7 Simple Solutions To The Gaming Industry's Biggest Problems

3. Storefronts Fail To Recommend Games You'd Like

Solution: Consumer-specific game suggestions based on playing habits and franchises.

With the "indie renaissance" of 2021 - where scores of recommendable smaller-scale games saw upticks in popularity thanks to bigger titles being delayed into 2022 - it's a reminder that some of the best games you can play don't come with big marketing budgets, or anything to really highlight their existence.

The Artful Escape, Eastward, Cyber Shadow, Lake, Axiom Verge 2 - all stellar, recommendable games that it's pot luck if they end up on your radar.

To remedy that, we need WAY better algorithmic tools on your average console storefront, when it comes to recommendations.

Think Spotify's Daily Mix or their newer "Blend" technology that assembles playlists based on two peoples' tastes. Yes, we have trending sections to get the word out about something like Hades, and you might a "wishlist" or "favourite" something, but 99% of the time this doesn't mean anything other than a notification on launch day. Any "other games like this" boxout underneath a game's page also rarely make sense.

Give us curated portions of storefronts that suggest titles based on specific game mechanics and player interests the console knows we enjoy, because it already tracked the relevant gameplay, trophy or achievement data alongside. If that requires more integration with data from publishers, then give us publisher recommendations - for every Assassin's Creed and Far Cry there should be a nod towards Valiant Hearts, Rayman Legends or Child of Light.

With mandated demos like I mentioned and a discount on the price because you've been finishing more games that month, it would create one hell of an ecosystem around discovery and customer satisfaction that would benefit everybody.