It’s a wild time to be a gamer, especially if you’ve got a PS5 or an Xbox Series X/S. Recent stats reveal that over 40% of all playtime logged by console players in the US last month was funneled into just ten live service games. That’s right, those few titles are sucking up more than their fair share of attention, leaving other games gasping for air.
Mat Piscatella, the executive director and video game industry analyst at Circana (formerly NPD). In a thread on Bluesky, Piscatella pointed out that around 70% of active PS5 and Xbox users participated in at least one of those top ten live service offerings in January. Whether they were diving deep or merely dipping their toes is up for debate, but these games have clearly carved out a commanding presence.
The numbers highlight an interesting trend: while many players may try new titles, they’re ultimately spending significant chunks of their gaming hours on these popular live service games. This has raised eyebrows among developers and publishers who might be sweating bullets over how this impacts their latest releases. When you consider that total US video game market spending peaked in 2021 and has been on a downturn since, it paints a rather grim picture for the competition.
Piscatella notes that gamers devoting so much time to these select titles leave less time to exploring fresh content, especially newer releases that need all the love they can get. The pool isn’t growing; it’s getting crowded with loyal fans flocking to proven favorites instead.
Over 70% of US active PS5/XBS players played at least 1 of the top 10 live service games of the month during January.
More than 40% of all time spent playing on PS5/XBS in the US during January went to those same top 10 live service games.
Source: Circana Player Engagement Tracker
— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 2:22 AM
You can’t help but feel for indie developers and smaller studios trying to break through this noise. With established live service games offering consistent updates and engaging content, newcomers face an uphill battle. And let’s be frank: how do you compete with something free to play and continuously evolving? It’s like showing up to a party where everyone else dances to the same catchy tune while you’re stuck trying to introduce your mixtape.
Piscatella’s Take on Future Releases
Piscatella added some weighty comments about what lies ahead for the industry: “A lot is riding on the new products coming to market this year.” He hinted at big hopes tied to upcoming releases like the Switch 2, alongside numerous AAA titles poised for launch. There’s potential here, but will it be enough?
His reflections strike a chord with many long-time gamers who remember when hopping from one blockbuster game to another felt almost second nature. Nowadays, players seem to be tethered tighter than ever by these interesting services that demand time and loyalty. “Now,” he said, “the live service games suck out a ton of available time.” It raises questions about how we engage with our favorite pastimes moving forward.
If you want more insights into this trend or want some juicy gaming gossip, you can check out Circana’s recent revelations about physical game sales dropping significantly as digital experiences become increasingly preferred due to high-speed internet access and enticing microtransaction models driving engagement.
The team at ConsolePCGaming.com will keep its ear close to the ground as developments unfold! We’d love to hear your thoughts, too: Are you gravitating toward specific titles while others gather dust? Which live service game has hooked you lately?
