Can GTA VI Save Modern Gaming?

The video game industry should be having its best years ever. More people are playing games, spending more time playing, and buying more in-game content. The video game industry currently generates between $200 and $350 billion in annual revenue, making it one of the largest forms of entertainment in the world. However, many of the companies behind these games are struggling internally.

One of the major problems is that gamers are spending more time playing fewer games. In 2024, 57% of total playtime was spent on games that were at least six years old, while only 12% played new games that came out that year. Titles like Fortnite, League of Legends, Apex Legends, and other long-running games can keep players engaged for multiple years, leaving new releases fighting for attention.

This trend has pushed studios toward making massive games designed to be the next long-term hit. Unfortunately, these projects are incredibly expensive. Sony reportedly spent $200 million developing Concord, only to sell 25,000 copies before servers shut down just two weeks after launch. Many other “major” releases have produced similar results.

During the COVID pandemic, gaming companies expanded aggressively. Companies hired thousands of employees and spent billions acquiring competitors, expecting rapid growth to continue. As growth slowed, however, it was met with layoffs and canceled projects. Between 2022 and 2025, a total of 45,000 gaming jobs were cut. 

The problem for companies is not finding people who play video games, but convincing them to leave the games they already love. With billions riding on GTA VI’s release, the industry is about to find out whether its biggest games can convince players to move on.