Gamers Are Becoming Less Interested in Games With Deep Strategy, Study Finds
Is Strategic Gaming Losing Its Appeal?
A recent study by Quantic Foundry, analyzing nine years of data from its Gamer Motivation Profile tool, reveals a significant decline in interest in strategic video games. The study, based on 1.7 million surveys, found that 67% of gamers today are less interested in strategic thinking and planning in games compared to 2015. This trend is consistent globally except in China, where gamers exhibit different motivations.
The decrease in strategic game interest could be influenced by various factors, including the rise of social media, which may contribute to cognitive overload and reduced attention spans. This shift in gamer preferences suggests potential changes in how developers might create and market future games. Despite the trend, new strategy games like "Capes" and "Stormgate" are still scheduled for release, indicating ongoing demand for the genre.
What specific aspects of video games does the Gamer Motivation Profile tool track according to the Quantic Foundry report?
The Gamer Motivation Profile tool developed by Quantic Foundry tracks a variety of aspects that gauge what different players find appealing in video games. According to the report, these categories include Destruction, Excitement, Competition, Community, Challenge, Strategy, Completion, Power, Fantasy, Story, Discovery, and Design. Each of these categories represents a different element of gaming that can influence a player's enjoyment and preference, ranging from the thrill of destruction and the complexity of strategic planning to the engagement of an immersive story and the satisfaction of completing game objectives6.
Did the Quantic Foundry report find any differences in gaming motivation profiles based on geographical regions, such as between China and other countries?
Yes, the Quantic Foundry report did find differences in gaming motivation profiles based on geographical regions. Specifically, it noted that gamers in China have a "very different gaming motivation profile" compared to gamers in other parts of the world. This distinction was highlighted in the context of the overall decline in interest in strategic thinking and planning elements in video games globally2. While the report found that two-thirds of strategy fans worldwide have lost interest in these elements, it explicitly mentioned that the situation in China differs, suggesting unique gaming preferences or cultural influences affecting the Chinese gaming community2.