The gaming industry has grown into one of the most influential cultural forces in the world, but beneath its glittering surface lies a growing threat. The danger isn’t just about market saturation or the rising costs of game development. It’s about something more fundamental: the loss of our gaming history and the erosion of creativity. If we don’t take action, we risk losing not just great games, but the stories and innovations that define this medium.
Then you had games like Metal Gear Solid, a series that was not only fun but tackled heavy themes like war, politics, and human ethics. Or BioShock, which brilliantly questioned the nature of free will and the cost of utopian dreams. Even Half-Life 2 managed to blend thrilling gameplay with a chilling story about oppression and resistance. These were games that did more than just keep us glued to our screens—they made us think, they sparked conversations, and they lingered with us long after the credits rolled.
Every era had its iconic lineup. Take 2005, for example—a year brimming with creativity and innovation. We got Resident Evil 4, which redefined survival horror; Devil May Cry 3, a masterclass in stylish action; Psychonauts, a charming and imaginative platformer; Shadow of the Colossus, a poetic exploration of loneliness and sacrifice; Fahrenheit (known as Indigo Prophecy in some regions), which blended cinematic storytelling with player choice; God of War, an adrenaline-pumping mythological epic; and Okami, a visually stunning adventure inspired by Japanese art and folklore. Each game was unique, leaving its own imprint on gaming history.
Jump ahead to 2015, and the hits kept coming. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt brought a sprawling, heartfelt narrative to open-world RPGs. Bloodborne refined the challenging yet rewarding gameplay of FromSoftware’s formula. Batman: Arkham Knight delivered a cinematic and gripping conclusion to the Arkham trilogy. Undertale flipped RPG conventions on their head with its quirky humor and deep emotional core. Even smaller titles like Rocket League proved that simplicity and fun could still dominate the industry.
Now, contrast those golden periods with the 2020s. Sure, there have been great games here and there, but can we really call this era iconic? It’s hard to think of a game that feels worth both our time and the $70 price tag without the nagging sense of cut corners or corporate meddling. Even when older games are remastered or remade, they often lose the spark that made them special. The joy and personality that you could feel radiating from the user interfaces and design choices of past games are often stripped away in favor of sterile, focus-group-approved aesthetics. The 2020s are starting to feel like the era of missed opportunities.
Fast-forward to today, and it feels like we’re losing that spark. Unlike books or films, video games are heavily tied to the technology they were created for. When consoles become obsolete or servers shut down, entire libraries of games can vanish overnight. Imagine losing the ability to watch a classic movie like The Godfather because VHS players no longer exist. Yet, this is exactly what happens with games.
Games like PT, the teaser for a canceled Silent Hill project, or online-only experiences like Marvel Heroes are already lost to time. If we don’t address these challenges, more pieces of gaming’s legacy could follow. Game preservation isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s about maintaining the foundation upon which the future of gaming is built.
The big companies in the gaming industry are making decisions that not only harm their own future but also impact the industry as a whole. The drive for profit has led many of them to take the wrong steps, and now they’re reaping what they sow.
At The Game Awards 2024, Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios, delivered a powerful reminder of what gaming could and should be. Reflecting on the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, he said, “We poured everything we had into this game because we believed players deserved more. Games should challenge us, inspire us, and leave a mark on us. But this can’t happen if we lose sight of why we make them in the first place.”
What makes Vincke’s words even more striking is the context in which they were spoken. Larian Studios has achieved massive success with Baldur’s Gate 3, a game hailed as a masterpiece and a commercial triumph. Vincke and his team are not directly threatened by the industry's struggles—they've proven that passion and creativity can still lead to incredible success. Yet, despite standing at the pinnacle of achievement, Vincke chose to speak out for the broader good of the industry.
It’s honestly so refreshing to see someone like Vincke use his platform for something bigger than just celebrating a win. He didn’t have to say anything. He could’ve just basked in the glory of Baldur’s Gate 3. But he didn’t, and that’s what makes his message hit so hard. We need more leaders like him—people who are willing to step up and fight for what’s right in gaming, even when they’re on top of the world.
The gaming industry is at a crossroads. It’s tempting to let nostalgia and creativity take a backseat to profit, but doing so would mean losing the very soul of gaming. As players, we have the power to demand better. As creators, there’s an obligation to protect what has been built.
Big companies like Ubisoft and EA are steering the ship toward an iceberg. Their repeated mistakes—focusing on profit over innovation, cutting jobs, and ignoring what gamers truly want—are driving the industry into a state of stagnation and decline. But we, the players, have the power to change this. By supporting indie developers, preserving games, and pushing for better practices, we can help steer the industry away from disaster.
We should help indie makers more than ever. Indie developers are where the true magic of gaming is thriving, and they need our support to survive in an industry dominated by large corporations. If we continue to stand by and watch these companies make the wrong decisions, we’ll be complicit in sinking this industry. We have a chance to make a difference—to preserve the games we love and ensure that gaming remains an art form and a cultural milestone for generations to come.
In the hardware world, consoles are slowly fading out. Xbox has already made its move, shifting focus from being just another console manufacturer to becoming a service-based platform. Their future seems to lie in Xbox Game Pass and cloud gaming, signaling the end of the traditional console wars. Xbox is planning a complete reboot of its business model, positioning itself more as a subscription service than an independent gaming system.
On the other hand, PlayStation is walking on eggshells. Their strategy has long been about offering exclusive, top-tier experiences, but with the rise of services and subscription-based gaming, they risk falling behind if they don’t evolve. PlayStation’s leadership position could be threatened if they don’t adapt to the changing market.
The one company that seems to be thriving in this uncertain landscape is Nintendo. Despite the challenges, Nintendo has kept itself relevant, especially with the success of the Switch, a hybrid console that offers both handheld and traditional console gaming experiences. However, the flaws of the Switch—including hardware limitations and performance issues—have left Nintendo trailing behind its competitors in recent years. If Nintendo doesn’t properly execute the next iteration of the Switch, they might find themselves facing the same struggles that Sony and Microsoft are already dealing with. The clock is ticking, and the company needs to make its next move carefully to maintain its position in the market.
We are witnessing a massive shift in how games are played and consumed. If the major players in the industry don’t adapt quickly, they could face irrelevance. The pressure is on, and the gaming community has the power to influence the direction of this change. We must demand more, support the right causes, and protect the legacy of the games we love.
Swen Vincke’s message at TGA 2024 is a call to action: to remember that games are more than products—they’re an art form, a cultural milestone, and a shared experience worth preserving for generations to come.
The Call for Preservation
Let’s be real: gaming today is barely holding onto the magic it once had. Back in the 2000s, gaming felt like the Wild West—a golden age where studios were filled with passionate developers making games for fun first and profit second. It wasn’t just about selling millions of copies; it was about creating something meaningful, something that sent a message. Think about the quirky charm of Katamari Damacy or the emotional depth of Shadow of the Colossus. Those games didn’t just entertain us; they left a mark on us.Then you had games like Metal Gear Solid, a series that was not only fun but tackled heavy themes like war, politics, and human ethics. Or BioShock, which brilliantly questioned the nature of free will and the cost of utopian dreams. Even Half-Life 2 managed to blend thrilling gameplay with a chilling story about oppression and resistance. These were games that did more than just keep us glued to our screens—they made us think, they sparked conversations, and they lingered with us long after the credits rolled.
Every era had its iconic lineup. Take 2005, for example—a year brimming with creativity and innovation. We got Resident Evil 4, which redefined survival horror; Devil May Cry 3, a masterclass in stylish action; Psychonauts, a charming and imaginative platformer; Shadow of the Colossus, a poetic exploration of loneliness and sacrifice; Fahrenheit (known as Indigo Prophecy in some regions), which blended cinematic storytelling with player choice; God of War, an adrenaline-pumping mythological epic; and Okami, a visually stunning adventure inspired by Japanese art and folklore. Each game was unique, leaving its own imprint on gaming history.
Jump ahead to 2015, and the hits kept coming. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt brought a sprawling, heartfelt narrative to open-world RPGs. Bloodborne refined the challenging yet rewarding gameplay of FromSoftware’s formula. Batman: Arkham Knight delivered a cinematic and gripping conclusion to the Arkham trilogy. Undertale flipped RPG conventions on their head with its quirky humor and deep emotional core. Even smaller titles like Rocket League proved that simplicity and fun could still dominate the industry.
Now, contrast those golden periods with the 2020s. Sure, there have been great games here and there, but can we really call this era iconic? It’s hard to think of a game that feels worth both our time and the $70 price tag without the nagging sense of cut corners or corporate meddling. Even when older games are remastered or remade, they often lose the spark that made them special. The joy and personality that you could feel radiating from the user interfaces and design choices of past games are often stripped away in favor of sterile, focus-group-approved aesthetics. The 2020s are starting to feel like the era of missed opportunities.
Fast-forward to today, and it feels like we’re losing that spark. Unlike books or films, video games are heavily tied to the technology they were created for. When consoles become obsolete or servers shut down, entire libraries of games can vanish overnight. Imagine losing the ability to watch a classic movie like The Godfather because VHS players no longer exist. Yet, this is exactly what happens with games.
Games like PT, the teaser for a canceled Silent Hill project, or online-only experiences like Marvel Heroes are already lost to time. If we don’t address these challenges, more pieces of gaming’s legacy could follow. Game preservation isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s about maintaining the foundation upon which the future of gaming is built.
What Did Companies Do Wrong?
The big companies in the gaming industry are making decisions that not only harm their own future but also impact the industry as a whole. The drive for profit has led many of them to take the wrong steps, and now they’re reaping what they sow.
- Lack of Innovation and Over-Reliance on Safe Bets: Companies like EA and Ubisoft have fallen into the trap of churning out annual sequels with minimal changes. Instead of pushing creative boundaries, they focus on making slight updates to already successful formulas. This strategy might make money in the short term, but does nothing to advance the medium or satisfy the growing demand for fresh ideas.
- Microtransactions and Monetization: Many AAA games today are filled with microtransactions, loot boxes, and battle passes. What used to be a game you could purchase and enjoy has turned into an endless money machine. Even games with a price tag of $60–$70 still demand additional payments for skins, characters, and other content. This shift away from player-focused experiences and toward corporate greed is pushing players away, while profits come at the cost of consumer trust.
- Mass Layoffs: The focus on profits over people is also leading to massive layoffs across the industry. Companies are cutting jobs to save costs while continuing to release lackluster products, often sacrificing the quality of the games and the well-being of their employees. This toxic cycle continues as they push their workforce to create "next-gen" games under impossible deadlines, with developers often treated like disposable resources.
- Unreal Engine 5 and its Impact on Development: Unreal Engine 5, despite being a powerful tool for creating cutting-edge visuals, is not without its issues. One of the most problematic features is its TAA (Temporal Anti-Aliasing), which introduces noticeable blurring and ghosting effects, ultimately ruining the sharpness and clarity of visuals in many games. On top of that, the engine’s performance is often sluggish and unstable, especially on mid-tier systems. This creates a subpar gaming experience, where frame rates drop, and stability issues make it hard to enjoy the game at its best. Developers are being forced to use a technology that looks great on paper but is proving to be a liability when it comes to real-world performance.
- Neglecting Gamers' Needs and Feedback: Major companies like EA and Ubisoft have repeatedly ignored the feedback of their fan bases. Whether it's through forcing microtransactions into every corner of a game or neglecting essential quality-of-life improvements, they continue to prioritize profit over player satisfaction. Gamers want to feel heard, and when companies disregard that, they risk alienating loyal audiences. Instead of listening to what gamers want, they double down on failed strategies.
Creativity Under Threat
The industry's focus on financial returns has also started to stifle creativity. AAA publishers increasingly rely on sequels, remakes, and microtransactions to minimize risk, leaving little room for innovation. This model prioritizes short-term gains but sacrifices the long-term health of the medium.At The Game Awards 2024, Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios, delivered a powerful reminder of what gaming could and should be. Reflecting on the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, he said, “We poured everything we had into this game because we believed players deserved more. Games should challenge us, inspire us, and leave a mark on us. But this can’t happen if we lose sight of why we make them in the first place.”
What makes Vincke’s words even more striking is the context in which they were spoken. Larian Studios has achieved massive success with Baldur’s Gate 3, a game hailed as a masterpiece and a commercial triumph. Vincke and his team are not directly threatened by the industry's struggles—they've proven that passion and creativity can still lead to incredible success. Yet, despite standing at the pinnacle of achievement, Vincke chose to speak out for the broader good of the industry.
It’s honestly so refreshing to see someone like Vincke use his platform for something bigger than just celebrating a win. He didn’t have to say anything. He could’ve just basked in the glory of Baldur’s Gate 3. But he didn’t, and that’s what makes his message hit so hard. We need more leaders like him—people who are willing to step up and fight for what’s right in gaming, even when they’re on top of the world.
Are Gamers Part of the Problem?
Here’s the hard truth: we, the players, are part of the problem. Our engagement with season passes, microtransactions, and battle passes has fed into the industry’s worst tendencies. Look at Overwatch. Sure, loot boxes were scummy, but at least you could earn them by playing the game. Now, in Overwatch 2, everything costs money. Even worse, Blizzard hides the skins you can buy with earned credits behind premium options, making you feel like nothing is available for free. This bait-and-switch tactic pushes players toward spending real money. By tolerating these practices, we’re encouraging more of them.What Can Be Done?
Taking a stand begins with awareness. Gamers, developers, and industry leaders need to prioritize game preservation and demand accountability from companies. Here are some practical steps:- Support Preservation Efforts: Organizations like the Video Game History Foundation work tirelessly to save gaming’s legacy. Supporting such initiatives can make a significant difference. One such initiative is GOG's (Good Old Games) efforts to preserve classic titles. GOG has made it their mission to not only offer DRM-free versions of older games but also to ensure that these games remain playable on modern systems. By supporting GOG, we can ensure that our gaming history is not lost to time and that titles from the past are still accessible for future generations.
- Stop Killing Games in Europe: In Europe, a number of games are at risk of being erased due to copyright and legal issues, as well as various licensing restrictions. The situation is dire when countries in Europe, with their own regulations, restrict or even remove access to these games. Supporting organizations and advocacy groups fighting to keep these games alive in European markets is crucial to preserving the international legacy of gaming.
- Advocate for Better Practices: Gamers can push companies to make their titles accessible. Digital storefronts should ensure older games remain available and playable on modern platforms. Instead of removing access to legacy games, companies can focus on keeping these titles available as a testament to the past.
- Encourage Unionization: Thinking about the recent actors’ strike and how it led to better working conditions and standards in the film industry, it’s clear that unionization could have a similar impact in gaming. Developers, especially those in AAA studios, are under immense pressure to deliver blockbuster titles with grueling deadlines. A union strike might seem drastic, but it could pave the way for a healthier, more sustainable industry. If the signs aren’t clear already, a second gaming crash could be looming—and it won’t be pretty.
- Prioritize Indie Developers: Indie games are often where the true magic of gaming still thrives. Supporting indie developers can bring fresh ideas to the forefront and shift the focus away from the hyper-polished, movie-like experiences that AAA studios keep chasing. Let’s face it: nobody really cares how realistic hair or eyes look if the game itself runs at 30fps on current-gen consoles and lacks soul. Instead, we want that old magic back—the kind of charm that made past games iconic, only now enhanced by the modern tools and technologies that make development easier.
- Create and Share: Developers should consider releasing tools, assets, or emulated versions of older games to ensure they survive even as technology evolves.
A Collective Responsibility
The gaming industry is at a crossroads. It’s tempting to let nostalgia and creativity take a backseat to profit, but doing so would mean losing the very soul of gaming. As players, we have the power to demand better. As creators, there’s an obligation to protect what has been built.
Big companies like Ubisoft and EA are steering the ship toward an iceberg. Their repeated mistakes—focusing on profit over innovation, cutting jobs, and ignoring what gamers truly want—are driving the industry into a state of stagnation and decline. But we, the players, have the power to change this. By supporting indie developers, preserving games, and pushing for better practices, we can help steer the industry away from disaster.
We should help indie makers more than ever. Indie developers are where the true magic of gaming is thriving, and they need our support to survive in an industry dominated by large corporations. If we continue to stand by and watch these companies make the wrong decisions, we’ll be complicit in sinking this industry. We have a chance to make a difference—to preserve the games we love and ensure that gaming remains an art form and a cultural milestone for generations to come.
In the hardware world, consoles are slowly fading out. Xbox has already made its move, shifting focus from being just another console manufacturer to becoming a service-based platform. Their future seems to lie in Xbox Game Pass and cloud gaming, signaling the end of the traditional console wars. Xbox is planning a complete reboot of its business model, positioning itself more as a subscription service than an independent gaming system.
On the other hand, PlayStation is walking on eggshells. Their strategy has long been about offering exclusive, top-tier experiences, but with the rise of services and subscription-based gaming, they risk falling behind if they don’t evolve. PlayStation’s leadership position could be threatened if they don’t adapt to the changing market.
The one company that seems to be thriving in this uncertain landscape is Nintendo. Despite the challenges, Nintendo has kept itself relevant, especially with the success of the Switch, a hybrid console that offers both handheld and traditional console gaming experiences. However, the flaws of the Switch—including hardware limitations and performance issues—have left Nintendo trailing behind its competitors in recent years. If Nintendo doesn’t properly execute the next iteration of the Switch, they might find themselves facing the same struggles that Sony and Microsoft are already dealing with. The clock is ticking, and the company needs to make its next move carefully to maintain its position in the market.
We are witnessing a massive shift in how games are played and consumed. If the major players in the industry don’t adapt quickly, they could face irrelevance. The pressure is on, and the gaming community has the power to influence the direction of this change. We must demand more, support the right causes, and protect the legacy of the games we love.
Swen Vincke’s message at TGA 2024 is a call to action: to remember that games are more than products—they’re an art form, a cultural milestone, and a shared experience worth preserving for generations to come.
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RE4
