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 game development focus. A staggering 80% of developers are prioritizing PC as their primary platform, a 14% increase from the previous year. This surge in PC development, according to the report, may be partially linked to the growing popularity of Valve's Steam Deck, even though it wasn't a specific option in the survey. A considerable portion (44%) of those who selected "Other" platforms mentioned the Steam Deck as a target.

This trend builds upon previous years' data, showing a steady increase in PC dominance from 56% in 2020. While the rise of user-generated content (UGC) platforms like Roblox and Minecraft, and the anticipated launch of the Switch 2, present alternative avenues, PC remains the dominant force. The continued focus on PC suggests a substantial expansion of its already extensive game library. However, the Switch 2's potential graphical and performance improvements could potentially alter this trend in the future.

The report also delves into the prevalence of live-service games. A third (33%) of AAA developers are currently working on live-service titles, reflecting the perceived financial benefits and community engagement opportunities. However, a significant portion (41%) express disinterest, citing concerns such as waning player interest, creative limitations, potentially exploitative practices, and developer burnout. GDC emphasizes the issue of market saturation, highlighting Ubisoft's XDefiant shutdown as a prime example of the challenges in maintaining a sustainable player base for live-service games.

A subsequent PC Gamer article raises concerns about the underrepresentation of non-Western developers in the GDC report. Nearly 70% of respondents hailed from Western countries, notably excluding significant game development hubs like China and Japan. This geographical bias could potentially skew the findings and limit the report's ability to accurately reflect the global game development landscape.