Why Singleplayer Games Will Never Die
They're here to stay
Though the gaming industry is now geared toward multiplayer and shared experiences, single-player games will continue to thrive and will never die. We've listed some of the reasons why:
In an episode of “I am totally disconnected with my consumers” back in 2010, EA executive Frank Gibeau said in an interview with Develop “They're very comfortable moving the discussion towards how we make connected gameplay – be it co-operative or multiplayer or online services – as opposed to fire-and-forget, packaged goods only, single-player, 25-hours – and you're out. I think that model is finished.”
Yes, the former head of EA once said that single-player games are dead. This was 13 years ago, and with how the industry has gone since then, we can safely say he was wrong. It would be an understatement to say that single-player games have thrived in the aforementioned timeframe, leading us to believe they will never die. Why, though?
Successive masterpieces
We've had a massive selection of masterpieces in those 13 years since Gibeau talked about how the single-player model is done and dusted. Even EA, the organization he led, got into it with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
A few excellent examples of single-player masterpieces include the two Nintendo Zelda games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Red Dead Redemption 2, Persona 5, and God of War. These critically acclaimed games pundits say are among the best ever made, and if you’ve played them, you would undoubtedly agree.
They sell
Believe it or not, a game’s quality isn’t the most telling indicator of success. This lies in its sales numbers - if a single-player franchise continues to sell well, there’s no reason why you developers wouldn’t churn out sequels. For example, Assassin’s Creed manages to sell millions of copies while Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was a massive commercial success with over 18 million sold worldwide.
As they say, people vote with their wallets. If they continue to buy $60 single-player games, well, it’s safe to say
Multiplayer gaming has a lot of…nuances
When you play a single-player experience, you’ll just dive into it right away, exploring a world and living through a story the game’s developers made for you.
Although shared multiplayer experiences can be as rich, it has numerous quirks and requirements. For example, there’s rampant cheating in online first-person shooters, pay-to-win gameplay models, and predatory practices (hello gacha games and loot boxes) that suck all the fun out.
Modified single-player/co-op games are becoming more prevalent
Some games, like Genshin Impact and Baldur’s Gate III, are essentially single-player experiences. You’ll explore a rich and vibrant world in these RPGs, take on countless enemies, and interact with the locals, going through well-crafted stories and quests. However, their developers, Hoyoverse and Larian, have become co-op experiences where you can enjoy what they offer with a friend instead of being a full-fledged multiplayer game.
One way or another, this works well - you can explore the world independently, but you can invite a friend over if you feel like it.
Overall, single-player games will continue to thrive, even if the industry is concentrated with countless multiplayer games geared toward shared spaces and competitive environments. After all, they continue to sell, and developers and publishers won’t stop churning out top-notch gameplay experiences.