A gaming community free from the hype and oversaturation of current releases, catering to gamers who wait at least 12 months after release to play a game. Whether it's price, waiting for bugs/issues to be patched, DLC to be released, don't meet the system requirements, or just haven't had the time to keep up with the latest releases.
Most of my 2025 was Silksong actually, but for only $20 it felt like a patient gamer moment!
It shows almost all my play time is in new releases but thw only reason for that is that hella my games got free remaster upgrades that are entirely separate titles on Steam. They're not really new releases, IMO. I didn't even pay for them; they were given/replaced for free and without even being asked (in some cases, this is important because what they replaced was better than what they replaced it with).
Not that surprising when most of top played titles are evergreen esports which came out years ago.
Fourteen percent seems huge though, considering video games have technically been a thing since, what, the 70s or 50s.
I’d be more curious to see what percentage of game sales were for 2025 titles versus older.
I think that would paint a truer picture of player behaviour, and whether there are any fundamental shifts in trends.
I was so disappointed with Dune: Awakening. I should have listened to my gut, because I knew it wasn't going to bring anything new (enough) to the survival formula. I bought when it first came out, I've only played it for like 3 hours total.
Interesting, I had the opposite reaction. The game was very addicting and fresh to me and I've played most survival games that's out there
Played Pathfinder, the second one. Replayed Neverwinter Nights 1&2. Did a Legendary ME run through, because, why not? A sprinkling of Stellaris throughout, no recent expansion adds.
Checks out.
The prices are off the rails lately, and the games are not as good. I can’t justify $100 for a game alongside the electric bill and groceries.
The only 2025 game I recall buying is Darkenstein 3D. Simple and fun, just the way I like.
Yeah, 3% of mine was new releases! 8% was from 1-7 years, and 89% was 8+. It's not because of the cost of games or upgrades though, I just don't care about most of the new games that come out. I already have games I like to play!