2025 State of the Gaming Industry: 5 Most Surprising Findings
The 2025 GDC State of the Game Industry report dropped some bombshells—not in the "VR is dead" sense, but in the “wait, what?” kind of way. Some shifts we saw coming. Others made us pause, re-read, and then start rethinking how XR studios should navigate the future.
Here are five of the most unexpected findings about the game industry today—and what they mean for XR developers and studios trying to make smart moves in a volatile industry.
1. Solo Devs Are on the Rise—And They're Shipping Hit Games
Why It’s Surprising
Game dev is hard. XR dev? Even harder. And yet, solo development grew to 21% in 2025, up from 18% last year (GDC 2025 Report).
Why It Matters to XR
One-person studios are proving that with the right idea and execution, you don’t need a team of 30 to break through. But you do need smart publishing, marketing, and community support.
Examples
Gorilla Tag: Started as a solo dev project → 1M+ players
Dragon Fist: VR Kung Fu: Created by a solo developer → published by Clique Games → expanded from PCVR to Quest with continued community engagement
Takeaway
If you're building solo, you’re not crazy—you’re in good company. But partner with people who can help you scale.
2. Web-Based VR Games Are... Back?
Why It’s Surprising
Everyone wrote off browser-based games as 2006 tech. But here we are—web dev interest is climbing again, and WebXR is making a quiet comeback.
Why It Matters to XR
Lowering friction is everything in VR. No install. No launcher. Just load and play? That’s a huge deal for adoption and early testing.
Examples
HeyVR: A frictionless WebXR platform for launching and sharing multiplayer VR experiences instantly (heyvr.io)
Meta’s Web Push: Meta has been increasingly experimenting with web-based VR initiatives, signaling future potential for frictionless VR gaming
Takeaway
Don’t ignore WebXR. If you’re prototyping, hosting demos, or building lightweight social XR spaces—it’s back on the menu.
3. Narrative Designers Are Getting Laid Off More Than Anyone
Why It’s Surprising
We expected layoffs in production and QA, but narrative? That’s where so much of VR’s potential lives—immersion, presence, story.
Why It Matters to XR
Narrative designers were the most laid-off role in the industry (19%), according to the GDC report.
Single-player, story-driven VR games may be harder to fund and sustain in 2025. Studios are shifting toward multiplayer and live ops to justify costs.
Examples
Lone Echo II: Gorgeous, narrative-rich—and then the studio got gutted after release
Asgard’s Wrath 2: One of the few narrative-focused exceptions, bankrolled by Meta
Takeaway
If you’re making a narrative VR game, make damn sure you have a monetization or community angle—or budget like you’ll never get post-launch funding.
4. AI Is Everywhere—and Devs Are Still Not On Board
Why It’s Surprising
More studios than ever are using generative AI... and more devs than ever are saying it’s hurting the industry.
Why It Matters to XR
According to the same report, 52% of developers work at studios using generative AI, but 30% believe it’s negatively impacting the industry—up from 18% last year (GDC 2025 Report).
In VR, low-effort AI-generated assets break immersion fast. Players feel the difference. Studios still need humans to design presence, embodiment, and interaction.
Takeaway
Use AI where it saves time. But don’t let it be the core of your experience—especially not in VR, where everything is 10x more tactile.
5. AAA Studios Are Shrinking—But Indies Aren’t
Why It’s Surprising
AAA studios are supposed to be the safe bet. Yet AAA representation dropped from 18% to 15%, while indie and AA studios remained stable.
Why It Matters to XR
Big studios are too slow and bloated to pivot into XR right now. Indies can move fast, take risks, and own niche markets.
Examples
Ubisoft’s Splinter Cell VR? Quietly canned.
Hellsweeper VR, Gorilla Tag, the Frenzy Franchise (Frenzy VR & Frenzy Extinction)? Indie-built. Still thriving with strong communities and creative updates.
Takeaway
Being small is a strength—if you have a plan. Lean into speed, creativity, and smart partnerships. Big studios aren’t your competition right now.
Conclusion – What Surprised Us Most?
The industry isn’t falling apart—it’s reshaping itself.
The rise of solo devs.
The return of web-based VR.
The AI backlash.
The narrative design cutbacks.
The indie surge while AAA contracts.
If you’re in XR, you’re not behind—you’re early. But you better be nimble, smart, and brutally honest about what you're building.
So what surprised you most?
Let us know. And if you're building something weird, bold, or unforgettable—we want to hear about it.
Want to read more on the 2025 GDC State of the Game Industry report? Check out this other Clique blog post, “2025 State of the Gaming Industry: 5 Things XR Devs Must Pay Attention To”.
