As a tech enthusiast with over two decades of industry experience, I can confidently say that 2024 was a rollercoaster ride for the gaming world. From highs to lows, the year had its fair share of both triumphs and tribulations.
What a year.
It’s not just me who would agree that 2024 has been quite a busy year, filled with extraordinary games, captivating news, and a mix of both uplifting and disappointing events. Exceptional developers showcased their skills by creating memorable experiences that will likely shape this decade. However, there were also instances of massive job cuts, layoffs, and hasty decisions which may not reveal their full impact for several years.
Over the holiday season, I find myself taking a well-deserved break to indulge in reading, painting miniature figurines, and perhaps enjoying a few games. During this downtime, I’d like to revisit some of the most remarkable events that have shaped this year – extraordinary situations, cautionary tales, emerging trends, and even glimpses of optimism for what lies ahead.
Here are five of the most interesting stories that defined the gaming industry throughout 2024:
5. Black hole games have a vice grip on players’ time
Mat Piscatella, an analyst at Circana who serves as executive director, often shares valuable insights about popular games by monitoring player interaction through regularly published charts. Over time, I’ve noticed something intriguing: the games on these charts tend to stay put. In other words, titles like Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and Minecraft have a strong grip on engagement, with minimal changes. Occasionally, a fresh game manages to make an appearance, but it usually vanishes after a brief stint.
It doesn’t mean that nothing new can’t thrive – on the contrary, NetEase Games’ free-to-play hero shooter Marvel Rivals is starting off strongly, and Helldivers 2 from PlayStation and Arrowhead Game Studios is holding player interest after a recent update. However, these live-service success stories are more exceptions than the norm.
In my opinion, there doesn’t seem to be a single perfect solution for navigating the current situation, but it’s crucial for developers and publishers to take note of how gaming preferences are shifting. It’s becoming more challenging for numerous games to demand $70 in the U.S., as an increasing number of players prefer engaging with free-to-play games instead.
4. Xbox embraces multiplatform launches
After completing the massive acquisition of Activision Blizzard King at the start of 2024, Microsoft shifted towards a broader, multi-platform strategy. This move saw four previous Xbox console exclusives, such as Sea of Thieves from Rare, being made available on PlayStation and Nintendo systems. For the following year, a version of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is expected to release on PlayStation 5. Moreover, 2025 will witness the simultaneous multi-platform launch of titles like The Outer Worlds 2 from Obsidian, among others.
Indeed, for clarity and fairness, it’s important to note that Microsoft has been a multi-platform publisher for some time now, distributing Minecraft on various devices. Additionally, during its attempt to acquire Activision, the company pledged to continue offering Call of Duty across different platforms. However, this is still the same corporation that publicly promised to make games like Bethesda’s Starfield exclusive to Xbox.
It’s understandable why this situation has arisen (as Xbox grows within Microsoft, they are asking for higher profits), but it seems the entire story hasn’t been fully told just yet. The increasing trend of offering more software on multiple platforms certainly suggests a strategic change, and I’m eager to see how it unfolds over 2025 and beyond.
3. PlayStation’s Concord launched, now it’s like it never existed
On August 23, 2024, Sony’s PlayStation Studios debuted Concord – a multiplayer shooting game, created by their recent acquisition, Firewalk Studios. This is one of several highly anticipated online service games that PlayStation Studios has been developing for some time.
Two full weeks after, on September 6th, the game ceased to be available for purchase, and its servers were deactivated. Later, on October 29th, Firewalk Studios closed its operations.
It’s worth mentioning again, despite it seeming repetitive, that games often struggle to maintain popularity after launch or fail to attract an audience, whether they are multiplayer or single-player. However, what I find extraordinary is the apparent lack of market acceptance for a game published by a well-respected company like PlayStation and Concord, which is something I haven’t witnessed before and may never witness again.
As a tech enthusiast, I can’t help but ponder over the reasons why that game didn’t strike a chord with players. Despite numerous evaluations and approvals from within the company, including executives and leaders, it’s hard to comprehend how this game slipped through the cracks. Now, with the studio shuttered, all that remains is an uneasy chapter in Prime Video’s Secret Level series, serving as a reminder of its legacy.
Speaking of studio closures…
2. Layoffs and closures devastate the industry
My god.
2023 saw a wave of layoffs that were tough to endure, while 2024 has been characterized by massive job cuts that are hard to put into words. Thousands of employees from companies like Microsoft, Sony, Embracer Group, Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, and numerous others found themselves out of work. Renowned studios were closing at an alarming rate, and the cancellation of several games became commonplace. The same justifications were frequently given, with highly paid executives emphasizing the importance of financial efficiency and expressing regret for the difficult news they had to share.
It’s unlikely that people will fully grasp the magnitude of the talent that has been squandered, or the numerous games that won’t materialize in the future due to this situation. The void left behind will be more noticeable in some publishers than others, but ultimately, they all played a role in this downfall.
Slowly but steadily though, workers are noticing…
1. The rise of unions
In an optimistic conclusion, it’s worth mentioning that a significant event unfolded this year: Unions made their mark in some of the biggest and most prestigious video game development companies globally.
Bethesda Game Studios, creators of The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield, along with the entire development team behind World of Warcraft at Blizzard Entertainment, and more recently ZeniMax Online Studios, have all established full-fledged unions. This unionization wave occurred towards the end of the year.
Unions don’t ensure everything will run smoothly, as their success hinges on everyone’s dedication. However, in an otherwise challenging year for game development, these unions symbolize a glimmer of hope – the belief that no team is exempt from organizing and making their parent company address pressing matters with sincerity.
It has been a delight to witness these partnerships becoming stronger, and I am genuinely optimistic that their growth will persist throughout 2025.
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2024-12-27 17:10