The 2025 State of the Game Industry Report

80 Percent of Game Devs Are Making Games for PC

The Game Developers Conference (GDC) unveiled in its 2025 State of the Game Industry report on January 21, 2025, that an overwhelming 80% of game developers are now focusing their efforts on creating games for the PC platform. This annual survey, which captures the pulse of the global gaming industry, highlights evolving trends, challenges, and opportunities within the sector.

This year’s report indicates a significant 14% rise in PC game development from last year's 66%. GDC suggests that this shift might be influenced by the growing popularity of Valve's Steam Deck. Although the Steam Deck was not explicitly listed as a development platform in the survey, a notable 44% of respondents who selected the "Other" option mentioned it as a platform they are considering for their games.

Previous reports have consistently identified PC as the "dominant platform," even amidst the rise of user-generated content (UGC) platforms like Roblox and Minecraft, and the anticipated launch of the Switch 2, formerly known as the Nintendo Switch successor. The trend towards PC gaming has been steadily climbing, increasing from 56% in 2020 to 66% in 2024.

If this trajectory persists, we can expect an even broader selection of games available on PC, enhancing its already extensive library. However, the imminent release of the Switch 2, with its promised graphical and performance enhancements, might slightly alter this trend.

One-Third of Triple A Devs Works On Live Service Games

The GDC report also sheds light on the current focus within the AAA game development sector, revealing that one-third (33%) of these developers are currently engaged in creating live-service games. When expanding the scope to include all respondents, 16% are actively developing live-service titles, while 13% express interest in doing so. Conversely, a significant 41% show no interest in pursuing this game model.

Developers who are either working on or interested in live-service games recognize the potential for financial gain and community engagement. However, those opposed to the model cite concerns such as declining player interest, creative stagnation, the use of predatory practices, reliance on microtransactions, and the risk of developer burnout.

GDC also points out that "market oversaturation" poses a significant challenge for live-service games, as maintaining a sustainable player base becomes increasingly difficult. A case in point is Ubisoft's decision to shut down XDefiant just six months post-launch, highlighting the struggles within this sector.

Some Devs Underrepresented in GDC’s State of the Game Industry

A report from PC Gamer on January 23, 2025, highlighted a notable underrepresentation of game developers from countries outside the Western sphere in GDC's latest survey. Nearly 70% of the respondents hail from Western countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Surprisingly, China, a powerhouse in mobile gaming, did not feature prominently among the countries with the most respondents, and Japanese developers were notably absent from the survey.

This skewed representation could potentially bias the findings towards the perspectives and experiences of Western developers, possibly not fully capturing the global state of the game industry. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for a comprehensive view of the industry's current landscape.