A former Starfield developer, Will Shen, highlights player fatigue with excessively long AAA games. His experience across titles like Starfield, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76 provides insight into this growing trend.

Shen argues that the market is reaching a saturation point with lengthy games, making it increasingly difficult to attract players already burdened with a backlog of extensive titles. He cites the success of Skyrim as a contributing factor to the prevalence of "evergreen" games, comparing this trend to the impact of Dark Souls on the popularity of challenging combat. He emphasizes that most players don't complete games exceeding ten hours, impacting overall story engagement and product satisfaction.

This saturation, according to Shen, contributes to the resurgence of shorter games. He points to the success of Mouthwashing, a short indie horror game, as an example of how concise gameplay can enhance player experience. He suggests that extending Mouthwashing's playtime with side quests would have negatively impacted its reception.

Despite the growing appeal of shorter games, Shen acknowledges the continued popularity of longer titles like Starfield. The release of Shattered Space DLC in 2024 and the rumored 2025 expansion demonstrate Bethesda's commitment to expanding upon already substantial game content. The industry thus appears to be navigating a duality, catering to both preferences for extensive and concise gaming experiences.