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Web3, XR & Emerging Tech

Web3, XR & Emerging Tech

Blockchain, VR and AR, metaverse platforms and user-generated content.

62 documents

Cover of State of the Game Industry 2019

Game Developers Conference · 2019

State of the Game Industry 2019

The global game development landscape in 2019 reflects a period of significant structural and cultural transition. While PC remains the primary platform for development, the Nintendo Switch has emerged as a major point of interest, signaling a shift in hardware priorities. Despite these technical advancements, the industry faces persistent labor challenges, including widespread overtime and a workforce demographic that remains heavily skewed toward male professionals with less than ten years of experience. Growing support for unionization among developers highlights a collective desire to address these systemic working conditions and professional sustainability. Economic strategies are also evolving as developers move away from traditional monetization models. Interest in loot boxes and crowdfunding has cooled, with a majority of creators favoring self-funding and self-publishing. This financial independence is coupled with growing friction regarding digital storefronts, specifically the 30 percent revenue share model on Steam, which many developers now view as unjustifiable. Meanwhile, the industry remains divided on the future of immersive technology, though a notable minority anticipates that augmented reality will achieve dominance within a five-year window. Marketing and accessibility represent critical areas for improvement in the current development cycle. Developers increasingly rely on social media and word-of-mouth for game discovery, while live events are frequently cited as ineffective promotional channels. Furthermore, while the adoption of accessibility features remains low, with only about a quarter of projects incorporating such elements, there is a clear trend toward prioritizing inclusive design. Features such as customizable controls and colorblind support are becoming central to the development conversation, marking a gradual shift toward more equitable and accessible gaming experiences.

Cover of State of the Game Industry 2017

Game Developers Conference · 2017

State of the Game Industry 2017

The 2017 State of the Game Industry report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the global development landscape leading into the 31st Game Developers Conference. Based on a survey of over 4,500 professional game developers, the data primarily reflects the perspectives of "journeyman" creators in North America (67%) and Europe (22%), with the largest segment of respondents (37%) possessing three to six years of industry experience. The findings highlight a significant shift in the immersive technology sector, where the HTC Vive emerged as the leading platform for VR/AR development, surpassing the Oculus Rift in both current usage and future interest. While 61% of developers are not yet involved in VR, those who are have increasingly moved toward the Vive, which 40% of respondents expect to support for their next projects. Despite concerns regarding hardware costs and motion sickness—which affects 83% of developers to some degree—75% of the industry views VR and AR as a sustainable long-term business, with a plurality predicting that augmented reality will be the dominant immersive tech within twenty years. In the broader platform market, PC (53%) and mobile (38%) remain the primary targets for development. Notably, Android (54%) surpassed iOS (51%) in developer interest for the first time in the survey's history. Regarding consoles, developers expressed cautious optimism for the Nintendo Switch, with 50% predicting it will outsell the Wii U. However, the industry remains divided on mid-cycle hardware refreshes like the PS4 Pro and Project Scorpio; while only 5% view them negatively, 41% remain undecided about their impact on the traditional "fixed-spec" benefits of console development. Financially, the industry continues to lean toward independence, with 55% of projects funded by internal company resources and 54% of developers operating without a traditional publisher. Confidence in crowdfunding saw a slight decline, with 46% of respondents expressing no interest in the model. Conversely, confidence in eSports reached an all-time high, with 90% of developers affirming its long-term sustainability as it moves toward mainstream social acceptance.

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