The Gaming Industry is in Need of a Defibrillator

After the most brilliant Alan Wake 2. A comeback that perfectly infused more of the multi-universe approach to their games. It certainly has me more invested in Remedy Games. One of the best decisions they made was going multi-platform with their games years ago. It has me feeling maybe giving more players access to these games isn’t such a bad thing? As illustrated around the industry there are issues with increased costs to actually make these games.

It comes to a point when we all have to figure out the way forward. I’ve always liked Remedy Games. I love their approach to games and how everything is intertwined together. Sony has a big problem when it comes to costs to most of their games. That’s why less is being made. The margins are small for error, and if they get it wrong it can make or break a studio. That’s just the industry in 2024.

Sony’s commitment to the new IP. With no established game under their umbrella coming until 2025 isn’t in doubt. It does however call for accountability and as such the multi-platform approach gets ever so much stronger in the future. It’s not happening yet, but we have to admit to ourselves how long until board members call for it at Sony? It’s already happening at Microsoft and they’re a trillion dollar company that even has their team looking bewildered at each other about what they’ll be doing.

The reason why I am highlighting Remedy Games is just how well they’ve made multi-platform work for them as a studio. Obviously, we’re not going to see Sony branch out onto other consoles anytime soon with the PlayStation. They do have a presence on the PC, mind you.

I will say that this industry has needed a shock back to life for a while. The increased costs and redundancies are a highlight of that which is unfortunate and sad. There is just a sense that things are going to have to change going forward. Shawn Layden years ago warned about the cost increases with PlayStation spiralling out of control. Yet nobody has been asked the question of how they’re dealing with that? It’s something the next guy they bring in at PlayStation will need to work out.

The fact that PlayStation has spun out of control recently with their live service games approach. It’s all about perceptions, and the look isn’t a good one for Sony. The validity of their purchase of Bungie is again brought into question.

The way the industry as a whole is carrying on is insane. There is even news that EA will be focusing more on Sports. They’ve cancelled a Star Wars FPS game. But getting back to the point, with the margins so small for error. I foresee a lot more gaming companies working together and studios being consolidated if this carries on.

There is no doubt however that the gaming industry needs a shock back to life. It’s in need of a serious rethink because it’s just insane how many people are being put in the position they are in. This is an industry that is meant to be one of the fastest growing with it set to reach a $400 billion marker in the future. Especially with a lot more people playing video games these days.

I expect mobile, cloud and everything in between to be utilised to their maximum going forward. There is even a case of the PlayStation Portal being a prominent part of the future PlayStation strategy with that or handheld. Especially with its recent sales success. That combination with PC (multi-platform) in the future is only going to get stronger as Sony recoups. Especially as we move away from the norm of how we perceive playing our games on just one singular platform.

If anything, this is the strategy that Microsoft has been ahead on for a while and there’s a good case here to how others may choose to widen their scopes. But like with everything, Microsoft isn’t right on everything and it’s looking more insane just how viable Game Pass actually is. But we shall see because it’s looking like not even buying games is enough to offset the slippery slope the gaming industry is on.

One thing is for sure, it’s going to be interesting what the future may hold if your a PlayStation or Xbox fan, or both.