The latest industry survey from the Game Developers Conference (GDC) has revealed intriguing trends and shifts in the video game industry. The survey highlights a prominent shift towards the development of games for consoles and PC platforms, while the interest in mobile game development has seen a decline.
Of the developers surveyed, 44% are currently working on a game for a PC or console, which is a significant increase from the previous year's percentage. On the contrary, only 32% of developers are working on mobile games, compared to 39% the year prior.
The survey also revealed that a massive 93% of developers support unionization. This comes in the wake of increasing concerns around work conditions, crunch time, and job security in the industry. The overwhelming support indicates a strong desire for change and better protection for workers in the gaming industry.
The VR and AR sector continues to struggle, with only 14% of developers currently working on VR projects and an even lesser 6% working on AR. Although these technologies have potential, they continue to face challenges in adoption and mainstream acceptance.
Despite the challenges, the future of the gaming industry appears optimistic. The survey shows an increase in the number of developers interested in creating more diverse and inclusive games, with a focus on improving representation and empathy within the gaming community. This shift is likely to bring a fresh perspective to the industry and broaden its appeal to a larger demographic.