PS5, Switch Game Dev Takes a Back Seat as 80% of Devs Focus on PC

The 2025 Game Developers Conference (GDC) State of the Game Industry report highlights a significant shift in game development focus. A compelling 80% of developers are prioritizing PC game creation, a 14% surge from the previous year's 66%.

PC Dominance and the Steam Deck Factor

The report, an annual survey reflecting global developer insights, points to PC's continued dominance. While the exact reasons remain unclear, the rising popularity of Valve's Steam Deck is a likely contributing factor. Although not a direct survey option, 44% of respondents who selected "Other" specified the Steam Deck as a relevant platform.

PS5, Switch Game Dev Takes a Back Seat as 80% of Devs Focus on PC

This trend builds upon previous years, with PC's share growing from 56% in 2020 to 66% in 2024. While the emergence of user-generated content (UGC) platforms like Roblox and Minecraft, and the anticipated Switch 2 release, present potential challenges, PC's position remains formidable.

PS5, Switch Game Dev Takes a Back Seat as 80% of Devs Focus on PC

Live Service Games: A Mixed Bag

The report also delves into the prevalence of live-service games. A third (33%) of AAA developers are currently involved in live-service projects, while 16% of all respondents are actively working on them, and 13% express interest. However, a significant 41% show no interest, citing concerns like declining player engagement, creative limitations, and the potential for burnout.

PS5, Switch Game Dev Takes a Back Seat as 80% of Devs Focus on PC

GDC emphasizes the growing market saturation in the live-service sector, highlighting Ubisoft's XDefiant closure as a prime example of the challenges developers face in maintaining sustainable player bases.

Geographical Representation: A Note of Caution

A subsequent PC Gamer report raises concerns about the geographical representation within the GDC survey. Nearly 70% of respondents hail from Western countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia), with notable absences from major gaming regions like China and Japan. This imbalance might skew the report's findings and limit its ability to fully reflect the global game development landscape.

PS5, Switch Game Dev Takes a Back Seat as 80% of Devs Focus on PC