Starfield Dev: Players Crave Engaging Experiences

A former Starfield developer, Will Shen, reveals player fatigue with excessively long AAA games. This sentiment suggests a potential shift in player preference towards shorter gaming experiences. While lengthy titles like Starfield remain popular, Shen's comments highlight a growing segment of gamers who find the extensive playtime of many AAA games overwhelming.

Shen, a veteran with credits on titles like Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, observes a saturation point in the AAA market. He argues that the success of games like Skyrim, which established the "evergreen game" model, has contributed to this fatigue. He points out that many players fail to complete games exceeding ten hours, emphasizing the importance of completion for optimal story engagement and product satisfaction. This is contrasted with the success of shorter games, using the example of Mouthwashing, whose concise playtime contributed significantly to its popularity. Shen suggests that lengthening Mouthwashing with side quests would have negatively impacted its reception.

Despite the emerging trend towards shorter games, the prevalence of longer AAA titles, exemplified by Starfield and its planned DLC expansions (Shattered Space in 2024, and a rumored expansion in 2025), indicates that longer games are not disappearing anytime soon. The industry, therefore, appears to be navigating a duality: catering to both the demand for shorter, more focused experiences and the continued popularity of expansive, long-form titles.