“Is Gaming’s Downfall the Players’ Fault? Perspectives from the Community”

A reader contends that numerous issues in the gaming industry stem from gamers’ reluctance to explore new titles, choosing digital purchases over physical ones.

The possible downturn in gaming can largely be attributed to (casual) gamers, in my view. I acknowledge that this is not a provocative statement, yet allow me to explain.

A significant number of individuals who play video games tend to stick to the same game or its latest version each year. This results in newer or more creative and engaging games missing out on sales revenue, leading studios to be far less inclined to invest in these projects going forward.

If it’s not another EA Sports FC title or Call Of Duty, many players show little interest in exploring other options. To be fair, the profits studios gain from these titles allow them to invest in different projects, yet most prefer to release similar products, albeit with minor updates, and then repeat this cycle annually.

While successful in their own regard, consider if some of this year’s more groundbreaking games, such as Unicorn Overlord or Metaphor: ReFantazio, received the same attention as those annual update games. Yes, other titles occasionally break through the monotony, like Black Myth: Wukong, but many do not.

Nevertheless, the more pressing issue, in my opinion, is that gamers have readily accepted digital gaming, despite it offering far greater advantages to publishers than to the gamers themselves. This culture of instant gratification has led many to exhibit a lack of patience. Why are individuals so eager to experience the new single-player game the moment it is released or even pre-download it to avoid missing out on those precious initial minutes of play?

Furthermore, what advantages does it provide? Not having to rise from the couch to swap discs? Finding storage for the games? I can see the value of digital gaming for older titles from previous generations of consoles, which can be challenging to obtain, or for Indie games; however, for AAA or even AA titles, I do not understand it. I realize that my perspective might not align with the majority.

Another advantage of physical games is that typically, at launch, I can purchase newer titles for $20-$30 (AUD) less in physical form than through digital storefronts. Shouldn’t it be the opposite since the digital edition is less expensive for the publisher?

Even during recent Black Friday promotions, I observed significantly better discounts for physical versions of new games compared to digital. If all physical releases ceased, publishers would have less motivation to lower prices on their digital offerings due to reduced competition, resulting in gamers ultimately losing out.

Excluding those always-online single-player titles, or those that necessitate a connection the first time they are played/installed (I’m looking at you Ubisoft), physical games also guarantee continuous access to the game, allowing for play, which we have recently learned is not consistently true for digital titles.

Thus, this acceptance of digital gaming, despite appearing convenient for many at present, could potentially diminish players’ control over their gaming experiences in the future.

And the less commented upon how game subscription services may influence the long-term variety of titles available, the better. However, many people embrace this model because it currently appears to be a good deal for them. I understand that for some, particularly those on a budget, it may be their only opportunity to experience a range of games throughout the year.

To conclude, I believe that if gamers do not wish for the video game industry to face decline in the future, some of the decisions being made today may require reevaluation.

By reader Sigmar

The opinions expressed in reader features do not necessarily reflect those of GameCentral or Metro.

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