Survival/Horror Rejuvenation: Proof That Gamers Were Heard?

Many gamers complain that developers and publishers don't listen to them.

But even if this is true – at least to some extent – it doesn't mean widespread complaints are being ignored by all designers. Perhaps a good example of this is the recent survival/horror resurgence.

We're starting to see more titles that actually fall into the pure survival/horror genre, a category that had been shifting more and more toward action. We don't know what happened to Silent Hill and Resident Evil simply isn't the franchise it once was (in terms of content, structure and quality). Therefore, those who crave the classic horror adventure have been pining for something new.

Well, they're kinda getting it. There are multiple examples of developers acknowledging this fanbase's desire for true survival/horror. Take the recently released and absolutely terrifying Outlast , for instance. All you've got is a camera and the will to live. Doesn't get more "pure" than that, right? Furthermore, later this year, we'll get the eagerly anticipated The Evil Within from original Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami. Now, did he undertake such a project simply because he wanted to get back to his roots, or because he also noticed that there was a demand for that?

I think it's a combination of both explanations. And what about Daylight and DayZ ? Okay, granted, there's more action involved in both, but they also contain very distinct elements of the once-ailing genre. Lastly, one should also point out an overlooked fact: The game many consider to be 2013's best, Naughty Dog's The Last Of Us , has distinct survival/horror elements. In fact, many will maintain that it's closer to an actual survival game than an action/adventure game. Last I checked, that production did very well.

Therefore, considering all this, isn't it safe to assume that complaints from gamers helped spark this mini-resurrection?