Chris Plante and Russ Frushtick, insightful video game journalists from Polygon, dive into the landscape of blockbuster games, including Grand Theft Auto and Fortnite. They discuss the rising trend of subscription models and how it parallels Hollywood’s blockbuster approach. The duo also tackles the challenges facing AAA titles, like franchise fatigue and high production costs. They explore the impact of Game Pass on game innovation and speculate on the future of gaming, particularly looking forward to the much-anticipated GTA VI.
Giant game franchises are becoming risk-averse, creating room for new games to emerge.
The gaming industry is shifting towards a more diverse landscape, allowing for different scales and types of games to flourish.
Established franchises like Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty continue to be made despite criticism and changes in the industry.
Live service games like Fortnite and Roblox dominate the market, making it difficult for new games to break in.
Deep dives
Future 1: The Avengers Future
In this future, we may be approaching the end of the era dominated by a handful of giant game franchises that have become risk-averse due to their size and complexity. As these franchises lose their appeal and face criticism, there is an opportunity for new and different games to emerge.
Future 2: The Prestige TV Future
In this future, the gaming industry shifts away from a few dominant franchises and moves towards a broader, more diverse landscape. This shift allows for different scales and types of games to flourish, similar to how the TV streaming era has resulted in a wide range of content.
Future 3: The iPhone Future
In this future, established franchises that have reached a certain level of success become nearly unkillable. These franchises, such as Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty, have such a devoted fan base that they continue to be made despite criticism and changes in the industry.
Future 4: The Live Services Future
In this future, the dominance of live service games, like Fortnite and Roblox, continues to grow. These games thrive on player engagement and constant updates, making it difficult for new games to break into the market.
Conclusion
While there are multiple potential futures for the gaming industry, it is likely that a combination of these scenarios will coexist. This could include the rise of new and diverse games, the persistence of established franchises, and the continued success of live service games.
The Growth of Gaming: A Unique Trend in the Entertainment Industry
The podcast highlights the remarkable growth of the gaming industry amidst the declining growth in other sectors of the entertainment business. While the overall entertainment industry is experiencing challenges and slower growth, gaming is defying the odds and expanding in every possible way. Gaming has become increasingly popular across different demographics, including older adults and women. This growth is not limited to a few dominant companies, but it also paves the way for new players like Epic with Fortnite and Remedy. The podcast suggests that while the key players in the industry might change over time, the gaming industry as a whole is positioned for continuous expansion.
The Evolution of Game Pass and Live Services Games
The podcast explores the significance of Game Pass and live services games in shaping the future of the gaming industry. Game Pass, a subscription-based model where players access multiple games for a fixed fee, is changing the way games are developed and monetized. It allows for the creation of innovative and niche games that may have struggled to find an audience through traditional means. Game Pass also enables developers to test out new ideas and retain talent within major studios. Additionally, the podcast discusses the potential impact of generative AI technology on game development, which is expected to revolutionize asset creation and scale in the gaming industry. While the $70 price tag for games may persist, Game Pass and live services games offer alternative avenues for game creators and players alike.
In episode three of our video game miniseries, The Verge's David Pierce and Polygon's Russ Frushtick and Chris Plante discuss the state of the industry's blockbuster games like Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Overwatch, Fortnite, and others — and what they signal for the future of gaming.
