RPGaDAY #31 - Predictions for the next year

What do you anticipate most for gaming in 2018?

I'm going to preface this post by saying that I am a cynic (and by extension a pessimist). Here are some predictions for the coming year...

-Brick & mortar stores will either close or stop carrying rpg games. I have seen many "hobby" stores relegate rpg games to 1-2 shelves only. They also only carry the latest and most popular games and only a couple of them. The days of being able to walk into a store and seeing every product for a game, the latest releases and older games/supplements (stuff released within the past 5 years) are gone or dying. Most brick & mortar re being kept afloat by collectible card games or board games (and I have seen a decrease in board games of late).

-5E will remain strong. People still seem eager to explore the system. However, WotC will need to provide rules updates (instead of just adventure paths) which they are planning on doing later this year. This puts them in an excellent place.

-Kickstarters will diminish. Most companies have turned to Kickstarter as their main avenue of selling games and I believe there is a Kickstarter fatigue going on that will increase.

-Slow decline in rpg sales in general. While I think the market is still strong, I have heard of various companies selling less overall. I feel that rpgs were a growing fad due to Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings/Game of Thrones but as a fad they are waning. The market will continue strong but not at the same heights.

-New Games will continue to proliferate. More new games with old and new systems will be released but most will be niche games too often overlooked. Of late we've seen a bunch of new editions for older games and genres (Torg, Star Trek, etc) but I suspect we'll see some solid games that are new and fresh.