The future of the gaming industry

What will the game industry look like in five years?

We ask a group of developers where they see things going.

By Patrick Stafford Nov 14, 2017, 12:00pm EST

The game industry of 2022 is big, messy and hard to find.

Those who define it might be children. They could be solo developers on just enough funding to scrimp by for the next project. They could be retirees, artists or marginalized children in a war-torn country.

They may create works of genius that go undiscovered until long after their death.

Following up on Polygon’s recent fifth anniversary, we decided to ask a range of experts in the game industry the same question: What will things look like five years from now?

While some cited practical predictions, like the rise of virtual reality, most centered around the structures that enable games to be made in the first place. And while many people see things improving, several also sounded warning bells about what the industry may be like and who may be in charge of it.

THE FUTURE ISN’T NECESSARILY WHAT YOU THINK

While many developers imagine a future where the game industry is overrun with new and exciting technology, many are split on some fundamental questions. What role will virtual reality play? Will there be new consoles? And if so, what power will the PC still wield?

Harvey Smith, co-creative director at Arkane Studios, which birthed the Dishonored series, says he believes in VR but not as a game platform within the next five years.

“There are many other applications with greater potential and fewer inherent problems to solve,” he says.