'Starfield' Devs Acknowledge Gamer Fatigue with Prolonged Gameplay

Are AAA Games Too Long? A Former Starfield Developer Weighs In

A former Bethesda developer, Will Shen (who worked on Starfield, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76), suggests player fatigue is growing with the abundance of lengthy AAA titles. His observation highlights a potential shift in player preference towards shorter gaming experiences.

Starfield, Bethesda's ambitious 2023 release and a massive open-world RPG, exemplifies the trend of exceptionally long games. While this formula has proven successful for Bethesda in the past (Skyrim being a prime example), Shen argues that the market may be reaching saturation. He points out that many players don't complete games exceeding ten hours, impacting overall engagement with the narrative and the game itself. In an interview with Kiwi Talkz (via Gamespot), Shen compared this trend to past industry shifts, citing Dark Souls' influence on popularizing challenging combat.

This saturation, according to Shen, is contributing to a resurgence of shorter games. He uses the indie horror title Mouthwashing as a case study, highlighting its success due, in part, to its concise playtime. He believes a longer version, laden with side quests, would have been less well-received.

Despite this growing preference for shorter experiences, longer games like Starfield remain prevalent. Bethesda's continued support for Starfield with DLC like Shattered Space (2024) and a rumored 2025 expansion indicates the studio's commitment to this model, at least for now. The debate continues: is the industry at a turning point, or will the appeal of extensive open-world RPGs endure?