Free Games Take Over

Free Games Are Changing the Game: Is it Hurting the Industry?

Let’s talk about something obvious, but stick with me. I’ve been writing about video games lately. I wanted to figure out what’s working and what’s not in the gaming world. After Sony’s State of Play event, many online folks felt PlayStation and Xbox are struggling. Some even said they are running out of new games this generation.

Free-to-Play: A Blessing and a Curse?

Actually, I don’t totally agree with that. Microsoft has a strong lineup coming in 2025. However, one big problem facing games today is free titles. Don’t get me wrong, free games are great in some ways. They let families with less money enjoy video games. But, game companies are now chasing big player numbers for their expensive games. They hope to get numbers like popular free games, such as Marvel Rivals.

Millions Playing For Free

Look at Steam right now. Check out the most popular games being played. Steamdb shows the top 15 games. Two of these aren’t really games. One is just for getting items to sell. That leaves 12 real games. Amazingly, eight of these are free. Even the top five games are mostly free-to-play.

Why Are Free Games So Popular?

So, what does this tell us? First, game developers have created really fun gameplay. These games keep players hooked with constant updates and changes. This is the live-service style. Second, players can find tons of fun without spending any money. Sure, you can buy cool outfits and items if you want. But, the main game is completely free.

Tough Competition for Paid Games

Because of this, any new paid game faces a huge challenge. Of course, there will always be room for big-budget games you buy. However, the game market has changed a lot in the last few years. Also, people’s budgets are tighter now. Why pay $60-70 for one game you finish? Instead, you can play free games with friends for unlimited hours.

Sony’s Live Service Gamble Failed

In my opinion, this is a major issue for game companies. Think about Sony. They tried to make live service games, but it didn’t work out well. For example, they made Concord. This game aimed for the same players who like Fortnite or Counter Strike 2. But, they charged $40 for it. It didn’t take off like they wanted.

Are Millions of Sales Enough Anymore?

Nowadays, there’s too much pressure on games to get millions of players at once or break sales records. We saw this with Dragon Age: Veilguard. It sold well but was seen as less successful. This was because it didn’t grab everyone’s attention. Big bosses only look at numbers going up. They don’t see the reasons why things are changing. Also, many people can only buy games on sale or much later because of money issues. Game companies often miss this. It’s great if a game sells fast at launch. Yet, many gamers can’t afford that now and must wait. Games can become hits later on, but bosses don’t always think long-term.

Hope for Single Player Games

But, games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance II show something good. Big single-player games can still do well. There’s room for both types of games: free online games and story-driven paid games. However, we need to realize something. In a world full of free online games, most paid games (maybe except GTA VI) won’t sell millions like before. And importantly, selling over a million copies is still good! It’s not a failure. The real question is: how can paid games compete with free games?