Bigger is not always better Premium gaming’s AA opportunity
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20,000 foot view
Following the post-pandemic slowdown of global games revenue growth, cost-cutting measures are now in full force. However, games continue to grow in scope and length with budgets often exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars, while growth and profitability are increasingly challenging to achieve. Yet, in a market where many are so focused on producing the next megahit, smaller games like Helldivers 2, Palworld, and Stellar Blade have been some of the best-selling and most-talked-about titles in 2024. As the games market’s period of efficiency is underway, there is a major case to be made for efficiency via content. Are ‘blockbuster’ AAA games still the best way to grow? Do players complete these games? Do they even have the time to? And are publishers leaving profit on the table by continuing to make giant, sprawling games? This report answers these questions and explores how making smaller games can be beneficial to both game makers and gamers.
Key data and insights included in this report:
- Average monthly spending on premium games – all gamers, console, and PC
- Yearly average income – all gamers, console, and PC
- Average weekly gaming – all gamers, console, PC, and mobile
- Trophy / achievement story completion data for Diablo IV, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Baldur’s Gate 3 (from the front-end interfaces of PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam) and completion time data from HowLongToBeat
Unless stated otherwise, all survey data is based on MIDiA Research Consumer Survey Q4 2023, fielded in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Sweden, South Korea, and Brazil. Data includes breakdown by all gamers, mobile, console, and PC.
Table of contents:
Number of pages: 16
Number of words: 3447
Number of infographics: 3
Key insights
Figure 1: Are development assets better allocated elsewhere?
Figure 2: The time spent consideration
Figure 3: Income and spending dynamics
Implications
Companies and brands mentioned:Assassin’s Creed 2, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Balatro, Bowser’s Fury, Grand Theft Auto, Helldivers 2, Hi-Fi Rush, Hogwarts Legacy, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Pentiment, PlayStation, Starfield, Stellar Blade, Super Mario, The Last of Us, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,Uncharted, Valve, Xbox