"Starfield Dev: Players Tired of Long Games"

Summary

• Players are growing increasingly fatigued with long AAA games that demand dozens of hours of playtime, according to Will Shen, a former Starfield developer.
• The saturation of the AAA market with extensive games has spurred a resurgence in popularity for shorter games.
• Despite this trend, long games continue to dominate the industry, as seen with the ongoing expansions for Starfield.

Will Shen, a former Bethesda developer who contributed to Starfield, has voiced concerns about the length of modern AAA games. With a career spanning notable titles like Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, Shen's perspective carries significant weight in the gaming community. He argues that players are experiencing "fatigue" from the sheer time investment required by these lengthy games.

The release of Starfield in 2023 marked Bethesda's first new IP in 25 years, adding another expansive open-world RPG to their lineup. This game follows the successful formula seen in previous hits like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, offering players an almost endless array of activities. While this approach has proven successful with Starfield's launch, Shen points out that a significant portion of the gaming community is craving more concise gaming experiences.

In an interview with Kiwi Talkz (via Gamespot), Shen elaborated on the issue, stating that the industry is reaching a saturation point with long games. He highlighted the challenge of adding yet another extensive title to an already crowded market, referencing the success of Skyrim and how it set a precedent for "evergreen games." Shen, who served as the Lead Quest Designer on Starfield before leaving Bethesda in late 2023, also drew parallels to other influential trends like the rise of high-difficulty combat popularized by Dark Souls. He stressed that most players do not complete games that exceed 10 hours, which impacts their engagement with the game's narrative and overall experience.

Starfield Dev Discusses Long Games, Highlights the Demand for Shorter Experiences

Shen further discussed the consequences of the AAA sector's focus on long games, noting its role in the resurgence of shorter games. He cited the success of indie horror game Mouthwashing, attributing its positive reception to its concise runtime of just a few hours. According to Shen, adding extensive side quests and miscellaneous content would have diluted the game's impact.

Despite the growing demand for shorter games, the industry continues to produce and support long-form content. Starfield's 2024 DLC, Shattered Space, exemplifies this trend by adding more content to an already expansive game. Rumors also suggest that Bethesda may release another Starfield expansion in 2025, indicating that long games are likely to remain a staple in the gaming industry for the foreseeable future.