RPG Fatigue Fuels Player Demand for Shorter Games

A former Starfield developer, Will Shen, suggests player fatigue is growing with respect to excessively long AAA games. This saturation of the market with lengthy titles, he argues, is fueling a resurgence of shorter gaming experiences.

Shen, a veteran of Bethesda with credits on titles like Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, points to the success of games like Skyrim as contributing to the prevalence of "evergreen" titles – those offering vast amounts of content. However, he notes that many players don't complete games exceeding ten hours, impacting overall engagement with the narrative and product. This, he suggests, is leading to a shift in player preference.

In an interview, Shen highlighted the success of shorter games like Mouthwashing, emphasizing its concise playtime as a key factor in its popularity. He contrasted this with the potential negative impact of extending such a game with numerous side quests and filler content.

Despite this shift, Shen acknowledges the continued popularity of longer games, citing Starfield's successful launch and the upcoming release of its DLC, Shattered Space, and a rumored subsequent expansion. The industry, therefore, appears to be navigating a growing demand for shorter games alongside the continued presence of sprawling, long-form titles.