Starfield Developer Says Players Are Sick of Long Games

A former Starfield developer, Will Shen, has voiced concerns about the increasing fatigue among players regarding the length of modern AAA games. Shen, a veteran of Bethesda with experience on titles like Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, suggests player burnout stems from the significant time investment required by many current releases.

Starfield itself, Bethesda's first new IP in 25 years, exemplifies this trend. While its extensive content contributed to a successful launch, it also highlights a growing preference among some players for shorter gaming experiences. Shen, in an interview with Kiwi Talkz (via Gamespot), stated that a significant portion of gamers are tiring of games boasting dozens of hours of gameplay. He argued that the market is saturated with such titles, making it challenging for another lengthy game to stand out. He cited the success of games like Skyrim as contributing to the normalization of "evergreen" titles, comparing this trend to the impact of Dark Souls on the popularity of challenging third-person combat. He further emphasized that most players don't complete games exceeding ten hours, highlighting the importance of completion for story engagement and overall product satisfaction.

This saturation of lengthy AAA games, Shen contends, has fueled a resurgence in shorter games. He points to the success of Mouthwashing, a popular indie horror title, as a prime example. The game's relatively short playtime was a key factor in its positive reception; Shen believes a longer version with added side quests and filler content would have been less well-received.

Despite the growing popularity of shorter games, longer titles like Starfield, with its 2024 DLC Shattered Space and a rumored 2025 expansion, appear to remain a significant part of the gaming landscape. The industry, therefore, seems poised for a continued coexistence of both lengthy and concise gaming experiences.