80% of Game Developers Prioritize PC Over PS5, Switch

Dive into the latest trends reshaping the game industry with GDC’s 2025 State of the Game Industry report, which highlights a significant shift towards PC gaming.

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 striking trend in its 2025 State of the Game Industry report on January 21, 2025: a whopping 80% of game developers are now focusing their efforts on PC gaming. This annual survey, which captures the pulse of the global game development community, sheds light on the evolving trends, challenges, and opportunities within the industry.

The report indicates a significant uptick from last year, with PC gaming now capturing the attention of 80% of developers, up from 66%. "This increase could be influenced by the growing popularity of Valve’s Steam Deck," the report suggests. Although the Steam Deck wasn't listed as a primary platform, it was mentioned by 44% of developers who selected 'Other' as a platform of interest.

Historically, PC has been recognized as the "dominant platform" in the industry, even amidst the rise of user-generated content (UGC) platforms like Roblox and Minecraft, and the anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch successor, known as the Switch 2. The trend has seen a steady rise, moving from 56% in 2020 to 66% in 2024, and now to 80% in 2025.

Should this trend continue, we can expect an even more expansive PC game library in the future. However, the upcoming Switch 2, with its enhanced graphical and performance capabilities, might slightly alter this trajectory.

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

The report also delves into the realm of live-service games, noting that a third (33%) of AAA developers are currently engaged in developing such titles. When expanded to all respondents, 16% are working on live-service games, while another 13% express interest in this area. Conversely, 41% of developers have no interest in pursuing live-service games.

Developers who are keen on live-service models appreciate the financial and community-building advantages. Yet, those who are not interested point to concerns such as waning player interest, creative stagnation, predatory monetization practices, and the potential for burnout.

GDC also highlighted "market oversaturation" as a critical challenge facing live-service games, with developers struggling to sustain a viable player base. A case in point is Ubisoft, which faced setbacks with the early shutdown of XDefiant, merely six months post-launch.

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

An article from PC Gamer on January 23, 2025, pointed out the underrepresentation of developers from non-Western countries in the GDC’s latest report. Nearly 70% of the respondents hail from Western countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Notably absent from the survey are developers from China, a powerhouse in mobile gaming, and Japan.

This skewed demographic might influence the report’s findings, potentially not fully capturing the global landscape of the game industry. Understanding these nuances is crucial for a comprehensive view of the trends and dynamics at play in the world of game development.