cormack12
Gold Member
Indie games break out in success
2024 saw indie games achieving significant commercial success, with smaller teams competing effectively against large studios. Titles such as Pal World gained massive traction, significantly outpacing traditional games in sales.
Layoffs and studio closures
The year was marred by widespread layoffs, with over 72,000 gaming industry workers losing their jobs in early 2024 alone. This downward trend raised concerns about the industry's long-term health and the future quality of game development.
Xbox's strategic shift
Xbox appeared to abandon its console-first approach, moving towards a multiplatform model, which was met with mixed reactions from its community. This change was part of a broader industry reevaluation of business models in face of disappointing sales and reception.
Live service games struggle
The year was marked by the failure of several live service games, including Suicide Squad and Concord, viewed as some of the largest flops in gaming. This has led to a reevaluation of the live service model across the industry.
Future of gaming and trends
2024 highlighted an uncertain future, with major publishers like Ubisoft and EA needing to rethink their strategies amid disappointing releases and revenue losses. The rise of gacha-style monetization is poised to replace the live service model as companies seek out more reliable profit avenues.