Michael Douse, the director of publishing for Baldur’s Gate 3, thinks that niche genres in gaming are no longer as important for companies as they used to be. He mentions the huge success of Baldur’s Gate 3, a classic-style CRPG (computer role-playing game) that received a lot of investment even though these types of games are usually seen as having limited appeal.
Douse suggests investors tend to concentrate on well-known genres with proven track records, leading them to ignore promising projects outside mainstream categories. We’ve seen this before, as many games seem to follow a formula they see as popular (Immortals of Aveum) but fail. In an interview with Gamefile, he highlighted that, despite the high development costs of Baldur’s Gate 3, the game’s success shows a change in player preferences. This indicates that audiences are open to a wider range of experiences.
Douse points to Palworld’s sudden rise in popularity as another sign of this shift. Palworld, a game centered around survival and crafting with distinctive features, has enjoyed remarkable success, defying expectations. Douse argues that the secret to Palworld’s victory lies in its smart blend of well-liked gaming features. He said, “You’re going to look at our game and go, well, ‘It’s a fucking CRPG. Why would we take a bet on this?’ […] Niches don’t exist anymore, you know? Maybe we should start taking more bets instead of being like, ‘oh, X, Y, and Z are expensive.’” This means a unique design and the decision to launch in early access, which enabled direct player involvement during the game’s development.
“It’s like Palworld. Why is everyone surprised that was successful? They took a bunch of mechanics they knew people liked, made a game that was unbothered by what a game should be, and they gave it directly to players who decided to buy it. That’s really fucking simple. It’s not rocket science… The analysts are confused because they didn’t see it coming. And they want basic data sets and predictability. They’re going to be confused a lot in the future. Me, too. I like being confused. We work best in chaos.”
Michael Douse
The head of the publishing company argues that the gaming industry’s current dependence on well-known genres is not sustainable. He believes that game developers will succeed more by taking more risks and being more innovative. Douse pointed out that Palworld and Baldur’s Gate 3 show players are becoming more open to new types of games beyond the usual genres.
He sees a future where the gaming market is less focused on strict categories and more open to trying new things. Douse thinks that success will depend on developers being brave and less afraid to try new ideas. This shift challenges industry experts who depend on usual data and shows the growing chance for surprising hits as gamers look for different and exciting experiences.
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