Obsidian's latest release, Avowed, is redefining the gaming landscape by placing a premium on players' time. The game, available on Xbox and PC, offers a quick playthrough of about 15 hours, while completionists can spend over 40 hours exploring every nook and cranny. This shift comes amid a growing conversation about the length of games and player engagement, especially as research indicates that only 10% of players actually finish the games they purchase.
Game director Carrie Patel emphasized that Avowed "respects players' time," a sentiment that resonates with many in an era where most console or PC owners face an ever-growing backlog of unfinished titles. Patel noted the broader context of entertainment options available to players, saying, "We know everybody has plenty of options, plenty of things to do with their time."
Avowed's approach marks a departure from its predecessors, which required 25 to 30 hours to complete. This change aligns with recent discussions in the gaming community about the optimal length of video games. Rhys, a researcher who has published work on this topic, argues that shorter games might be more beneficial for companies and players alike. He remarked, "If game developers cut the length of a game like Assassin's Creed by 20%, most players would never notice."
In contrast, some games in the RPG genre continue to demand extensive commitments from players. For instance, Assassin's Creed Valhalla can take anywhere from 60 to over 100 hours to complete. Despite these lengthy experiences, Patel believes there is value in concise gameplay. "Oh, good! A game I can actually finish," she said, reflecting on the satisfaction of completing shorter games.
The trend of longer games is not without its critics. Some fans expressed disappointment when it was revealed that Spider-Man 2 could be completed in under 30 hours. This highlights a divide among gamers regarding how much time they are willing to invest in a single title. Rhys noted this trend, stating, "Games got bigger each year, and then, over the span of 10 years it's been an insane jump in game length."
Moreover, five of the top 10 best-reviewed games since 2020 require at least 60 hours to complete, illustrating the industry's penchant for extensive playtimes. However, as gaming technology evolves and development costs rise, the price players pay for games has not increased proportionately with the time and resources needed to create them.
Patel acknowledges this balance, asserting that Avowed offers players flexibility in how they experience the game. "If you just want to blast through it, you can go for it, and you still get the full experience," she explained. This approach caters to both casual players and those who seek deeper engagement.
The conversation around game length is likely to continue evolving. Patel anticipates more experiments with game duration in future projects: "And I think we'll probably see a little bit more of this kind of experimentation going forward." Her perspective underscores an industry-wide shift towards accommodating diverse player preferences.
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