Fans Are Tired of 100 Hour Long Games, Says Former Starfield Dev

Expert Verified By

"Most People Don't Finish Games 10-Plus Hours In Length"

Story Highlight
  • The former Starfield lead quest director has discussed his thoughts on long games in the industry.
  • He states that audiences are no longer as interested in playing bigger and bigger games.
  • The developer states that short games are currently going through a resurgence for this reason.

The gaming industry faces many problems today. Whether it be rising budgets or layoffs across various studios, the industry is not without its problems. However, one problem is often ignored compared to the rest.

As gaming has become more popular, studios have shifted their focus to producing longer and longer games. It seems this will not work for too long, with a prominent developer suggesting fans are growing tired of long games.

Why it matters: The average AAA release is much longer than it used to be. This is also why budgets are bigger than ever.

In a recent interview, former Bethesda developer Will Shen noted that audiences are quickly becoming tired of bigger and bigger games. He also acknowledged that his past titles, including Skyrim and Fallout 4, played a role in popularizing the trend of bigger and bigger games.

As per Will Shen, audiences are less interested in spending 30 to 100 hours on a game today. He believes this is the reason more compact experiences are seeing a resurgence today.

A large section of the audience is becoming fatigued at investing 30-plus hours into a game.

-Will Shen

Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 Is One of The Longest Games Released In Recent Years

The Starfield lead quest designer believes this is one reason why games like Mouthwashing have been received so well recently.

In the past, an executive like Shawn Layden has made similar points. Insiders also believe the industry will eventually focus more on shorter experiences. Highlighting this point further, a compact tile like Astro Bot recently won Game of The Year.

Still, there is certainly a market for longer games. This is why many are so excited about GTA 6 and various future RPGs that offer similarly lengthy experiences. What are your thoughts on the developer’s statement?

Do you agree? Let us know in the comments, or share more of your thoughts on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Epic Games CEO Admits Its Launcher Is Clunky And Harder To Use Compared To Steam

The Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney, has admitted that its launcher is lacking in convenience and quality-of-life features compared to Steam.

Ex-Bungie Devs Working On Upcoming ‘Ambitious Incubation Project’ Under New PlayStation Studio teamLFG

PlayStation has announced a new studio, teamLFG, made up of former Bungie developers. They are allegedly developing the project Gummy Bears.

MagMouse: The World’s First Magnetically Attachable Wireless Mouse with Built-In Fast-Charging Cable

MagMouse is the world’s first magnetically attachable wireless mouse with built-in fast charging, and up to 80-day battery life.

G.SKILL To Unveil Cutting-Edge Memory and Overclocking Events at Computex 2025

Discover G.SKILL’s latest DDR5 memory, live overclocking competitions, and elite custom PC builds at Computex 2025.

EA Rejects Raising Game Prices Despite Xbox And Nintendo Moving Forward With $80 Price Tags

EA CEO Andrew Wilson and CFO Stuart Canfield have clarified in a new earnings call that the company won't be raising its game pricing yet.