Back in May, MOP reader Formerly Known as Sray made a compelling argument that MMO studios – as well as the broader gaming industry – are stabbing themselves in the foot by obsessing over younger players.
“Executives don’t prioritize the age 35+ players because they’re harder to reach than younger players,” he wrote. “Additionally, the 45+ year old game developers who are the ones taking the reins as studio heads and lead designers are more interested in creating the games they would’ve given their eye teeth to play when they were 19 or 20 than what they’d actually give their eye teeth to play right now. As a result, just as tail end Gen-Xers and the oldest millennials (aka the first wave of lifelong gamers) are hitting their 40s, the most visible part of the biggest entertainment medium in the world is telling them ‘we’re not interested in you anymore.’ A lot of money is being left on the table.”
Should MMO studios prioritize older players over younger players? Or do you think it’s already happening?
Every morning, the Massively Overpowered writers team up with mascot Mo to ask MMORPG players pointed questions about the massively multiplayer online roleplaying genre. Grab a mug of your preferred beverage and take a stab at answering the question posed in today’s Daily Grind!
