As we draw this gaming year to a close, it’s worth looking back at some of the defining moments that pleasantly (and unpleasantly) surprised us. I see 2023 as a defining year for many reasons, including the overwhelming release of quality titles, but also the challenges associated with industry volatility, and the impending shift to digitalization marketing.
Quality sells
In a surprisingly candid admission during the Kinda Funny Xcast, Xbox head Phil Spencer said “building great games” is not enough to sell consoles and games. In no small way, this statement is linked to Xbox’s strategy of shifting away from the physical console to streaming and cloud gaming. So did 2023 reflect these comments? I think the opposite is true. This year challenged Spencer’s assumption of how important quality titles really are for sales in a major way. That’s because 2023 was one of the most stacked years for great titles. Many of these games relied on delivering passion over hype to make great points — Quality sells itself.
Baldur’s Gate 3 was 2023’s biggest darling, although its success was very much unexpected. RPGs have historically been looked down upon as risky projects given budget, time constraints, and perceived market demand. However, developer Larian Studios proved that these assumptions can be challenged with enough passion, hard work, and talent.
Larian did not over-promise or build fake hype — it was very transparent with the community and provided early access testing to players. In another Smash Jump news story, Larian talks about encouraging other developers to pursue their dreams and develop games that challenge the industry status quo.
Time will tell if Baldur’s Gate 3 will prove as an inspiration for the industry or remain the exception to the rule. Going beyond BG3, the year’s best-reviewed titles included indie games like Sea of Stars and Dredge. Meanwhile, those skirting the line, like Dave the Diver, also thrived. Recently, Asgard’s Wrath 2 also highlighted that VR can produce outstanding titles with the right amount of passion and support.
This year reconfirmed that success and quality come in different shapes and sizes… and there’s enough for everyone to love.
Volatile Industry
But this good news came at a cost. Smash Jump reported that the industry was plagued by thousands of layoffs. The exact figure remains unconfirmed. However, unofficial trackers like Game Industry Layoffs suggest over 9,000… and this is without even including Microsoft’s 10,000 layoffs, as reported by Polygon back in November. The year was much worse compared to the reported over 1,000 layoffs in 2022. There are several factors for this.
COVID-19 created an optimistic bubble where developers and publishers overestimated current game demand. Long development cycles and unsustainable budgets for AAA titles mean cost-cutting is at an all-time high. Low unionization and precarious staff contracts, coupled with the rise of powerful groups like Embracer Group and Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition means the power balance is heavily skewed against workers.
Indeed, 2023 was not kind to employees, or companies for that matter. A wave of sensitive information leaks also rocked the industry. The GTA VI trailer was leaked, leaving developer Rockstar Games with no choice but to release the trailer earlier than planned. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was also made available for illegal download two weeks before the official release date.
However, the most sensitive leak came with the ransomware attack on Insomniac Games. Sensitive information, including staff passports and IDs, alongside provisional future release plans, were made available.
Out of integrity and solidarity with Insomniac and those affected, Smash Jump did not report on these leaks to discourage the transmission of sensitive data. In our review of Spider-Man 2, we appreciated the love and care that Insomniac put into their title. Livelihoods were affected because of the leaks, and no one deserves this.
The question, then, is how can we help the developers? 2023 showed that companies and the community have a certain responsibility — to respect and care for the people who put their all into making these titles. Game development is a collective effort that we have the opportunity to support and reward, especially during difficult times.
Digitalization and the E3 demise
The official demise of E3 this year made it even more apparent that the gaming industry is moving toward the digitalization of marketing.
In a Smash Jump feature on why E3 will be missed, I went into the details of why E3 can still prove to be a valuable lesson for game events going forward — mainly the ability to build hype and interest, keep the human element present, and develop a sense of community.
We will see more virtual direct-to-consumer events like Nintendo Direct and PlayStation’s State of Play taking over, alongside hybrid in-person events like The Game Awards. TGA is in a unique position to carry the E3 torch, to some extent, that is. Why, you may ask? As we’ve seen in 2023, it’s still figuring out the best format for its show — should it be an awards or announcements show mainly? Nonetheless, it continues to have industry legitimacy as the premier gaming event of the year since it has no real competition.
Eurogamer revealed that the 2023 TGA broke its viewership record with 118 million livestreams across 17,000 co-streaming channels. That’s a 15% viewership increase for the show compared to 2022.
As such, TGA has the great opportunity (and responsibility) to represent the gaming industry, foster what already worked with E3, and develop a worldwide platform where developers are appreciated and fans are welcome. That’s not easy to do, but the signs are nonetheless promising.
What’s in store for 2024?
The new year will treat us with some highly anticipated titles straight off the bat, including Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, launching on January 18, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, releasing on January 19, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Tekken 8 both launching on January 26, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, releasing on February 29.
If you are interested in more details about some of these upcoming titles, Smash Jump already has you covered!
The latter half of 2024, however, is still anyone’s guess since most publishers are still keeping releases a secret.
2023 surprised us in many ways. Here at Smash Jump, we hope for another year of great titles but with a calmer industry without the disruptions and layoffs we’ve encountered. 2024 is on the way, and we’ll be here to make the best of it alongside our passionate readers!
How was 2023 for you in terms of gaming? What do you look forward to for 2024? Reach out on Twitter (our DMs are always open!) and Facebook. Thank you for your continued support!
