Deconstructor of Fun

249. Shooting for Success: Navigating the Ultra Competitive Shooter Genre

Oct 28, 2024

Davan Brannan, a senior consultant at Nuzu specializing in data analysis, joins Chris Sides, a games industry veteran from EA and Bungie. They tackle the decline in player engagement in the shooter genre and the challenges newcomers face in a crowded market. Insights into the impact of COVID-19 on game popularity and innovative strategies for player retention take center stage. The duo also explores the future of extraction shooters, emphasizing the need for live content and unique gameplay to captivate players in this competitive landscape.

59:15

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Episode guests

Davan Brannan

Chris Sides

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Player engagement in the shooter genre has sharply declined, with a 40% decrease in monthly active users since January 2021.

New first-person shooter titles face immense challenges in a saturated market, struggling to retain players who prefer established franchises.

Developers must innovate live service models and provide compelling content at launch to enhance player retention and engagement.

Deep dives

Decline in Player Engagement

Engagement in the PC console shooter market has significantly decreased over recent years, notably in the realm of PvP first-person shooters. Monthly active users have dropped drastically from approximately 80 million in January 2021 to under 50 million by July 2024, marking a 40 percent decline. This downward trend is particularly pronounced in arcade shooters, which have seen a decline of about 45%, whereas tactical shooters experienced a milder decline of 32%. Interestingly, PvE-centric shooters have fared better during this period, indicating a preference shift among players towards more cooperative gaming experiences.

Intro

2min

Trends in the Shooter Genre

9min

Analyzing Trends in the Shooter Game Genre

2min

The Future of FPS: Challenges and Adaptations

8min

Navigating the Challenges of Mobile Game Development

2min

Challenges in Competitive Shooter Retention

14min

Navigating the FPS Landscape

14min

Navigating the PvP Shooter Landscape

4min

Integrating Launch with Live Service in Gaming

4min

In this deep dive discussion, Adam Telfer, Chris Sides, Phillip Black, and Davan Brannan explore the current state of the PC and console shooter genre, analyzing player engagement trends, the impact of COVID-19, and the struggles of new game entrants in a saturated market.

They discuss the decline in player numbers for popular titles, the challenges of maintaining engagement, and the implications for future game development. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the challenges and strategies surrounding the launch and retention of new first-person shooter (FPS) games.

The four also discuss the importance of live content, player migration, and the barriers new titles face in a saturated market.

The conversation ends with an exploration of the future of extraction shooters and the key elements developers must focus on to succeed in the competitive landscape of PvP shooters.

Chapters:

00:00 The Shooter Genre Landscape

02:36 Analyzing Player Engagement in Shooters

09:06 The Impact of COVID on Shooter Game Popularity

11:00 Contrasting Successes and Failures in Recent Titles

21:33 New Entrants and Their Struggles in the Market

28:35 The Challenge of Launching New FPS Games

32:00 Player Migration and Retention in FPS Titles

35:32 Barriers for New PvP Shooters

38:09 Strategies for Competing in a Saturated Market

41:58 The Future of Extraction Shooters

49:57 Key Takeaways for Developing Successful Shooters

Keywords:

PC, console, shooter games, player engagement, market analysis, COVID impact, game launches, FPS, PvP, PvE, FPS games, player retention, game development, extraction shooters, PvP shooters, gaming market, player migration, live service, game thesis, competitive gaming