The 2025 State of the Game Industry Report

80 Percent of Game Devs Are Making Games for PC

The Game Developers Conference (GDC) unveiled a significant trend in its 2025 State of the Game Industry report on January 21, 2025: a staggering 80% of game developers are now focusing on creating games for PC. This annual survey, which gathers insights from developers worldwide, highlights the evolving trends, challenges, and opportunities within the gaming sector.

The report indicates a 14% increase from the previous year, where 66% of developers were targeting PC. GDC suggests that this shift might be influenced by the growing popularity of Valve's Steam Deck. Although the Steam Deck wasn't listed as a specific platform option in the survey, 44% of developers who selected 'Other' mentioned it as a platform they're interested in developing for.

Despite the rise of user-generated content (UGC) platforms like Roblox and Minecraft, and the anticipated release of the Switch 2, PC has maintained its status as the "dominant platform." This trend has been steadily increasing, from 56% in 2020 to 66% in 2024. If this continues, we can expect an even more extensive library of PC games. However, the upcoming Switch 2, with its enhanced graphics and performance, might slightly alter this trajectory.

One-Third of Triple A Devs Works On Live Service Games

The report also sheds light on the growing focus on live-service games, with one-third (33%) of AAA developers currently engaged in such projects. When expanded to all respondents, 16% are actively working on live-service titles, and 13% express interest in doing so. Conversely, 41% of developers are not interested in pursuing this model.

Developers who are keen on live-service games appreciate the financial and community-building benefits. However, those who are not interested cite concerns such as declining player interest, creative stagnation, predatory practices, microtransactions, and the risk of burnout. GDC points out that "market oversaturation" is a significant challenge, as maintaining a sustainable player base becomes increasingly difficult. Ubisoft's recent decision to shut down XDefiant just six months after its launch exemplifies these struggles.

Some Devs Underrepresented in GDC’s State of the Game Industry

On January 23, 2025, PC Gamer highlighted a notable issue with the GDC report: the underrepresentation of game developers from non-Western countries. Nearly 70% of the survey respondents hail from Western nations, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Notably absent are developers from China, a powerhouse in mobile gaming, and Japan.

This skewed representation might influence the report's findings, potentially not fully capturing the global state of the game industry. Understanding these biases is crucial for a comprehensive view of the industry's current landscape and future directions.