Starfield Developer Says Players Are Sick of Long Games

Former Bethesda developer Will Shen, a veteran who worked on titles like Starfield, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76, has voiced concerns about the increasing length of AAA games. He suggests player fatigue is setting in due to the sheer time commitment required by many modern titles.

Shen's comments follow the 2023 release of Starfield, Bethesda's first new IP in 25 years, a sprawling open-world RPG echoing the extensive playtime of previous successes like Skyrim. While the game's length contributed to its success, Shen observes a growing segment of gamers preferring shorter experiences.

In an interview with Kiwi Talkz (via Gamespot), Shen highlighted a growing player weariness towards games boasting dozens of hours of content. He argues that the market is saturated, making it difficult for another lengthy title to stand out. He points to the success of Skyrim as a contributing factor to the prevalence of "evergreen" games, comparing this trend to the impact of Dark Souls on the popularity of challenging third-person combat. He emphasizes that completion rates for games exceeding 10 hours are low, impacting overall player engagement with the narrative and overall product.

Shen connects this player fatigue to a resurgence of shorter games. He cites the success of Mouthwashing, an indie horror title, as an example, emphasizing its short playtime as a key factor in its positive reception. He posits that extending Mouthwashing's length with additional side quests would have negatively impacted its overall success.

Despite the growing preference for shorter games, Shen acknowledges the continued popularity of longer titles. Bethesda's continued support for Starfield with DLC like Shattered Space (2024) and a rumored 2025 expansion underscores this trend. The industry, therefore, seems poised for a continued coexistence of both short and long-form gaming experiences.