In a recent panel at the Game Developers Conference, game designer Cameron Williams, known for his work on Grand Theft Auto 6 and Red Dead Online, discussed the troubling issue of ‘open world fatigue.’ Williams stated,

“Players don’t explore.”

This sentiment rings true, as many gamers often feel overwhelmed by vast open worlds filled with quests and numerous icons on the map. According to Williams, this can lead to exploration anxiety, where players hesitate to venture into new areas even when they know what’s waiting for them. The designer emphasized that many factors contribute to this phenomenon, including the significant time commitment required from players in action-oriented games.

In addressing how to retain player interest, he suggests avoiding excessive landmarks to limit choice paralysis and encourage exploration. Williams illustrated his point with a reference to a study showing that customers are more likely to purchase when presented with fewer options.

Ultimately, he encourages developers to create engaging content that naturally guides players to explore without feeling pressured. “We want to avoid creating a possibility space so large that players simply don’t know what to choose,” he concluded.