PS5, Switch Game Dev Takes a Back Seat as 80% of Devs Focus on PC

The 2025 Game Developers Conference (GDC) State of the Game Industry report highlights a significant shift in development focus. Let's delve into the key findings.

PC Dominance: A Growing Trend

The report reveals a striking 80% of game developers are prioritizing PC as their primary development platform – a substantial 14% increase from the previous year's 66%. While the exact reasons remain unclear, the report suggests the rising popularity of Valve's Steam Deck may be a contributing factor. Although not explicitly listed as a development platform in the survey, a significant portion (44%) of those who selected "Other" specified the Steam Deck as a target platform.

This trend builds upon previous years, with PC's dominance steadily increasing from 56% in 2020. The continued growth suggests a substantial expansion of the PC gaming library in the coming years. However, the upcoming release of the Switch 2 with its enhanced capabilities could potentially moderate this trend.

Live Service Games: A Mixed Bag

The report also sheds light on the prevalence of live service games. A third (33%) of AAA developers are currently working on such titles, while 16% of all respondents are involved, and another 13% express interest. Conversely, 41% are not interested, citing concerns like declining player engagement, creative limitations, potentially exploitative monetization practices, and developer burnout. GDC emphasizes the issue of market saturation, with many struggling to maintain a sustainable player base, as evidenced by recent high-profile game closures.

Geographic Representation: A Point of Consideration

A subsequent report by PC Gamer raises concerns about the geographic representation within the GDC survey. Nearly 70% of respondents are from Western countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia), with notable underrepresentation from regions like China and Japan. This imbalance could potentially introduce bias into the findings and limit the report's ability to reflect the global game development landscape accurately.

In conclusion, the GDC report offers valuable insights into current trends, but acknowledges potential limitations due to sampling bias. The clear dominance of PC development and the complex dynamics surrounding live service games are key takeaways.