मुख्य जानकारी
New Blood Interactive CEO Dave Oshry argues that the term "immersive sim" is a poor marketing tool for selling games. Despite the genre's dedicated fanbase, Oshry believes the label is confusing to mainstream audiences and fails to effectively communicate the nature of titles like Gloomwood and Fallen Aces.
Oshry suggests that these games are better categorized as RPGs, noting that the market understands that term much better. He points to Baldur's Gate 3 as an example of a game that incorporates immersive elements—such as stacking boxes or solving problems creatively—without needing the niche label.
The difficulty of using the term is highlighted by the experience of Arkane's Prey. According to the article, the developer spent significant time explaining the concept to potential players, which may have contributed to disappointing sales and the eventual closure of Arkane Austin.
To avoid these marketing pitfalls, New Blood has opted for alternative descriptors. For instance, they market Gloomwood and Fallen Aces alongside Blood West as a "stealth trilogy" to attract players. Oshry notes that while "boomer shooter" is a useful, widely understood term for their other titles, "immersive sim" remains an ineffective, niche label.
