A former Starfield developer, Will Shen, suggests player fatigue is growing with the abundance of lengthy AAA titles. This saturation of the market with extensive games, he argues, is contributing to a rise in popularity of shorter gaming experiences.
Shen, a veteran with credits on titles like Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, points to the success of games like Skyrim as a catalyst for the "evergreen game" trend. However, he notes that many players don't complete games exceeding ten hours, impacting overall engagement with the narrative and the product itself. He highlights this point in an interview with Kiwi Talkz (via Gamespot), suggesting the industry is reaching a point where many players are tiring of these extensive time commitments.
The impact of this trend is evident in the resurgence of shorter games, with Shen citing the success of Mouthwashing as a prime example. He attributes its popularity, in part, to its concise playtime, arguing that a longer version packed with side quests would have likely received a less enthusiastic reception.
Despite the growing preference for shorter games, longer titles like Starfield, with its 2024 DLC Shattered Space and a rumored 2025 expansion, remain prevalent. This suggests that while player preferences are shifting, the market for both long and short gaming experiences continues to exist.
