As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to look back at the main developments that have shaped the gaming industry this year and anticipate the trends that will define 2025. This newsletter is longer than usual, but we We’ve divided it by title so you can read it in bite-sized chunks or scroll down to the articles that interest you most. Let’s take a look at what’s happened and what’s coming:
Reflection on 2024
Live-service games
If the old games “live-service” continue to dominate, new entrants to the field have had mixed success. The industry has not yet fully returned to premium gaming, but there is growing recognition that the volume of live service offerings exceeds the time available to players. Many players enjoy taking breaks from their games.lifestyle” to enjoy more limited and complete gaming experiences.
The power of nostalgia
2024 has proven that nostalgia is a powerful force in games. Live games offering “versions”vanilla“[1] Until the rise of remasters and remakes, gamers are returning to the experiences they love. This trend speaks to a broader desire to rediscover familiar worlds and stories before discovering new ones.
Xbox’s mobile ambitions
Microsoft’s expansion plans in the field of mobile games have been put on hold, pending approval of the Xbox application by American authorities. Once this hurdle is cleared, Xbox will be well-positioned to attract mobile gamers. This development will be instrumental for Microsoft’s cross-platform strategy and its ability to compete in a rapidly evolving gaming ecosystem.
The evolution of multi-game subscriptions
The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Game Pass caused a cannibalization of premium subscriptions on Xbox, but strong sales on other platforms offset this, leaving the trends unclear. Epic Games is doubling down on making Fortnite a platform, adding content like Fortnite Festival and Lego Fortnite to Fortnite Crew subscriptions without raising prices, in a bid to retain players and developers.
Perspectives 2025
GTA VI: one game to rule them all
Scheduled for release in fall 2025, Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) is set to reshape the gaming industry, just like its predecessor, GTA V, which shattered records with 32.5 million units sold during its first year of existence. Rockstar’s experience in creating genre-defining titles allows GTA VI to set new standards in the industry. However, its challenge is navigating a gaming world increasingly dominated by titles”live-service“.
The Nintendo Switch 2 may struggle to surpass its predecessor
The Nintendo Switch 2 faces the challenge of living up to the monumental success of the original Switch, even with the lure of backwards compatibility as an incentive to upgrade. With over 146 million units sold and aided by the pandemic, the original Switch penetrated the market deeply, leaving many gamers satisfied with their current console. In the absence of breakthrough innovations, consumers may not see a reason to upgrade.
Ubisoft: Acquisition, privatization or dismantling
An acquisition or privatization seems more and more likely for Ubisoft. Tencent, one of Ubisoft’s largest shareholders, is a leading candidate for a takeover, although its future M&A strategy remains unclear. Privatization could shield Ubisoft from public market pressures and give it the opportunity to carry out a complete strategic overhaul. However, both paths are likely to result in a partial or complete dismantling, as new owners could choose to streamline operations by selling underperforming studios or non-core assets.
Fortnite takes on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox
Fortnite is quickly evolving from a popular game to a major digital distribution platform, ready to challenge established giants like Steam and the PlayStation Store. Last month, Fortnite set a new standard for in-game events with “Remix : The Finale“, a concert that attracted more than 14 million concurrent players and demonstrated the platform’s unparalleled ability to attract massive audiences and create cultural moments within its ecosystem.
A new challenge for large live-service games
2025 is shaping up to be an exceptional year for the release of new games. The influx of new titles will likely take time and engagement away from many existing live-service games. Next year appears to mark the start of a convergence of trends that could pose significant challenges to many traditional live-service titles.
Little success for new F2P multiplayer shooters in 2025
Looking back at shooter launches in recent years, it’s increasingly clear that the genre is saturated and gamers are attached to their shooter franchise of choice. While there may be blips on the radar every time a new game launches and players test it out, they will eventually die out over the next year or two without any fanfare additional.
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