Summary
- Players are increasingly feeling fatigued by long AAA games, according to Will Shen, a former Starfield developer.
- The saturation of the AAA market with lengthy games has contributed to a resurgence in the popularity of shorter games.
- Despite this trend, long games like Starfield remain a significant part of the gaming industry.
Will Shen, a former Bethesda developer who contributed to Starfield, has voiced concerns about the length of modern AAA games. He believes that players are experiencing "fatigue" due to the extensive time commitment required by these games. Shen's insights are informed by his extensive experience working on major titles such as Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and Starfield.
Starfield, released in 2023, marked Bethesda's first new IP in 25 years and added another open-world RPG to their catalog, continuing the trend of games designed for long-term engagement. While this approach has been successful, as evidenced by Starfield's strong launch, there is a growing segment of the player base that craves more concise gaming experiences.
In a recent interview with Kiwi Talkz, as reported by Gamespot, Shen highlighted that the gaming industry might be "reaching a point" where a significant number of players are tired of games that demand dozens of hours of playtime. He noted that the market is already saturated with such games, making it challenging to introduce yet another lengthy title. Shen reflected on how the success of games like Skyrim has led to the normalization of "evergreen games." As the Lead Quest Designer on Starfield until his departure from Bethesda in late 2023, he also drew parallels to other industry trends, such as the rise of high-difficulty combat popularized by Dark Souls. Shen emphasized that most players do not complete games that exceed 10 hours, which he sees as crucial for maintaining engagement with the game's story and overall product.
Starfield Dev Discusses Long Games, Highlights the Demand for Shorter Experiences
Shen pointed out that the saturation of the AAA market with long games has led to a "resurgence" of shorter games. He cited the example of Mouthwashing, an indie horror game, which gained popularity partly due to its manageable runtime of just a few hours. Shen suggested that the game's reception might have been different had it been extended with numerous side quests and additional content.
Despite the growing interest in shorter games, long-form experiences like Starfield are not going away anytime soon. In 2024, Bethesda released the highly anticipated DLC for Starfield, titled Shattered Space, which added even more content to the already expansive game. Rumors also suggest that another expansion might be on the horizon for 2025, indicating that Bethesda will continue to invest in long, immersive gaming experiences.
