GPU Price Drop 2024: What’s Happening?
As we move into 2024, GPU prices have finally stabilized, with both Team Red (AMD) and Team Green (NVIDIA) bringing their products back to retailers at more accessible price points. Now that the market has calmed down, it’s game on for gamers and tech enthusiasts alike.
The Problem with Unfinished Games
Despite advancements in hardware, we’re seeing more and more unfinished games being launched. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky were released in an incomplete state, and the recent debacle with Forspoken left players asking: What’s wrong with AAA game studios? The answer, unsurprisingly, is not simple.
Are GPUs Underpowered?
Here’s the irony—while GPUs today are miles ahead of what most games require, many titles are still launching in poor, unoptimized states. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, for instance, have GPUs comparable to the RTX 2070, which is already two generations old. So, why are these games still riddled with bugs and poor performance?
Let’s break down the top reasons why.
1. Greed
The first culprit is greed. Large game companies are publicly traded, which means they are under constant pressure to deliver increasing profits quarter after quarter. To meet these financial targets, many companies release unfinished games filled with microtransactions and in-app purchases. They know they can get away with this because gamers keep buying the games regardless of quality.
2. Lack of Time
The second reason is time – or rather, the lack of it. Development teams often face immense pressure to meet release dates, leading to ‘crunch’ periods where developers work long hours, sometimes sleeping at their desks for weeks on end. With such intense working conditions, it’s no wonder that bugs, missing features, and other issues plague game launches.
3. Game Development is Hard
The third reason is simple: game development is incredibly difficult. Creating a AAA title is like directing an interactive movie, involving intricate storylines, dialogue, world-building, character animation, and more. All of these elements take years to perfect. For instance, the God of War reboot took almost eight years to develop, and GTA 6 has been in development for over a decade.
4. Pre-orders and Gamer Expectations
Finally, one of the biggest reasons for poor game launches is, ironically, us – the gamers. Pre-ordering based solely on flashy trailers gives developers a free pass to release unfinished products. By throwing money at pre-orders, we encourage complacency in game development, fueling the release of buggy games.
The Rise of In-App Purchases
In addition to pre-orders, the rise of in-app purchases has turned games into money-making machines. Corporate overlords have tasted blood, and they’re pushing hard to sell microtransactions like skins, weapons, and other in-game content. To put things into perspective, last year, Candy Crush raked in a staggering $1 billion, and PUBG Mobile earned $1.5 billion from in-app purchases.
The Silver Lining: Indie Games
Is it all doom and gloom? Not quite. Recently, we’ve seen the incredible rise of indie game development. Thanks to more powerful and affordable hardware, it’s easier than ever for indie studios to develop high-quality games that can rival AAA titles. The internet has made game distribution more accessible, and new AI tools are reducing development cycles, helping small teams create amazing experiences.
Despite the issues in the AAA gaming industry, there are bright spots on the horizon. Indie games are thriving, and powerful hardware is making it easier for everyone to get involved in game development. So, whether you’re a gamer or a game developer, there’s still plenty to be excited about.If you’re looking for a high-performance gaming PC or are diving into game development, you’re already in the right place. We have stores in Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, and we offer free nationwide shipping!
