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Further reporting by Aaron Astle
2025 at all times feels really underway when Pocket Gamer Connects London kicks off a yr filled with occasions.
This yr’s convention was a sell-out, with over 2,600 registrations from 66 international locations throughout six continents. With hundreds of conferences going down, varied talks delivered on stage throughout 4 tracks and a complete host of fringe occasions, the occasion was a large success.
So, after two packed full days of networking and attending insightful periods, what had been a few of the most talked about subjects and key takeaways?
Optimism for 2025
The video games trade seems to be to be getting into 2025 with a renewed sense of optimism. Whereas 2024 was dubbed with the tagline ‘Survive to 25’, this yr is being referred to as ‘Thrive in 25’.
Regardless of this extra optimistic outlook, the trade shouldn’t be ignoring the challenges we now have seen lately, from market saturation to the continued impression of layoffs. There are nonetheless some issues in regards to the moral use of AI, funding difficulties and ongoing regulatory issues referring to loot packing containers and microtransactions.
Video video games lawyer Isabel Davies mentioned potential authorized modifications that would impression in-app purchases, loot packing containers and free-to-play video games.
The Digital Equity Health Verify, may affect free-to-play regulation and client protections throughout the subsequent 5 years. Issues embody recreation design that’s seen as “addictive” and options like every day bonuses. This implies lawmakers might limit monetisation strategies, and Davies urged builders to anticipate potential shifts out there.
lawmakers might limit monetisation strategies, and Davies urged builders to anticipate potential shifts out there.
It seems that recreation builders are cautiously optimistic about 2025. Regardless of a few of the incoming market modifications and certain challenges, many spoke of how resilient the video games trade is and the way it has at all times tailored to alter.
Versus final yr’s trade occasions, there was way more positivity current on the present. Builders appear optimistic that some shifts may result in a more healthy and extra sustainable video games trade.
Extra AI
Synthetic intelligence continues to be a key subject of dialogue. Whereas there are nonetheless issues about its function within the trade, generative AI is extensively seen as a software that may speed up development.
Following comparable themes from current years, a lot of the dialogue is round utilizing AI as a software moderately than a substitute for expertise, with AI getting used to streamline extra time-consuming duties in improvement so builders can concentrate on larger issues.
Maximilian Seeburg additionally famous that 22% of Q3 2024 VC funding in video games went to AI-related initiatives, however he confused that VCs need to see how folks use AI in coding, consumer acquisition and different points.
It’s not simply recreation design that studios need to AI for; these instruments are anticipated to proceed to develop to assist enhance enterprise throughout the board, from in-game analytics to make viewers suggestions extra helpful all the way in which to app retailer optimisation to make sure your recreation stands out from the group.
One session at PGC London 2025 noticed Maximilian Seeburg focus on the impression of AI in video games, emphasising that AI will deal with lower-effort duties whereas builders can deal with extra inventive points. Seeburg additionally famous that 22% of Q3 2024 VC funding in video games went to AI-related initiatives, however he confused that VCs need to see how folks use AI in coding, consumer acquisition and different points.
It’s clear that the usage of AI in video games is right here to remain, with a lot of the video games trade trying to incorporate these instruments into improvement. Nonetheless, the important thing message is that AI ought to improve productiveness and never change creativity.
Massive yr for cell
The cell video games market is predicted to be a serious development driver in 2025, above each PC and console markets. With smartphones changing into more and more accessible and costs of some {hardware} persevering with to say no, areas reminiscent of India, Asia and Africa are poised for important market enlargement and current extra development alternatives for studios.
Builders additionally spoke usually of extra curiosity in various app shops as they search to broaden past the Google Play Retailer and Apple App Retailer. Epic Video games made its presence identified on the occasion, advocating for its cell video games ambitions. This shift is, in fact, fueled by rising tensions between builders and big-name app shops resulting from excessive fee charges and challenges with app discoverability. Consequently, the drive to see extra video games featured throughout extra app shops is prone to achieve traction in 2025.
The cell video games trade is on monitor for an additional robust yr, with hybrid genres and a surge in simulation video games anticipated to have a powerful presence.
The demographic shift
Gen Z has turn out to be probably the most dominant pressure within the trade as they’re enjoying video games greater than any earlier technology. Gen Z helps to form key tendencies and pushing for higher range and inclusivity within the media they eat.
Gen Z has turn out to be probably the most dominant pressure within the trade as they’re enjoying video games greater than any earlier technology.
This technology’s shorter consideration spans and love for ‘shorts’, in addition to having robust ties to their favorite content material creators, is prone to reshape how video games are marketed and monetised. Gen Z, alongside different generational teams like Millennials, are additionally contributing to a shift towards sustained engagement, with many individuals persevering with to recreation effectively into maturity moderately than dropping off as some earlier generations have.
Gen Z is drawn to distinctive experiences, and extra private influences form their engagement. This has led some studios to method promoting extra strategically, reminiscent of leveraging acquainted characters to seize their consideration.
Cellular gaming, with its comfort and accessibility, can also be anticipated to stay significantly standard with Gen Z.
An instance of this on the occasion was in Subway Surfers, the place the character of Frank, who was initially launched with little story, generated fan curiosity. In response to this, the staff included him extra prominently into the sport to interact with gamers and type deeper connections.
Cellular gaming, with its comfort and accessibility, can also be anticipated to stay significantly standard with Gen Z, however they might even have a higher expectation for cross-platform video games and a keenness for subscriptions to allow them to entry an intensive catalogue of video games for one set worth.
GTA 6 to set a brand new precedent
The anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 has captured the eye of all the recreation trade. Among the many many subjects across the recreation is a hearsay suggesting that it might debut with a price ticket between $80 and $100.
Such a big worth improve would seemingly not be instantly embraced by customers. Nonetheless, trade analysts imagine that GTA 6 has the potential to set a brand new pricing normal for video video games, significantly for AAA titles. Whereas a transfer like this may show difficult for customers to simply accept, many view it as one in every of few video games able to setting a brand new benchmark that others can comply with.
If the worth improve proved profitable, it may pave the way in which for increased worth factors throughout the trade, permitting builders and publishers to fight rising improvement prices and generate extra income. If the worth hike does occur, it may considerably impression the way forward for how video games are priced.
Past discussions across the recreation’s worth level, many predict that GTA 6 would be the greatest recreation launch ever. With its predecessor GTA V promoting over 200 million models and producing $8.6 billion in income, this newest instalment seems to be all set to interrupt data.
Don’t overlook Pocket Gamer Connects is returning to San Francisco for its milestone fiftieth convention. The occasion is scheduled for March seventeenth and 18th going down on the Hibernia Lodge. Get your tickets now!
