December 1st 2024.
In recent years, it's become increasingly rare to find triple-A video games set in the modern world. The lack of modern settings is something that has caught the attention of many gamers, including myself. GameCentral recently published an interesting article on the subject, and it really got me thinking.
Back in the day, there were plenty of GTA clones, but nowadays they are few and far between. This is particularly surprising given the popularity of open world games. As someone who isn't a big fan of GTA, I didn't pay much attention to this until I read further and discovered that there is a serious shortage of games set in the real world. Apart from the occasional outlier like Life Is Strange, and a handful of indie games, the majority of big-budget mainstream games take place in fictional worlds.
One might assume that creating fantasy worlds is cheaper than creating a realistic setting, but this isn't necessarily the case. As GameCentral pointed out, creating a fantasy world from scratch and then having to recreate it for each new installment can be a costly and time-consuming process. On the other hand, creating a photorealistic city allows for easy replication and adaptability to different settings.
Moreover, games set in the real world don't require the creation of monsters or elaborate backstories. There's also no need to secure licenses for real-world elements, as evidenced by GTA's lack of concern for authenticity. So why are video games, which are often striving for realism and seriousness, still avoiding the real world?
It seems that many games are obsessed with being taken seriously, but only in the context of a fantasy world. Take Final Fantasy 16, for example, with its dark, Game of Thrones-esque setting. While this may appeal to some, it's hard to deny the allure of exploring the whimsical strangeness of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
If developers are so insistent on telling serious and believable stories, why not set them in the real world? After all, action-packed games like Call of Duty have no shortage of excitement. If we look to other forms of media, it's clear that even more lighthearted franchises like James Bond and Mission: Impossible are still more grounded in reality than the vast majority of video games.
Moving on to the topic of GTA clones, it's easy to see why they are so scarce. The expense and the dominance of Rockstar in the market make it difficult for other publishers to compete. But this begs the question, why aren't we seeing more games set in the real world or in the crime thriller genre?
In my opinion, the answer lies in the sad reality that publishers are more interested in nostalgia and established properties than creating something new. This is evident in the countless remakes and reboots we see in both the gaming and film industries. However, since most older games were not set in the real world, this trend perpetuates itself.
But even if a developer were bold enough to create a new game set in the real world, they would likely want to draw inspiration from popular franchises. This is where the lack of competition for GTA becomes a major issue. What other game could they possibly emulate? Pay Day?
It's a disappointing state of affairs, and there doesn't seem to be a clear way out of this rut. Despite the industry's efforts to cater to a more mature audience, most video games are still stuck in a fantasy world. When a game like Silent Hill 2, which is known for its grounded and realistic approach, is considered one of the most "serious" games of the year, it's clear that something needs to change.
As a reader, I can only hope that the industry will take notice of this issue and start exploring new avenues. After all, there's a whole world out there waiting to be brought to life in video games.
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