March 9th 2024.
As a fellow gamer, I have been following the recent events in the gaming industry with a mix of confusion and sadness. The corporate jargon from both Microsoft and Sony has left us with little understanding of their plans, but it seems that the days of big budget single-player games are coming to an end. It may have taken them a while to realize it, but it seems that they have finally come to terms with the fact that game budgets have become unsustainable.
Personally, I see this as a positive change. While it may have taken the industry giants some time to catch on, many ordinary gamers have been aware of this issue for quite some time. Of course, the need for big budget single-player games was crucial for the success of the PlayStation 4, and Microsoft was willing to spend big to secure their place in the industry. However, it seems that this is no longer a viable option.
The morning after the big announcement, it seems that both companies have acknowledged the problem. Whether it was intentional or not, they have set expectations for stunning graphics and lengthy gameplay, which they can no longer afford to deliver. It's not hard to imagine how this news will be received by those who are not following the back and forth of the industry. It's likely that this issue is part of the reason why it took so long for them to take action.
Now that the problem has been recognized, it is time for necessary changes to be made. It's unfortunate that this may have resulted in layoffs, but hopefully, that is now behind us. The focus should now be on creating games with sensible budgets that can be completed in two to three years. While this may mean that games won't be as long or as visually stunning as some recent releases, I believe the difference will be negligible.
The increased power of the current generation consoles should make up for any downgrade in graphics, and some PlayStation 4 games still look better than PlayStation 5 exclusives. Additionally, many games suffer from unnecessary bloat, and by focusing on smaller game worlds, developers can maintain the level of detail while keeping the budget in check.
Furthermore, looking at what indie developers are able to achieve with their games today, I doubt that players will even notice a downgrade in graphics. In fact, with smaller budgets, developers can take more risks and create more original and experimental games. I see no downside to this approach, especially if it means avoiding a future where mobile and live service games dominate the market.
As the recent remake of The Last Of Us Part 1 has shown, even a game from the previous generation can still look and play nearly identically on the PlayStation 5. High-end games will continue to look amazing, and if lower budget games from smaller developers don't look quite as good as they used to, I believe that's a small price to pay for the sustainability of the industry.
I, for one, do not want to spend the rest of my gaming days playing only mobile and live service games. And if we can achieve a more balanced industry simply by putting a cap on budgets, I believe it is a small sacrifice to make. I hope that both publishers and players can see the benefits of this change and work towards a future where the gaming industry is sustainable and diverse.
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