We may be only 6 weeks into 2024 but it's already showing to be an exciting year for the games industry! From technological advancements to new game releases and industry trends, here are a handful of changes and announcements happening across the industry from the year so far…
Technological Advancements in AI Game Development
The industry is seeing significant predictions for AI’s role in supercharging game development. AI is expected to lessen barriers in game development, across areas such as coding requirements and has already been discussed surrounding big title games such as Grand Theft Auto 6 and Dragon’s Dogma 2 to generate realistic dialogues and NPC behaviour.
It is anticipated that this leap in technology will lead to an increase in the number of games released, fostering innovation but also paving the way for a possible saturation of the market.
What do you think the main effect of these AI developments will be?
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_VI)
Changing Work Patterns
As we saw in our annual Salary & Satisfaction survey last year, the industry is moving away from traditional working patterns, with more studios finding success in the 4-day workweek pattern. The transition towards more flexible working patterns has been shown to boost morale, creativity, and loyalty to studios.
Keep your eyes peeled for our 2024 Salary & Satisfaction Survey where we’ll have plenty of details surrounding the work patterns successes, but for now, check out the statistics from last year here! Follow us on LinkedIn to be the first to know when our 2024 report is published!
Growth in Games Subscriptions
Games subscriptions are expected to catch up with one-off purchases this year. As the price of one-time-purchase games rises, subscriptions are expected to be near 200 million by the end of this year. This trend reflects the previous rise in subscription services in other industries, mainly Film & TV, and could have impacts on the dynamics between the subscription services and the game publishers.
(https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240130-the-gaming-industry-is-aiming-for-subscribers-will-gamers-play-along)
Xbox Developer Direct Announcements
Some of the biggest announcements from the start of the year came from the Xbox Developer Direct event, which showcased multiple projects across the Xbox portfolio, including:
- In-depth looks at the development of Indiana Jones from Machine Games, including a gameplay trailer for Indiana Jones And The Great Circle being revealed.
- The fantasy-action RPG Avowed is confirmed for a Fall 2024 launch window, highlights being its combat system, quest dynamics and dialogue systems.
- Showcased improvements on the combat system and audio design of Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga, with a launch date set for the 21st of May.
- Visions Of Mana marks the first Mana title to be released on an Xbox console and is set for release this summer, promising a mix of ground and aerial combat in real-time battles.
(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/01/18/xbox-developer-direct-2024-recap/)
Although the industry has seen struggles this past year, with lay-offs being at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds, these announcements and trends point to a very exciting year of innovation, with significant technological advancements, changes in work culture, and exciting new game releases shaping the industry's direction in 2024.
And remember our annual Salary & Satisfaction Survey Report will be out soon, entering its 10th year, we will be able to cover 10 years of industry insight! From the effect of the changing work patterns to salaries within the growing AI space, you'll soon have all the industry info you need, follow our LinkedIn to be the first to see when it's published...
Plus, if you’re looking for a new role to start this exciting year, you're in the right place, we have plenty of roles from across the industry and the world to check out!
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