Today there are more developers making PC games than ever, and it's Steam Deck's fault

A recent report from the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025 reveals that video game development for PC has reached unprecedented levels, with 80% of over 3,000 developers surveyed working on projects for this platform. This figure marks a significant increase compared to the 66% reported in 2024, consolidating PC as the dominant platform in the video game industry.

In comparison, only 38% of respondents are developing for PlayStation 5 and 34% for Xbox Series X/S. This increase in game development for PC has been steadily rising since 2020, when 56% of developers stated they were working on this platform. The report also highlights that the interest in developing for PC has grown, reaching 74% of respondents.

The Culprit of Everything: Steam Deck

The GDC suggests that the growing popularity of the Steam Deck, mentioned by 44% of surveyed developers, could be driving this surge in PC development. The ease of access and distribution offered by Steam is a key factor, allowing developers to release their games more easily. In 2024, nearly 19,000 new titles were launched on Steam, which demonstrates the vitality of this platform.

However, the report highlights that its sample has a bias towards Western developers, with 58% of respondents coming from the United States. This could influence the results regarding the global industry, as the lack of representation from markets like China and Japan may lead to an underestimation of mobile game development and other platforms. While the PC developer community is growing, the job outlook is not entirely encouraging: 10% of respondents reported layoffs in 2024, and 4% indicated studio closures.

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