Starfield Developer Says Players Are Sick of Long Games

A former Starfield developer reveals player fatigue with excessively long AAA games. This saturation of the market with lengthy titles, the developer argues, is fueling a resurgence of shorter gaming experiences.

While behemoths like Starfield, with its extensive playtime, remain popular, a significant portion of gamers are reportedly tiring of the massive time commitment. Will Shen, a veteran developer who worked on Starfield, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76, points to the success of games like Skyrim as contributing to the prevalence of these "evergreen" titles, but notes this trend is shifting. He highlights that many players fail to complete games exceeding ten hours, emphasizing the importance of completion for story engagement and overall product satisfaction.

This shift is reflected in the growing popularity of shorter games, as evidenced by the success of titles like Mouthwashing. Shen suggests the game's concise length was key to its positive reception, arguing that expanding it with numerous side quests would have diminished its impact.

Despite this growing trend, longer games, such as Starfield, persist. Bethesda's continued support for Starfield with DLC like Shattered Space (2024) and a rumored 2025 expansion underscores the ongoing appeal of expansive game worlds. The industry, therefore, seems poised for a continued coexistence of both lengthy and shorter game experiences.