Post Games Why video games feel better and worse than ever before
Jul 7, 2025
Xalavier Nelson Jr. joins the discussion as a multifaceted creator behind indie studio Strange Scaffold. He explores the evolving landscape of game development, balancing optimism and anxiety. Key topics include the potential golden age of gaming by 2025, the impact of financial pressures on creativity, and the infiltration of AI in game design. Nelson also addresses recent industry challenges, like mass layoffs at major companies, while emphasizing the importance of originality and sustainable practices in fostering innovation.
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The Golden Age and Dark Future of Video Games Explained
Video games are at a paradoxical moment — a golden age fueled by unprecedented accessibility of technology and distribution paired with systemic industry challenges that threaten sustainability.
Key positives include:
- Anyone can publish a game with relatively low cost, altering traditional success dynamics.
- Cross-platform multiplayer and live game updates revolutionize player engagement.
- Cultural ubiquity of games extends beyond gaming, reaching mainstream pop culture.
However, systemic industry issues mean many developers face financial precarity, and reliance on external funding like platform deals is unstable.
Additionally, the rise of AI poses risks of producing generic content and reducing entry-level jobs, which could hollow out creative ecosystems.
The takeaway: while we are witnessing creative mastery and broad cultural impact, the future demands transparency, systemic thinking, and active community support to sustain this golden era rather than let it slip into decline.
Golden Era of Video Games
- Video games are in a golden era with unprecedented accessibility of technology and distribution.
- This era allows anyone to create and release games easily, reshaping success and creativity in gaming.
Games' Growing Mainstream Reach
- Gaming's cultural respect and ubiquity are growing through major adaptations and cross-platform presence.
- Games now reach mainstream culture widely, similar to how anime spread within military communities years ago.