“Living the Game: How Immersive Video Experiences Captivated Console Gamers Last Month”
Analyst indicates that the release of Swap 2 and GTA 6 could transform the industry.
Players are currently very much focused on a limited number of live-service games, with over 70 percent of PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players in the US engaging in at least one of the top 10 live-service games in January.
Furthermore, more than 40 percent of all gameplay on these consoles in the US during January was dedicated to these same top 10 live-service titles.
This information comes from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, based on Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker. “In the past, players would switch from blockbuster title to blockbuster title, but they usually moved on to something new that they had purchased,” he analyzed. “Now, live-service games consume quite a bit of available time, and it’s hard to compete with something that is free and engaging.”
Piscatella added: “We really could benefit from some positive developments this year and hope for numerous improvements in 2025. So much is dependent on the new releases launching this year to potentially address or reverse some of these trends.”
Specifically, he is referring to the debut of Nintendo’s Swap 2 alongside its new titles and the eager anticipation surrounding GTA 6.
Piscatella’s insights underscore the prominence of live-service games in the industry, including titles like Fortnite, Minecraft, League of Legends, and Roblox. While numerous studios have attempted to leverage the live service trend, many have struggled to compete with established brands.
Over 70 percent of active PS5/Xbox gamers in the US played at least one of the top 10 live-service games during January.
More than 40 percent of all gaming time on PS5/XBS in the US throughout January was dedicated to these same top 10 live-service games.
Source: Circana Player Engagement Tracker
— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 01:22
Last year, a survey from the Game Developer Collective revealed that 70 percent of developers expressed concerns regarding the longevity of live-service games. The primary worry was players losing interest, closely followed by competition from numerous other live-service options.
A further report last year from Newzoo indicated that games over six years old accounted for more than 60 percent of gameplay time in 2023, with Fortnite reigning as the most played game across all platforms that year. The top five games alone represented over 25 percent of total playtime: these were Fortnite, Roblox, League of Legends, Minecraft, and GTA 5.
Sony specifically has faced challenges with its live service initiatives – last month it canceled two in-development titles from Sony Bend and Bluepoint. This came after the highly publicized shutdown of Concord just a fortnight later