PS5, Switch Game Dev Takes a Back Seat as 80% of Devs Focus on PC

GDC's 2025 State of the Game Industry Report Highlights PC Dominance and Live Service Concerns

The Game Developers Conference (GDC) released its 2025 State of the Game Industry report on January 21st, 2025, revealing significant trends shaping the gaming landscape. A key finding highlights the overwhelming focus on PC development.

PC's Reign Supreme: 80% of Developers Target the Platform

The report indicates that a staggering 80% of game developers are prioritizing PC as their primary development platform, a substantial 14% increase from the 66% reported in 2024. While the exact reasons remain unclear, the report suggests the rising popularity of Valve's Steam Deck may be a contributing factor. Interestingly, although not a selectable platform option, 44% of respondents who selected "Other" specified the Steam Deck as a target platform.

This trend builds upon previous years, with PC dominance steadily growing from 56% in 2020. While the emergence of user-generated content (UGC) platforms like Roblox and Minecraft, and the anticipated release of the Switch 2, present potential challenges, PC's position as the leading platform remains undeniable.

Live Service Games: A Double-Edged Sword

The report also delves into the prevalence of live service games, revealing that one-third (33%) of AAA developers are currently working on such titles. Across all respondents, 16% are developing live service games, with an additional 13% expressing interest. However, a significant 41% expressed disinterest, citing concerns such as declining player engagement, creative limitations, and the potential for burnout.

GDC emphasizes the issue of market saturation in the live service sector, highlighting Ubisoft's recent closure of XDefiant as a prime example of the challenges faced by developers in maintaining sustainable player bases.

Geographic Representation: A Note of Caution

A subsequent report by PC Gamer on January 23rd, 2025, raised concerns about the geographical representation within GDC's survey. Nearly 70% of respondents were from Western countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia), with notable underrepresentation from regions like China and Japan. This suggests a potential bias in the report's findings, which may not fully capture the global state of the game industry.

In conclusion, GDC's 2025 report offers valuable insights into current industry trends, but acknowledges the need for broader representation to ensure a more comprehensive understanding of the global gaming landscape.