cormack12
Gold Member
Source: https://www.ft.com/content/3bae6c74-dee6-4cc5-9b8b-fcd22d7b8382
Interesting point about diversifying studio output to manage the issue (e.g. Playground making Horizon and Fable I guess, Insomniac probably fall into this bracket - is this an option for studios like 343 and Naughty dog?).
The point about AAA game delays pulling audiences away from indie titles I'm not too convinced on.
60% of player engagement in titles older than six years is interesting but without the full scope of the data laid out can be misleading (especially when you think of CoD, NBA, FIFA etc)
Start excerpt
Britain’s $5.5bn gaming industry, which took off after the introduction of tax breaks in 2014, could use a change in fortunes. The boom sparked by Covid-19, which saw more players spend more time gaming and prompted a record re-rating in valuations, unwound sharply last year.
Next, companies are reining in their ambitions and shrinking games pipelines. This is not as detrimental to earnings as it sounds: as in the music industry, back catalogues have a long shelf life. Patrick O’Donnell, analyst at Goodbody, reckons some 60 per cent of player engagement is in titles more than six years old.Besides, it still leaves ample footprints. Indie developer Team17, for example, bought Ireland-based StoryToys in 2021, bringing in the pre-schooler market. Others have diversified into educational games and simulated experiences, like train driving.
Interesting point about diversifying studio output to manage the issue (e.g. Playground making Horizon and Fable I guess, Insomniac probably fall into this bracket - is this an option for studios like 343 and Naughty dog?).
The point about AAA game delays pulling audiences away from indie titles I'm not too convinced on.
60% of player engagement in titles older than six years is interesting but without the full scope of the data laid out can be misleading (especially when you think of CoD, NBA, FIFA etc)
Start excerpt
Britain’s $5.5bn gaming industry, which took off after the introduction of tax breaks in 2014, could use a change in fortunes. The boom sparked by Covid-19, which saw more players spend more time gaming and prompted a record re-rating in valuations, unwound sharply last year.
Next, companies are reining in their ambitions and shrinking games pipelines. This is not as detrimental to earnings as it sounds: as in the music industry, back catalogues have a long shelf life. Patrick O’Donnell, analyst at Goodbody, reckons some 60 per cent of player engagement is in titles more than six years old.Besides, it still leaves ample footprints. Indie developer Team17, for example, bought Ireland-based StoryToys in 2021, bringing in the pre-schooler market. Others have diversified into educational games and simulated experiences, like train driving.