I know this is a controversial topic to bring up, but it is one I feel I need to discuss following recent reports and rumors in the gaming industry as a whole, from publishers, indie game makers, and beyond.
This topic comes fromthe recent report that Microsoft is planning to do more major job cutsat the Xbox Gaming Division, a fourth time in as little as 18 months, which feels like the decline, if not death, of a titan that once ruled the industry with its consoles and games. On top of all the other cuts and job losses we have seen, whether it’s other publishers,websites like Polygonseeing its near-entire staff let go, and other places shut completely. It really doesn’t boost any motivation, I’ll tell you that.
We also have industry veterans like Masahiro Sakurai, the director of theSuper Smash Bros.series, coming out to talk about AAA development and how difficult it’s become for various reasons, and how he warns the industry is becoming unsustainable and companies might seek out AI in some ways in the future. It’s all a very grim outlook.
So I wanted to create this article as a means to discuss with you, the reader, whether you are a Destructoid regular or not, the current state of the modern games industry. And if we are currently living through either the decline—or death—of the industry we have known over the last few decades.
Obviously, it’s not all doom and gloom, though, where big AAA titles are taking years to make and poor decisions are being made by various companies to pivot to live service without any real plan, indies and AA games likeClair Obscur: Expedition 33are booming. There are also a lot of games on the horizon that seem destined for success, and the Switch 2 is breaking records.
But it feels like, monthly, we are hearing people voice their concerns or seeing talented game devs let go, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. But perhaps as a person working in the industry, I am being anxious and worried more than I should be.Let me know in the comments, though, what you think.
