MIDiA Research has published its latest gaming report, and with it comes the news that 53% of gamers prefer single-player rather than multi-player games, including those in the PVE, couch co-op, and online PVP categories. An overview of the findings, which was published on midiaresearch today, has noted that more and more developers on console and PC are doubling down on live-service games, but the effort would be better spent elsewhere, as these types of online games are less viable for reasons that include an oversaturated market. A breakdown of gameplay preferences by age bracket, which was derived from poll results gathered in 2023, can be found below.
AAA developers on console and PC are continuing to chase the live-service jackpot, but single player remains the favourite way to play for most (53%) gamers. While new live-service games have floundered, new single-player games have continued to smash records and generate hundreds of millions – or more. And it is not just juggernaut IP like Zelda and Spider-Man proving successful but also new franchises like Elden Ring (25 million copies sold) and Black Myth Wukong (20 million). While live-service games and in-game purchases dominate spending and attention in the games market, over half of gamers prefer solo play.