tech
Why I’m embracing the latest uncool thing in gaming
‘Unc’ is meant to disparage older players who favour slow-paced shooters and epic narrative games, but the industry should make games for all generations
TL;DR
- The term 'unc' (uncle) is Gen Z's slang for individuals over 30 and their preferred games, often from the 1990s and 2000s.
- The author embraces the 'unc game' trend, seeing it as a natural generational cycle in the gaming industry.
- Older gamers (over 30) represent a significant and wealthy demographic, supporting traditional gaming business models.
- Approximately 50-60% of gamers are over 30, with the average age now 41, and 97% of US console purchasers last year were over 25.
- The gaming industry should consider creating games explicitly for older demographics, similar to other cultural industries.
- The sustained interest in retro games is creating new markets and supporting media outlets and developers focused on older titles.
- The article discusses the potential for a £100/$100 base game, with GTA VI speculated to be the first, and notes that inflation makes this price point less outrageous than it seems.
- New console games for PS5 and Switch 2 often retail for £60-£70, and older games would cost significantly more when adjusted for inflation.
- The author prefers paying a higher price for premium games over a market dominated by phone games, subscription services, and Roblox.