Inside Edge 428: The game industry is broken – can we fix it?
In the cover story of Edge 428, out now, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney references the first videogame crash of 1983, an event that is often talked about with haunted expressions by people who were there at the time, particularly anyone involved in trying to shift copies of Atari's ET. As cataclysmic as it was, though, it's important to remember that this was an event centred on the North American market.
Most consumers in the UK, for instance, weren't even aware that it happened. In truth, seeing Atari VCS games discounted from £30 – a mind-scrambling £105 in 2026 terms – to a more palatable £10 should've served as a sign that something was up, but by this point British enthusiasts were distracted by the home computer revolution. Sinclair's ZX Spectrum, launched in 1982, was a hit not only because the hardware was affordable but because its games were, too (particularly if you followed the crowd and shared pirated copies of games with friends). Atari's dilemma proved to be calamitous, killing its position as a serious force within the videogame hardware space.
The difficulties facing the industry in 2026 are more widespread than was the case in the early '80s, even if some regions are affected more dramatically than others, with developers in certain territories adjusting rather than cratering. Yes, there is the obvious issue of game over-supply, providing echoes of what happened in 1983, but a crash isn't charted only by unit sales declining on graphs.
Today, there is also the increasing cost of tech components, which not only affects the price of hardware available right now but takes a blowtorch to strategies for an entire new generation of consoles. Perhaps the most important indicator of the declining health of the industry as a whole lies in the state of employment, with over 14,500 job losses expected across this year alone.
In Edge 428's special report, we talk to industry experts about the numerous factors that have driven the videogame industry into its perilous position, and consider some options for turning its fortunes around.
Also inside:
London Falling
How Chinese studio Eclipse Glow is aiming to create some knights to remember in Tides Of Annihilation.
Happy Mediums
The art of translating movies, TV and books into games, from The Godfather to The Da Vinci Code.
Studio Profile
It may be A Battlefield Studio, but there's much more to Criterion's storied history than FPS warfare.
The Making Of…
How Onion Games' team of veteran developers herded Stray Children into a memorable RPG.
Time Extend
'90s darling Wipeout had fallen from its pedestal, but a stroke of Pure genius got it back on track.
Previews
Metro 2039, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Guns Of Eschaton, Wardogs, Chronoscript: The Endless End, and Nighthawks.
Reviews
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Beast Of Reincarnation, Onimusha: Way Of The Sword, Mortal Shell II, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, Halo: Campaign Evolved, The Sinking City 2, No More Room In Hell 2, Mistfall Hunter, Ambrosia Sky, Servant Of The Lake, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, and Blood Dungeon.
Plus:
How is Nintendo faring in an industry of wide-scale turmoil?
Why survival is not just a game for the creators of Hollow Home.
A profile of Buckshot Roulette creator Mike Klubnika.
The art of Efecto Studios' Bunraku.
Steven Poole gets physical in Trigger Happy
Alex Spencer invites gen-AI to his party.
The Long Game: Back to the front with Battlefield 6.
Buy Edge 428 here. To take advantage of our current subscription offer, you can also get your first three issues for just £5.
