Key Takeaways
1. Shawn Layden believes the gaming industry is stagnant in audience growth and needs a unifying format to progress.
2. Console sales per generation have remained consistent, with casual gamers included in the large industry statistics.
3. The gaming market is “stuck,” with previous peaks in audience numbers largely tied to non-traditional gaming consoles like the Wii.
4. Layden emphasizes the importance of licensing formats for broader market reach, citing the Betamax vs. VHS scenario.
5. He supports the value of exclusive games for consoles, acknowledging their role in enhancing brand identity while promoting a unified gaming experience.
Former Sony executive Shawn Layden, who left his role as chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios in 2019 after a long career of thirty years with the company, recently expressed his views in an interview. He claims that the gaming industry is stagnant regarding audience growth. Layden suggests that a unifying gaming format, akin to how DVDs or VHS tapes used to be standard, is essential for making progress.
Industry Trends
Layden has always been vocal about his opinions on video game trends. In a recent chat with YouTubers Naomi Kyle and Pause for Thought, he noted that console sales per generation have remained relatively unchanged over time. He elaborated by saying:
“We discuss gaming as a $250 billion industry, which it is, and it has hundreds of millions of players, which is true. But that count also includes casual players. If you’re playing Wordle, you’re included as a gamer. If you’re on Candy Crush, you’re counted too.”
He pointed out examples from the past, mentioning the PlayStation 1, Sega Saturn, and Nintendo 64, which all aligned with his estimated figures. The Wii was a notable exception because it attracted many non-gamers interested in titles like Wii Fit.
Market Limitations
Layden believes that the market is “stuck” or somewhat restricted. He further clarified this by stating:
“If you line up all the PS1s, Sega Saturns, and N64s by generation, they all hit around 250 million. The only time it peaked near 300 million was during the Wii era when people thought buying a Wii Fit would help them lose weight. That brought in a non-traditional gaming audience.”
However, he insists that this was a one-time occurrence, and the market has since plateaued. He thinks it’s crucial to break through this barrier. “Some may think I’m crazy for saying this, but the reason Sony’s Betamax format lost to VHS was that VHS allowed other manufacturers to license its format.”
Preserving Console Identity
Despite his views on a unified format, Layden does not advocate for eliminating what makes each console special. In the same interview, he added:
“I don’t believe every game needs to be exclusive to a console, but I recognize the importance of exclusives for platform holders like Sony and Nintendo. Strong exclusives add significant value to their brands.”
Source:
Link