Analyst Highlights PC Gamers and Steam Users as a Positive Force Amid Industry Challenges: “There’s an Enthusiastic Audience Eager for Innovation”

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With an ever-increasing number of games launching each year, stagnant consumer spending, rising living costs, and the escalating prices of consoles and graphics cards due to component shortages, it’s becoming tougher for games of all sizes to achieve success. In this challenging landscape, Mat Piscatella, games director at an analytics firm, sees hope in PC gaming and the Steam ecosystem, which continue to produce unexpected and sustained successes.

In a conversation about the industry’s future, Piscatella highlights the significant changes on the horizon, including mergers, acquisitions, layoffs, and the emergence of new markets. He emphasizes the rise of smaller games, which were notably absent from the major releases in 2025.

“Last year, we saw a surge in smaller titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has broken through the traditional boundaries of what was considered a AA game,” he notes. “Players are becoming more adept at discovering new experiences and are more willing to step outside their comfort zones. Overall, there’s a noticeable shift from blockbuster AAA titles to smaller games developed by smaller teams, alongside the dominance of free-to-play giants.”

Prominent developers, including industry legends, have praised Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not just for its quality but as a model for sustainable game development. A former PlayStation executive highlighted it as a prime example of the direction the industry should take amid rising production costs and complexities.

Piscatella agrees, stating it “sets a strong benchmark for various reasons,” alongside other titles like Peak and RV There Yet, which are part of the co-op gaming trend.

“They serve as proof that success is possible; look at their achievements,” Piscatella remarks.

He acknowledges that finding success in this crowded market can feel like winning the lottery, but there are still notable hits. In the realm of PC gaming, the unique discoverability and visibility tools offered by Steam often lead to the emergence of new trends and breakout titles.

“What’s encouraging is the Steam audience’s openness to trying new experiences,” Piscatella explains. “These games typically come at a lower price point, making it easier for players to experiment. If they don’t enjoy a game, they can easily refund it. This environment fosters experimentation, allowing many games to gain traction, even if only for a short time, providing developers a chance to see a return on their investment.”

He sees this as a bright spot in the market, especially as PC players are more willing to explore new titles, while console gamers tend to stick with familiar favorites, making it harder for new games to break through.

PC gaming has gained significant traction for titles from Japan and China in recent years, but its global rise has been ongoing. Piscatella points out that PC has always been the most accessible platform, allowing games like Peak to run on minimal hardware. This flexibility offers some protection against the challenges facing the console market, which Steam’s creator is also navigating as it develops its own hybrid console.

“It has numerous advantages, which is why the PC platform continues to grow and evolve,” Piscatella states. “While PC content dipped slightly in 2025, I don’t expect that trend to continue. With Microsoft shifting its strategy to prioritize a PC-first experience, I anticipate further growth. Many younger players are increasingly choosing PC over consoles.”

In 2025, a staggering 20,282 games were released on Steam, but only 608 received over 1,000 reviews, leading experts to suggest, “We might be in a bit of an indie golden age.”