Former Bethesda Dev Highlights Growing Fatigue with Massive Games

Will Shen, ex-lead quest designer for Starfield, suggests players are turning to shorter games as sprawling titles become harder to commit to.

Will Shen, a former Bethesda developer, believes a growing number of players are fatigued by games requiring 30 to 100+ hours of investment.
Shen attributes this trend partly to the success of expansive titles like Skyrim and Fallout 4, which popularized 'evergreen' games that can be played indefinitely.
He notes the rise of shorter games like 'Mouthwashing' and 'Astro Bot,' which foster more complete player engagement and community interaction due to their brevity.
Shen points out that many players already dedicate significant time to long-standing games like Fortnite, FIFA, and World of Warcraft, making it difficult for new large-scale games to gain traction.
While Shen acknowledges his role in creating massive games, he observes a growing industry shift toward concise, accessible experiences.