[Jason Schreier/Bloomberg] The Video-Game Industry Has a Problem: There Are Too Many Games

[Gizmo_Duck]

Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier.bsky.social)

Too many games...

bsky.app

Over the past few years, the video-game industry has faced a difficult contraction period during which companies have laid off thousands of employees due to flattened growth. There have been many reasons for this shift, such as huge, Covid-era investments that didn't pan out. But one problem stands above the rest — there are too many video games.

In 2024, a staggering 18,626 games were released on Steam, according to SteamDB, a website that tracks data on the popular PC platform. That's an increase of around 93% from 2020, when 9,656 games were released.

This glut of new releases stems from a number of factors, including widening interest in games, the rise of cheaper and easier development tools and lower barriers to entry.

There was once a time when it was impossible to create a video game and get it into people's hands unless you had a publisher that could get you prime shelf position at GameStop and Walmart. But over the past decade, as customers pivoted en masse from physical to digital games, the playing field has been leveled.

In other words, this isn't like the 1980s, when the US gaming market crashed due to a flood of poorly made products. Today, there are too many video games, and many of them are great.
[...]
The market for new video games isn't just oversaturated — it's nearly impenetrable. Teams of hundreds of people are spending years of their lives developing games that are destined to get lost in the sea of new releases. It's no longer enough to simply be a good game — more than 120 games released in 2025 have scored higher than an 80 on Metacritic, the review aggregation website. The ones that earn more than a 90 tend to hit, but many of the others have failed to take off.

[...] But for the companies investing hundreds of millions of dollars into games that need to move huge numbers to break even, this is no small challenge. And it's just getting harder every year.

 

[Animal House]

Sounds like devs better fight tooth and nail for attention from gamers

 

[daze23]

Sounds like devs better fight tooth and nail for attention from gamers

it's rough on Steam. devs are always complaining the algorithm isn't working for them, but really there's just so many games. and having a 'good' game isn't enough, because you really need some kind of push to get exposure

 

[rdj]

I love it because I remember the “good old days” when there were dry periods. This shyt is waaaay better. Whoever doesn’t survive…oh well

 

[Zero]

I'm juggling like 5 games right now

 

[Animal House]

I love it because I remember the “good old days” when there were dry periods. This shyt is waaaay better. Whoever doesn’t survive…oh well

This

it's rough on Steam. devs are always complaining the algorithm isn't working for them, but really there's just so many games. and having a 'good' game isn't enough, because you really need some kind of push to get exposure

Then they better get creative, yes there is way more games available at the players fingertips but in this current market only the strong survive

I don’t see this like the author does like its doom and gloom. Best believe there’s always will be a variety of games to play, this hobby isn’t going anywhere

 

[EarlyEarly]

That March window next year is going to be a doozy.

 

[Leasy]

Its not too many games i think its too many big budget games with outrageous budgets that is straining the industry.

 

[ORDER_66]

Too many games... he means wack ones right???

 

[rabbid]

it is what it is dawg. all them little streamer sneak peaks and playtests you need to start passing those demos to the consumer directly. there's no reason you should only be hearing about a game thru the press if its coming out within a year.

you got long ass early access periods (which i feel like is ok if the game is out within a year) and random indie and multiplayer games dropping with no demo. I understand having confidence in your product but its sink or swim out chyea. its so bad that people are leaving companies before the game is done because they know that layoff meeting is coming after it goes gold.

these games are being managed poorly or without real understanding of the market conditions. and management taking the wrong lessons like that little 7 day early access or giving demos to streamers and asking them to glaze your product, that shyt doesn't work.

 

[DaylitoJames]

Too many games in gaming? That's like saying there's too much food at this buffet

 

[-DMP-]

Wouldn’t know. I only play (beat) 2-5 games a year.

 

[Scaaar]

He has a point somewhat. I don't think they're too many $60-$70 games that shouldn't be at that price point. There should be tiers of games and pricing should reflect that too. Not every game is AAA-AAAA some games are just deserving of $30-40. That's not bad either just cater to your strengths. Some of the best games I've played recently have been the cheaper shorter 15-30 hr games. We don't need that many bloated open world games either.

 

[IsThatBrothaMouzone?]

Wouldn’t know. I only play (beat) 2-5 games a year.

Same.

I tend to pick big, bloaty games and sink 200+ hours. Usually go ham for a few months, take a break until something gets my attention and then dive back in. Sometimes it'll be something new and other times it'll be picking up a game that's been out a while that got missed.

Rarely ever replay a game no matter how good it is. Once I beat it, the urge to dive back in goes away.

 

[Grand Conde]

Its not too many games i think its too many big budget games with outrageous budgets that is straining the industry.

There are a huge amount of really good indie games released every year.