„Making a good game is no longer enough.” Jason Schreier highlights the major industry problem facing all developers

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Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier recently wrote about a growing problem in the gaming industry. While 2025 promises a lot of exciting new games – potentially rivaling the strong lineup of 2018 – things aren’t looking good for the people who make those games.

September full of hits

According to Schreier, September 2025 is already shaping up to be an incredibly busy month for video game releases. Players are expecting both Hollow Knight: Silksong, after a seven-year wait, and the complete version of Hades II, both of which are predicted to be top contenders for game of the year. On top of those two major titles, several other exciting games are planned for release that month – including a new Borderlands game, a remake of Trails in the Sky, and installments in the Dying Light and Silent Hill series. This is just within a single month!

Too many good games

According to Schreier, the problem isn’t that there aren’t good games available-in fact, there are more great games now than ever before. SteamDB data shows nearly 18,626 new games launched on the platform in 2024, almost double the number from 2020. While many of these games received excellent reviews, they struggle to stand out due to the sheer volume of releases.

There’s been a surge in new games lately for a few key reasons: more people are playing games than ever before, it’s now much simpler and more affordable to create games, and getting started is relatively easy. In the past, you needed a publisher to get your game noticed and sold in stores. Now, because most games are sold online, anyone can create and share their game with the world.

New games face tough competition, not just from each other, but also from long-running, incredibly popular live service games. Titles like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and PUBG remain at the top of Steam’s most-played list, and games like League of Legends and those on Roblox draw in huge player bases as well.

Success is not guaranteed

According to Schreier, more than 120 games earned an average Metacritic score of 80 or higher in 2025. However, despite these positive reviews, many of them didn’t become widely popular. For instance, games like Wildgate and Sunderfolk, developed by Dreamhaven, received good scores but struggled to find a large audience.

The journalist argues that this problem doesn’t have an easy fix. Returning to a system where stores controlled what games were released would be a mistake. However, allowing anyone to create games has led to a wider and more innovative selection than ever before.

Gamers benefit from a huge range of choices and exciting experiences. However, it’s becoming harder for game creators to stand out. Launching a great game is no longer enough – developers now have to fight for players’ attention long after release.

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2025-09-29 12:03