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. Let's delve into the key findings.

PC Dominance: A Growing Trend

The report reveals a striking 80% of game developers are prioritizing PC as their primary development platform, a notable 14% increase from the previous year's 66%. While the exact reasons remain unclear, the report suggests the rising popularity of Valve's Steam Deck may be a contributing factor. Interestingly, although the Steam Deck wasn't a direct survey option, 44% of those selecting "Other" platforms specified the Steam Deck as a target.

This trend builds upon previous years' data, showing a steady increase in PC development 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's dominance remains undeniable. The continued growth could lead to an even more expansive PC game library. However, the Switch 2's potential performance and graphical improvements might subtly alter this trajectory.

Live Service Games: A Double-Edged Sword

The report also sheds light on the prevalence of live service games within the AAA development sphere. A third (33%) of AAA developers are currently working on a live service title. Across all respondents, 16% are actively developing live service games, with an additional 13% expressing interest. Conversely, 41% showed no interest, citing concerns such as waning player engagement, creative limitations, potentially exploitative practices, and developer burnout.

GDC emphasizes the issue of market saturation in the live service sector, highlighting the challenge of maintaining a sustainable player base. The recent closure of Ubisoft's XDefiant after only six months serves as a stark example of this struggle.

Geographic Representation: A Noteworthy Omission

A subsequent PC Gamer article points out a significant underrepresentation of non-Western developers in the GDC report. Nearly 70% of respondents hailed from Western countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia), with notable absences from significant game development regions like China and Japan. This demographic skew might influence the report's findings, potentially failing to fully capture the global game development landscape.

In conclusion, the GDC report offers valuable insights into current game industry trends, but it's crucial to acknowledge the potential biases inherent in its respondent demographics. The dominance of PC development and the complexities of the live service model are key takeaways, alongside the need for broader geographic representation in future surveys.