Summary

• Players are growing tired of long AAA games with dozens of hours of content, according to a former Starfield developer.
• The rise of shorter games could be a consequence of the saturation of the AAA sector with lengthy games.
• Longer games like Starfield are still prevalent in the industry.

Will Shen, a former Bethesda developer who worked on Starfield, has shared his insights on the current trend of modern games being "too long." He believes that players are experiencing "fatigue" due to the significant time investment required. Shen's extensive experience in the industry includes working on multiple AAA titles, such as Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, in addition to Starfield.

With the release of Starfield in 2023, Bethesda introduced fans to its first new IP in 25 years, another expansive open-world RPG filled with countless hours of content. This approach aligns with Bethesda's successful formula seen in previous titles like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. While many players relish the vast array of activities available in such games, as evidenced by Starfield's successful launch, there is also a growing segment of the gaming community that prefers shorter, more focused experiences. Shen's recent comments on this trend have sparked discussions about the length of AAA games.

In an interview with Kiwi Talkz (via Gamespot), Shen stated that the gaming industry is "reaching a point" where a "large section" of players are feeling overwhelmed by games that require dozens of hours to complete. He highlighted that the market is already saturated with such titles, describing it as a "tall order" to introduce yet another lengthy game. Reflecting on past trends, Shen noted how the success of games like Skyrim led to the normalization of "evergreen games." As the former Starfield Lead Quest Designer who departed from Bethesda in late 2023, he drew parallels to other influential trends, such as the popularity of high-difficulty combat in third-person games following Dark Souls. Shen also pointed out that most players do not finish games that last over 10 hours, emphasizing that completing a game is crucial for "engagement with the story and the product."

Starfield Dev Discusses Long Games, Highlights the Demand for Shorter Experiences

Shen discussed the impact of the AAA sector's saturation with long games, suggesting that it has contributed to the "resurgence" of shorter games. He cited the example of Mouthwashing, an indie horror game, noting its success partly due to its concise runtime of just a few hours. Shen argued that the game's reception would have been different if it had been extended with numerous side quests and additional content.

Despite the increasing popularity of shorter gaming experiences, long-form games remain a dominant force in the industry. This was evident with the release of Starfield's highly anticipated DLC, Shattered Space, in 2024, which added even more content to the already expansive base game. Rumors also suggest that Bethesda may release another Starfield expansion in 2025, indicating that the trend of long games is likely to continue.