The real-time strategy (RTS) genre has seen a sharp decline in popularity over the years despite its golden days with iconic titles like C&C, Red Alert, and Warcraft. The post on the decline of the RTS genre sparked a heated discussion on Reddit, with users debating the various factors contributing to its fall.
Summary
- The high mechanical skill floor in RTS games alienated casual players
- The shift towards MOBAs attracted the micro-focused audience
- Lack of innovation and stiff competition from established franchises
- Focus on multiplayer over single-player campaigns
The Community Divide
Reddit users highlighted the split between macro and micro RTS gamers as a significant factor in the genre’s decline. While macro gamers found solace in strategy and simulation games, micro gamers migrated to MOBAs, leaving the middle ground untapped
Lack of Innovation
Many attributed the decline to a lack of innovation in the genre, with games struggling to compete with giants like Starcraft and Age of Empires. The oversaturation of the market in the late 2000s further hindered new developers from making a splash
Single-Player vs. Multiplayer
Users lamented the shift towards multiplayer-focused RTS games at the expense of engaging single-player campaigns. Titles like Starcraft 2 were praised for their deep campaigns, while newer releases failed to capture that essence, ultimately failing to attract a broader audience
