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Why 92% of Players Quit: Duamentes Report Exposes Costly Mistakes Across the GameDev Industry

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The GameDev industry has stopped growing. Despite strong top-line numbers — mobile ($96.2B), console ($52.4B), and PC ($40.4B) — studios are being stretched by rising production costs, gameplay fatigue, and shifting user expectations.  

The Global GameDev market is valued at $189.3B in 2025, signalling stabilization — not acceleration. In mature regions like the US and Europe, growth has stalled entirely. The industry is under pressure: studios are shutting down, layoffs are rising (Meta, Codemasters, Respawn, Nerial, NetEase Games and more), the old success formulas no longer work, and the post-pandemic boom is over.

Duamentes Gaming Report 2025 highlights the urgent need for change: player retention is broken, and most studios fail to understand what players actually want — and by the time they find out in beta, it’s too late to save the game or the business behind it, with examples including:

  1. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (Rocksteady, 2024) launched to high expectations but faced poor reviews and rapid player drop-off, reportedly losing over $200 million before support was scaled back in early 2025.
  1. Concord (Firewalk Studios, 2024) drew immediate criticism for lacking originality in a crowded hero shooter market, with doubts about its relevance even before launch.
  1. XDefiant (Ubisoft, 2024) launched with promise but quickly declined due to balance issues and low retention, leading to its shutdown and studio closure in 2025.

“Studios keep building games players don’t want, delay testing, misread player behavior, and try to fix retention too late. We’re seeing the same mistakes repeated across platforms,” said Maria Amirkhanyan, Head of Gaming Division at Duamentes.  

Mind the Gap: Why Developers Are Losing Touch with Players 

Duamentes report combines global market trends with industry leaders’ in-depth interviews, surveys, and players’ behavioral insights — showing a clear gap between player expectations and developer workflows.

Players want meaning, not just mechanics — they want emotional clarity, narrative hooks, social features that foster belonging, and a genuine respect for their time, not manipulation.

“As short-form platforms like TikTok change how users discover games, the bar for first-session clarity has never been higher. Studios now compete not just with other games — but with every other moment of screen time,” said Maria Amirkhanyan, Head of Gaming Division at Duamentes.

Player challenges 

  • 92% of players churn before Day 30
  • 70% of players drop off within the first few sessions, often before the game has a chance to connect.
  • 38% decide whether to quit during the very first session seeking emotional connection, social features, and immediate clarity.
  • 60% of new mobile games launched in 5 crowded genres and most struggled to break through.
  • 40% of games entering new regions fail due to cultural mismatches in UX, tone, or monetisation.

Industry & Studio Challenges 

  • 71% of studios delay user testing until beta — but by then, it’s often too late to fix what matters.
  • 49% of developers say unionisation is necessary to protect working conditions in an industry increasingly shaped by burnout and uncertainty.
  • 40% of developers say their teams have been impacted by layoffs.
  • 46% of developers work over 50 hours per week — up from 35% last year

Root causes of failed game releases  

The report points to a growing industry divide between those who adapt and those who don’t. As outlined, many studios still rely on practices that no longer serve them:

  • “Build first, test later” leads to costly rework
  • Relying on genre popularity over emotional engagement
  • Live service overload without meaningful progression
  • Ignoring cultural nuance during global launches
  • Designing for metrics, not meaning

“In turbulent times, playtesting and user research are more important than ever for releasing games that players, critics, and investors love. Gaining early insight into the player experience helps identify problems while there’s still time to fix them, aligns teams around a shared vision of what’s being built, and clarifies development priorities — reducing costly rework and making production more predictable and less chaotic,” stated Steve Bromley, Games User Research Consultant, author of How To Be A Games User Researcher.

Indies Are Rising  

While many AAA studios struggle to innovate under mounting costs and conservative pipelines, indie studios are emerging as the creative engine of the industry. With players increasingly seeking smaller, emotionally resonant, and more affordable experiences, indies are filling a crucial gap.

“The quality and relevance of indie games will soar as more developers embrace independence and tools improve… Indie games will claim an all-time high share of top Metacritic titles, putting indie studios at the forefront of innovation,” said Amir Satvat, Game Industry Strategist & Founder of Amir Satvat’s Games Community.

Six Principles to Build High-Performing Games   

From the studios that succeed, the patterns are clear — and they’re embedded in the six principles outlined in Duamentes Gaming Report:

  1. Test onboarding and narrative in early prototyping
  2. Align UX, monetisation, and player emotion
  3. Build modular systems to adapt faster
  4. View player feedback as strategic input, not noise
  5. Invest in junior talent pipelines, protecting creativity over time
  6. Respect player time by replacing grind with clarity and purpose

These principles are the result of Duamentes in-depth research, cross-industry benchmarking, and firsthand analysis of what sets high-performing studios apart. As a strategic and product consulting firm operating across 40 countries and 20 industries for nearly a decade, Duamentes has been closely tracking market dynamics. While the industry tightens, the demand for deep, actionable expertise continues to grow.

“We already have that expertise, with a cross-industrial approach and extensive insight database, and now we’re strengthening it further by launching a dedicated Gaming Division, which we’re announcing at the AI & Games User Research conference,” said Maria Amirkhanyan.

 

The post Why 92% of Players Quit: Duamentes Report Exposes Costly Mistakes Across the GameDev Industry appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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NetBet Partners with Fight Disciples

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NetBet, a leading online gaming platform, has announced an exciting new partnership with world-renowned boxing & MMA podcast the Fight Disciples, co-hosted by award-winning broadcasters Adam Catterall and Nick Peet.

The partnership will span some of the UFC’s biggest events, including Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier at UFC 318, as well as major upcoming boxing bouts.

This partnership builds on NetBet’s recent announcement as the official betting partner of the UFC in the UK and other parts of Europe. It will play a key role in boosting visibility for NetBet’s popular UFC Predictor Game. As part of the collaboration, NetBet branding will feature across all Fight Disciples UFC content, including behind-the-scenes access and exclusive fighter interviews.

Part of this deal will also see the Fight Disciples and NetBet team up to provide all-encompassing coverage for three huge upcoming boxing fights; Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois, Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs Terrance Crawford.

Adam Catterall, co-host of the Fight Disciples Podcast, said: “We’ve always prided ourselves on being the voice of the fight fan, so teaming up with NetBet – the official sportsbook and betting partner of the UFC – is a massive moment for us. This partnership gives us the opportunity to get even closer to the action and, more importantly, bring our audience along with us. Whether it’s behind-the-scenes insight, exclusive content, or on-the-ground access at the biggest events, it’s all about delivering that front-row feeling to our listeners.”

Tristan Wootton, Head of UK at NetBet added: “With NetBet making huge waves in the world of fight sports, this partnership with the Fight Disciples represents another exciting opportunity with regard to brand development. We feel confident that our players will enjoy the engaging content produced from this partnership, with so many brilliant UFC and boxing shows just on the horizon!”

The post NetBet Partners with Fight Disciples appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Soft2Bet’s brand Don.ro Becomes Main Sponsor of CFR Cluj in Multi-Year Agreement

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Soft2Bet continues its strategic expansion in Romania through its rapidly growing online entertainment brand, Don.ro, which has entered a multi-year agreement as the main sponsor of CFR 1907 Cluj, one of Romania’s leading football clubs.

Beginning with the 2025-26 Liga 1 season, leading Romanian brand Don.ro’s logo will feature prominently on CFR Cluj’s home and away kits, training gear, and throughout the “Dr. Constantin Rădulescu” stadium. The partnership with CFR Cluj also includes a slate of live and digital activations powered by Soft2Bet’s innovative platform, designed to deepen fan engagement.

“We are excited to announce our partnership with Don.ro, a Romanian brand that shares our values of performance, professionalism, and the desire to build something lasting. The fact that Don.ro is becoming the main partner of our club is both a validation of the work we do every day and an important step in strengthening CFR Cluj’s image both nationally and internationally.

We are pleased to have a dynamic partner by our side, one with a modern vision who believes in the power of sport to inspire and bring people together. Moreover, Don.ro has chosen to offer each season ticket holder this season an official jersey — a gesture of appreciation for the passion and loyalty with which they support us.” — Cristian Balaj, CFR Cluj President.

The partnership between Soft2Bet and CFR Cluj brings together Don.ro’s award-winning online gaming brand and a club with a rich history of success, including eight league titles, four Romanian Cups, and four Super Cups. Both sides are driven by a commitment to high performance, bold ambition, and fresh ideas, which makes this collaboration especially well-aligned.

“We are honored to join the CFR Cluj family, a symbol of excellence in Romanian football. This partnership reflects the shared values that bring us together — performance, responsibility, and respect for the community.

At Don.ro, we are committed to promoting a safe and balanced entertainment environment, and through our collaboration with CFR Cluj, we aim to deliver a strong message about the importance of responsible play, both on and off the field.”  — Marius Mirasovici, Official representative of Don.ro brand

The partnership is designed to deliver real value to Don.ro’s players and the wider local community. With Soft2Bet’s backing, Don.ro will launch a range of activations tailored to Romanian audiences, such as exclusive match-day experiences, localised campaigns, community events, and responsible gaming initiatives, bringing fans closer to the action and rewarding their loyalty in meaningful ways.

Oksana Tsyhankova, Chief Marketing Officer at Soft2Bet, highlighted: “At Soft2Bet, we excel in building powerful and award-winning brands that forge deep connections with players through localised experiences. Don.ro’s partnership with CFR Cluj embodies this vision,combining a top-performing club with our drive for tailored gamified experiences, product excellence, and a passion for performance.”

Launched in 2024 and recognised as “Best Launch of the Year” at the 12th Meeting of Gambling Professionals, Don.ro delivers over 3,484 casino games, a full live-dealer lineup, and a complete sportsbook. The platform runs on Soft2Bet’s proprietary MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application) technology, which enhances player engagement through mission-based features and in-game challenges.

The post Soft2Bet’s brand Don.ro Becomes Main Sponsor of CFR Cluj in Multi-Year Agreement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Week 27/2025 slot games releases

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Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming

PG Soft has served up a classic slot with its Diner Frenzy Spins. This is a 5-reel, 4-rows video slot featuring connecting ways and sticky symbol respins. Diner Frenzy Spins is set within a vibrant, retro-futuristic diner with a buzzy atmosphere thanks to a playful soundtrack. During any spin, the Mystery Respin may be randomly triggered while the reels are spinning.

ELA Games calls back to a classic yet luxurious gaming experience with its new title, Juicy Crystal. The game offers a unique and modern twist on the beloved and familiar fruit machine format, featuring timeless symbols and rich visuals. The studio’s trademark attention to detail and quality delivers a game that’s exciting, memorable and elegant.

Amusnet presents its newest Online Casino portfolio expansion – a royal-themed slot filled with exciting bonus features. The release adds to the fun of the player-favourite Extra Crown game series, this time with six reels and 100 paylines, top-notch graphics and a vibrant soundtrack. A total of 11 symbols are scattered across the now six reels and 40 fixed paylines, along with some special features that make the gameplay more engaging and fun.

Play’n GO illuminate their classic Moon Princess universe once more with Moon Princess Stargazing, a grid slot set among icy stars and rising multipliers. Set beyond Neptune in the icy reaches of the Kuiper Belt, Moon Princess Stargazing marks a radiant new chapter in one of Play’n GO’s most celebrated series. Players reunite with Star, Nova and Astra – the celestial trio whose powers help forge constellation connections and unlock sky-high wins.

 

Step into the golden sands of Ancient Egypt with Ra’s Relics Bonanza, a thrilling 6×5 cascading slot adventure from Booming Games! Land 8 or more matching symbols anywhere on the reels to secure a win, as winning symbols vanish and new ones tumble down, unlocking endless chances for treasure. Keep an eye on the Divine Scarab, collecting scatter symbols throughout the base game and triggering Free Spins at any moment.

 

The post Week 27/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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