Devolver Co-Founder Believes Large-Scale Game Development is Becoming Overwhelming

The gaming industry has faced significant challenges, and when speaking with Devolver Digital co-founder Nigel Lowrie, it becomes clear that the pandemic's impact is still being felt. Lowrie notes that the industry's growth during the pandemic has receded, and other factors are affecting different aspects of the industry. He believes that large-scale game development is struggling under its own weight, with consumers being drawn to live service games, leaving limited time for other titles. The distinction between the indie and AAA markets is becoming less relevant, as the primary competition is for players' time, not their money. Devolver avoids big games due to the momentum they gain in the press and with influencers, and instead focuses on smaller-to-medium-sized games. Lowrie cites Helldivers as an example, where it's hard to pull players away from such a fantastic experience, and developers must make a compelling case to attract players. The audience has always had limited time for gaming, but indie publishers are feeling the competition more acutely. There are more opportunities for developers, which breeds more competition, making it tougher to stand out. Some indies have found success by launching into subscription services, but Lowrie notes that the deals for inclusion in these services are getting worse over time. Devolver's approach is to put its games in subscription services after they've been out for a certain length of time, as the company strongly believes in selling games first. The company will consider other approaches, but its preference is to sell units first. Lowrie also discusses the health of console ecosystems for indies, noting that the Switch stands apart from Xbox and PlayStation. The company has a relationship with the platform holders, which helps with discoverability, but smaller developers may struggle. Finally, Lowrie talks about Devolver's decision to go public and how it has changed the company's operations, stating that day-to-day changes have been minimal, and the company's culture and focus on quality games remain intact.