Survival Games: The Viral Phenomenon Taking the PC Gaming World By Storm
Valheim's incredible success highlights the PC's dominance in the survival game genre.
Survival games are having yet another viral moment, with PC players once again proving to be the tastemakers in the gaming world. Valheim, a new release, has taken the industry by storm and reminded us why survival games are a phenomenon that can only happen on PC.
PC gaming has a rich history of being home to various genres, from adventure games to first-person shooters. However, there's no denying that survival games are the epitome of PC gaming today. Year after year, PC players have seen the birth and rise of massive hits in this genre. It's time to celebrate our role as the tastemakers.
The rise of survival games has not been without its challenges. There was a time when the market was saturated with early access survival games, causing some players to grow tired of the repetitive nature of the genre. However, Valheim's launch in 2021 changed the game, selling over 5 million copies in its first month of early access. It reignited the passion for survival games among players, including myself and my friends, who spent over 100 hours immersed in the world of Valheim.
It's important to recognize that the modern survival genre was conceived on PC. Even before Steam's Early Access program, the success of Minecraft's alpha version and the original DayZ mod demonstrated the allure of survival games in their unfinished state. These games wouldn't have achieved the same level of success on consoles. PC players, who were already accustomed to downloading mods and patches, were the perfect audience for these early survival hits.
Fast forward to today, and survival games continue to thrive on PC, with neither console publishers nor big studios able to replicate their success. We have come to expect the grit and weirdness of unfinished experiments when it comes to survival games. There's something captivating about the simple act of punching trees, crafting makeshift shelters, and foraging for food to survive in a vast wilderness.
Even though survival games are not exclusively indie titles, it is the small teams behind them that often produce the biggest hits. Valheim, for example, was developed by a team of just five people. Palworld's CEO described their team as "the antithesis of proper game development." And even Nightingale, a highly anticipated upcoming release, comes from an independent studio made up of former members of larger studios. What sets survival games apart is their origin as a mod, which has led to thriving modding communities that have flourished on PC.
While PC players often lament the absence of certain console exclusives, the survival genre remains solely in our hands. Unlike blockbuster action games or console-ready RPGs, survival games retain their exclusivity to the PC platform. They have become our domain, providing endless hours of thrilling gameplay and exciting new releases.
In conclusion, survival games have once again proven their dominance in the gaming industry, with PC players leading the way. Valheim's remarkable success serves as a reminder of why survival games can only reach their full potential on PC. So let's celebrate our status as tastemakers and continue to embrace this captivating genre that shows no signs of slowing down. The next trending game could very well be in our hands yet again.
Analyst comment
Neutral news.
As an analyst, the success of Valheim and the continued popularity of survival games on PC demonstrate that the PC community remains the dominant force in this genre. The trend of early access and the thriving modding communities contribute to the genre’s success. Small teams continue to produce hit survival games, and the upcoming release of Nightingale further emphasizes PC’s influence in shaping the market. PC players will likely continue to have exclusive access to and influence over the survival genre.
