing that completion is crucial for player engagement with the narrative and overall product. He likened the current trend to past game-changing moments, such as Dark Souls' impact on third-person combat difficulty.
The impact of this player fatigue is already visible, Shen suggests, in the growing success of shorter games. He cites the indie horror title Mouthwashing as an example, emphasizing that its concise playtime was a key factor in its positive reception. A longer version, laden with side quests, likely wouldn't have achieved the same success.
Despite this shift, longer games remain a significant part of the AAA landscape. Starfield's 2024 DLC, Shattered Space, and a rumored 2025 expansion demonstrate the continued commitment to expansive content in the AAA sector. The future will likely see a continued coexistence of both lengthy and shorter gaming experiences.
