A former Starfield developer, Will Shen, suggests player fatigue is growing with the prevalence of lengthy AAA titles. This saturation of the market with long games, he argues, is contributing to a resurgence of shorter gaming experiences.
Shen, a veteran developer with credits including Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, points to the success of games like Skyrim as establishing the "evergreen game" model. However, he notes that many players don't complete games exceeding ten hours, impacting overall engagement with the narrative and product. He cites this as a significant factor in the shift towards shorter games.
In an interview (via Gamespot), Shen highlighted the growing preference for shorter games among a significant player base. He used the indie horror game Mouthwashing as an example, suggesting its concise playtime was crucial to its success. A longer version, burdened with side quests and extra content, might not have received the same positive reception.
Despite this trend towards shorter games, the dominance of longer AAA titles like Starfield persists. The release of Starfield's Shattered Space DLC in 2024, and the rumored 2025 expansion, demonstrate the continued commitment to expansive content in the AAA space. The industry, therefore, seems poised for a period of co-existence between lengthy and shorter game experiences.
