GameWatcher / A new year of gaming – what to expect in 2025
The article from GameWatcher discusses the anticipated trends and challenges in the gaming industry for 2025. The gaming sector, with over 3 billion gamers worldwide, faced significant hurdles in the past two years, including the rise of AI in game design, a global economic crisis, and skyrocketing costs of game production and promotion. These challenges led to widespread cost-cutting measures, such as layoffs. However, 2025 is seen as a year of recovery for the industry.
One of the key points highlighted is the sustainability crisis faced by AAA games due to their enormous budgets. For instance, three games from the Call of Duty series reportedly cost between $450-$700 million each, and Spider-Man 2 surpassed $300 million. The article notes, “These insanely large budgets need an even greater ROI.” This has led to a shift towards more sustainable production models, with companies like Sony moving away from live-service versions of their flagship titles.
The article also emphasizes the resilience of the indie gaming scene, which continues to thrive with innovative ideas and strong community interaction. Titles like Palworld and Nine Sols have become top sellers, demonstrating the potential of indie games to outperform AAA titles.
Additionally, the article discusses the growing accessibility and affordability of VR/AR technology, which is expected to rise significantly in value by 2032. This technological advancement is likely to shape the future of gaming, making immersive experiences more widespread.
If you would like to see the details, check the article out here: https://www.gamewatcher.com/news/a-new-year-of-gaming-what-to-expect-in-2025
