The state of video gaming in 2025 - a report

[KeighnMcDeath]

WTF is with that SF6 art? Bleh!

 

[itsme]

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indu...uble-the-number-working-on-ps5-or-xbox-games/

PC development has skyrocketed,' GDC survey finds: 80% of developers are now making games for PC, more than double the number working on PS5 or Xbox games

 

[Cael]

Gaming's failing is that it's gone from being built around gamers, to being built around sheeple who just "tour" games.

These fucking retards don't really want puzzles, challenges, tests of thought or skill, they want a fucking movie where they feel part of the events occurring.

Problem with that is, the second something else comes along which gives them that "touring" experience and stimulus, then they'll jump ship.

It's no surprise social media is catching that mong demographic. Especially as half of them think they can make a living out of making shit gaming channels. "Oohh, you've got a gaming channel?!?" has snagged a fuckload of the sheeple who are so weak and pathetic that they're lives are spent chasing attention, and not enjoying themselves.

Mate, we just had a moron complaining for multiple pages in the Ultima Underworld thread that the gem in UUW2 was bad game design because it is "random" and "doesn't make sense". Peak retarded millennial stuff.

 

[Falksi]

Gaming's failing is that it's gone from being built around gamers, to being built around sheeple who just "tour" games.

These fucking retards don't really want puzzles, challenges, tests of thought or skill, they want a fucking movie where they feel part of the events occurring.

Problem with that is, the second something else comes along which gives them that "touring" experience and stimulus, then they'll jump ship.

It's no surprise social media is catching that mong demographic. Especially as half of them think they can make a living out of making shit gaming channels. "Oohh, you've got a gaming channel?!?" has snagged a fuckload of the sheeple who are so weak and pathetic that they're lives are spent chasing attention, and not enjoying themselves.

Mate, we just had a moron complaining for multiple pages in the Ultima Underworld thread that the gem in UUW2 was bad game design because it is "random" and "doesn't make sense". Peak retarded millennial stuff.

Just had a quick read through some of the posts, ye gads.

And I'm one of the more consoletardy on the forum too.

 

[itsme]

Theres another report.

https://www.midiaresearch.com/repor...is-mature-so-double-digit-growth-is-a-fantasy

Recent years have been tough for the games market.

Like many industries, gaming overextended itself following the black swan event that was the COVID-19 pandemic. During those difficult times, everybody was at home, interest rates were low, and engagement with – and spending on – games skyrocketed. The growth-at-all costs mindset became dangerous. Many companies thought that double-digit growth would continue, greenlighting risky projects and strategies. The market is very different now, and many moves ultimately did not pan out. The games market has reached its maturity phase. Unless another black swan event happens, double-digit growth is a thing of the past. Meanwhile, inflation rates are high, money is considerably more expensive to borrow (for consumers and companies alike), there is a cost-of-living crisis, and publishers have been forced to lay off employees and adapt to this new normal.

Many publishers, seeing the successes of Fortnite, Roblox, League of Legends, and the like hitched their wagons to the live-service trend. But the live-service goldrush already had its winners. Dethroning them is nigh-on impossible. There are still gains to be made, as shown by the success of Helldivers 2 at the start of 2024 and Marvel Rivals at the end. But the attention economy is oversaturated. Helldivers 2 was an unexpected viral hit that saw more premium success than anything (retention numbers are low), and NetEase’s Marvel Rivals saw what looked like a sinking ship (Overwatch 2’s stagnation) and utilised a strong IP to acquire its players and others.

“Survive until ‘25” was a mantra often repeated in industry circles, with many hoping that the releases of the Switch 2 and GTA 6 in 2025 would revitalise the market and spark the growth enjoyed back in 2021 and 2022. Make no mistake: these will add more revenues for the market. However, Nintendo and Take-Two will be the big winners. The Switch 2 will offer an oasis for third parties, but GTA 6 will be an engagement and attention whirlpool, having a negative impact on other developers' games.

In short: we are now in 2025, and not much has really changed – or will change – since 2024 on a high level. It is time to say goodbye to “survive ‘til ‘25” and hello to “stick ‘til ’26” and beyond, but with tempered expectations for future growth in this mature market.

But it is not all doom and gloom.

Things will continue to be difficult in the games market, and these challenging market conditions mean developers are being forced to think smarter to succeed. Luckily, the industry is teeming with some of the smartest, most creative, and passionate minds in the world. But do not count on double-digit growth.

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

when is it going to be time for "die right now"?

 

[Mountain]

Gaming's failing is that it's gone from being built around gamers, to being built around sheeple who just "tour" games.

These fucking retards don't really want puzzles, challenges, tests of thought or skill, they want a fucking movie where they feel part of the events occurring.

Problem with that is, the second something else comes along which gives them that "touring" experience and stimulus, then they'll jump ship.

It's no surprise social media is catching that mong demographic. Especially as half of them think they can make a living out of making shit gaming channels. "Oohh, you've got a gaming channel?!?" has snagged a fuckload of the sheeple who are so weak and pathetic that they're lives are spent chasing attention, and not enjoying themselves.

Tour games? compared what though, 80s games?

 

[Falksi]

Gaming's failing is that it's gone from being built around gamers, to being built around sheeple who just "tour" games.

These fucking retards don't really want puzzles, challenges, tests of thought or skill, they want a fucking movie where they feel part of the events occurring.

Problem with that is, the second something else comes along which gives them that "touring" experience and stimulus, then they'll jump ship.

It's no surprise social media is catching that mong demographic. Especially as half of them think they can make a living out of making shit gaming channels. "Oohh, you've got a gaming channel?!?" has snagged a fuckload of the sheeple who are so weak and pathetic that they're lives are spent chasing attention, and not enjoying themselves.

Tour games? compared what though, 80s games?

The majority of games through the 80's to the mid-90's.

Then '95-'00 ratio was around 50/50. A lot of more casual stuff appeared, but there were still plenty of badass games out there too (Battle Garegga in '96, Radient Silvergun in '98 etc.) .

After that there's still the odd games which hold engaging gameplay (SMT, Souls etc.) but most feel like they're made for tards tbh.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

We need more Kek games? Hmmm.... Kermit.... Kek..... the news.... lightning bolts.... Sesame Street.... Open... says... a. .. me.... itallian.... pizza..... mushrooms.... Mario..... sewers..... slime..... flies..... frogs..... egypt... Moses.... plague.... frogs.... KEK!!! It is all coming together. WTF.. WTK...
WHAT THE KEK!

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Gaming's failing is that it's gone from being built around gamers, to being built around sheeple who just "tour" games.

These fucking retards don't really want puzzles, challenges, tests of thought or skill, they want a fucking movie where they feel part of the events occurring.

Problem with that is, the second something else comes along which gives them that "touring" experience and stimulus, then they'll jump ship.

It's no surprise social media is catching that mong demographic. Especially as half of them think they can make a living out of making shit gaming channels. "Oohh, you've got a gaming channel?!?" has snagged a fuckload of the sheeple who are so weak and pathetic that they're lives are spent chasing attention, and not enjoying themselves.

Does making a patreon/gamingtube channel net some buckaroos? Is it sustainable?

I enjoyed Tears of the Kingdom.

Hi-Fi Rush is lame.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is lame.

Will play Jedi Survivor eventually, but first game was lame and Dark Souls doesn't fit in Star Wars at all.

Played first Marvel's Spider-Man on PS4. Pretty mid. See no appeal in playing a sequel with the same gameplay and same city.

After the RE4 demo and seeing some footage of later content, I decided that I will never play the game. Worse than the original in every way.

Dead Space remake was completely pointless. Not interested.

Nothing else there I'm into. What a crappy assortment.

WTF is Super Mario Wonder? Lordy fuck I haven't looked at console crud in detail. Remember, my last console was a full blown sega cd 32x pieced together around 1999 from pawn shops & shit. Before that top loader NES, before that VCR loader NES with gray light gun (SMB + Duck Hunt), before that ColecoVision with Racing Expansion module II, and before thag Fairchild Channel F system. There was a game gear with adapter & some magnifier box that I had just before the parted genesis. I think I had, Sonic 2 gg version with the awful first box, Shining Force: Sword of Haija, and Vampire: Master of Datkness. That's it. I could list the games I recall but meh.

Yeah, I am out of touch with consoles.

 

[itsme]

77% of Game Developers Believe Not Enough QA is Being Done, New Report Finds

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/77-game-developers-believe-not-140000690.html

The new report from modl.ai, based on survey data from over 300 game developers, features insights from experts formerly of Netflix, Microsoft, Jagex, Reliance, and more.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Feb. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- modl.ai, a leading innovator in behavioral AI tools for game development, has released The State of Games QA. Based on a survey of over 300 U.S. professional game developers, the report is enriched by insights from world-class QA experts with tenures at Netflix, Epic, Microsoft and more. The report reveals key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of quality assurance (QA) in the gaming industry.


State of Games QA Report from modl.ai
Results suggest that as games grow in complexity and player expectations reach new heights, QA teams are under immense pressure to deliver flawless experiences on tight schedules and budgets. The State of Games QA explores how studios are turning to automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to refine QA processes, optimize resources, and ensure release stability in an increasingly fast-paced industry.


Key insights include:

• 77% of developers report conducting less QA than necessary for recent releases, citing time and resource constraints.
  
  
• 94% of developers believe AI will play a critical role in the future of QA and see automated bug detection as a key benefit.
  
  
• Only 18% of developers feel fully prepared to integrate AI across all existing QA processes.
  
  
• 51% of developers expressed increased interest in joining studios that actively use AI in QA.

"Game development budgets are climbing to thrilling new heights, which is great news for the industry, but that means more opportunities for bugs. AI offers a solution to that," said Christoffer Holmgård, CEO of modl.ai. "Survey results show that while the industry recognizes the transformative potential of AI in QA, many developers are still searching for practical ways to adopt it. At modl.ai, we're committed to bridging that gap by offering AI-powered tools that make testing smarter, faster, and more accessible, empowering studios to release games with confidence."

 

[deuxhero]

Most users are unable to write proper bug reports. "AI" isn't going to change that beyond having the bot ask "Can you reproduce the issue?" instead of wasting human time.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Here's some more awesome 2025 gaming.

Games Radar

Yo! BOY! Make me some Aunt Jemima pancakes BOY!!

Because that's what his fucking hair makes me think of

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

"Can you reproduce the issue?"

total thread hijack.
i had one of the fans which started scratching as soon as the load slightly piled up, computer still had valid warranty so i brought it back to the shop, instructing on how to reproduce the problem in order to spot, isolate and solve. i've been in this business, i'd had french kissed any customer so precise. back later, i've been greeted by "we did nothing you told to do, and didn't find the problem you spoke about".
then i had a lenghty discussion with the resident who kept saying "it's a matter of physics" and then meant "engineering" (and getting it wrong besides) so at some point i started to fake ignorance to get out of there as soon as possible, also because it turned out while i paid for 4 fans there was actually only one, and they went and just substituted it.

 

[Cat Headed Eagle]

Call of Duty costs always amuse me, since at least 500kk of that are definitely just because of marketing.

Famously, half of GTA's budget goes towards music licensing.

 

[itsme]

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indu...d-there-are-apparently-908-million-of-us-now/

PC gamers spend 92% of their time on older games, oh and there are apparently 908 million of us now

 

[itsme]

https://newzoo.com/resources/blog/s...ctive-at-driving-game-traffic-in-than-in-2019

Steam discounts are now 4 times less effective at driving game traffic than in 2019

 

[NecroLord]

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indu...d-there-are-apparently-908-million-of-us-now/

PC gamers spend 92% of their time on older games, oh and there are apparently 908 million of us now

Stop giving me such hope, dammit.

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

Steam discounts are now 4 times less effective at driving game traffic than in 2019

and probably a hundred times less than when there were flash sales and base prices actually dropped instead of staying the same for a decade or more, or indefinitely.
the only reason i got an account was before stuff got actually cheap, now i'm supposed to spend 2 or 3 times the normal price for a glorified pirated game.

 

[Fedora Master]

https://newzoo.com/resources/blog/s...ctive-at-driving-game-traffic-in-than-in-2019

Steam discounts are now 4 times less effective at driving game traffic than in 2019

Because they're shit and also Steam is a barely useable garbage dump now.

 

[Big_poppa_pump]

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indu...d-there-are-apparently-908-million-of-us-now/

PC gamers spend 92% of their time on older games, oh and there are apparently 908 million of us now

This article literally tricks people into smugly thinking “oh old single player games are king heh I’m smart” The games listed are ALL live service slop titles. It’s league of legends, COD warzone, counter strike, fortnite.

I feel like every gaming discussion website universally have the same opinions but say it differently now.

 

[Elttharion]

No One Was Around To Collect Life Is Strange: Double Exposure's Award For Social Impact Following Layoffs​

Source (kotaku)

 

[itsme]

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indu...d-there-are-apparently-908-million-of-us-now/

PC gamers spend 92% of their time on older games, oh and there are apparently 908 million of us now

This article literally tricks people into smugly thinking “oh old single player games are king heh I’m smart” The games listed are ALL live service slop titles. It’s league of legends, COD warzone, counter strike, fortnite.

I feel like every gaming discussion website universally have the same opinions but say it differently now.

The article is just a retelling of a newzoo report. Live service is kinda a broad term. If mobas are live service so is chess or soccer.

 

[itsme]

Industry report says Steam users play more noncompetitive games than console players—and our interest in PvE keeps growing

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indu...layers-and-our-interest-in-pve-keeps-growing/

What are you casul?

 

[Trinity]

Gaming's failing is that it's gone from being built around gamers, to being built around sheeple who just "tour" games.

These fucking retards don't really want puzzles, challenges, tests of thought or skill, they want a fucking movie where they feel part of the events occurring.

Problem with that is, the second something else comes along which gives them that "touring" experience and stimulus, then they'll jump ship.

It's no surprise social media is catching that mong demographic. Especially as half of them think they can make a living out of making shit gaming channels. "Oohh, you've got a gaming channel?!?" has snagged a fuckload of the sheeple who are so weak and pathetic that they're lives are spent chasing attention, and not enjoying themselves.

Games like Halo 6, Mario Kart 12 and Civilization 7 really have nothing to do with what exists on, say, the Apple II or MS-DOS. It is a completely different face of gaming; they share the word but not the properties.

It would be interesting to be born recently rather than a long time ago like I was. Would I be playing Halo 6 too? When I was young I remember looking in awe at the tech demo of "7th Guest" at the local games/computer shop. This was something no one had seen before. Would I feel the same way about Halo 6 as opposed to 5? Or is that not the way it works?