Industry stability appears to be in question this year, according to BioWare veteran Mark Darrah, with live service games being a significant factor. However, the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 could potentially trigger industry developments.
In the ever-evolving world of video games, industry veterans like Mark Darrah continue to offer insights into the current state of the industry. Darrah, who finished his career at BioWare as executive producer on Dragon Age and Anthem, now sees the industry as increasingly unstable and "shakier than ever" in 2025.
According to Darrah, live service games are a significant factor contributing to this instability. He believes that while they drive a significant portion of the current game market, they also introduce volatility to the industry's health and complicate the longevity and preservation of games as cultural products.
Darrah points to the broader consequences tied to live service game business models, including the challenge of game preservation. He acknowledges the ongoing "Stop Killing Games" movement, which fights against the loss of games when their servers are shut down, as happening amid many titles vanishing, such as Anthem, which shut down after nearly seven years.
Reflecting on Anthem's failure as a live service game, Darrah indicates that the project lacked a clear identity and suffered from marketing missteps. This contributed to Anthem’s poor reception and eventual shutdown, illustrating some of the inherent risks and challenges in live service game development.
On a more positive note, Darrah suggests that the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could signal a shift away from the live service deluge. This indicates that there is still hope for a more balanced industry, where creative and unique games can thrive alongside live service titles.
Meanwhile, in other gaming news, the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to significantly impact the direction of the video game industry in the coming years. As for the industry's past, 2024, 2023, and 2022 were also considered awful years, with thousands of layoffs and studio closures.
In the journalism sphere, Andy Chalk, who has a long history in the gaming industry, continues to cover all aspects of the gaming industry for PC Gamer. Chalk, who started with text adventures and primitive action games on a TRS80, joined PC Gamer in 2014 after writing videogame news for The Escapist from 2007 to 2014.
For those looking to enhance their gaming setup, Chalk and PC Gamer have recommendations for various gaming accessories, such as the Secretlab Titan Evo (gaming chair), Secretlab Magnus Pro XL (gaming desk), HyperX Cloud Alpha (gaming headset), Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless (gaming keyboard), Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed (gaming mouse), Xbox Wireless Controller (best PC controller), Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel (best steering wheel), Shure MV6 USB Gaming Microphone (best microphone), and Elgato Facecam MK.2 (best webcam).
In conclusion, Darrah's perspective on the video game industry underscores the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. While live service games are a significant part of the problems in the industry, they also represent a significant portion of the current game market. The industry's future remains uncertain, but with the right balance and focus on quality and preservation, it could potentially navigate through these challenges and thrive.
- In 2025, as live service games continue to dominate the market, Darrah expresses concern over their impact on the industry's stability, citing issues such as volatility and complications in game preservation.
- Despite the concerns, Darrah sees a glimmer of hope in the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, hinting at a possible shift towards a more balanced industry, allowing for the thrive of creative and unique games alongside live service titles.
