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- Nexon has recently found plenty of success with The First Descendant.
- The company’s CEO argues that player feedback is the most important metric for modern games.
- He believes fan feedback can be considered more important than engagement statistics today.
Game development costs have skyrocketed over the last generation. Where a typical AAA production could be completed in less than $100 million more than a decade ago, it’s not uncommon for modern productions to cost as much as $200-250 million.
This has led to higher stakes, and failures like the recently released Concord can put a major dent in a company’s funds. As per the Nexon CEO, the current state of AAA development makes player feedback even more important.
Why it matters: It’s not uncommon to see developers and audiences clashing over different views and thoughts. However, the Nexon CEO believes this is the wrong approach.
Speaking to 4Gamer, the CEO outlined the importance of listening to player feedback and delivering on what they want. Yong-Hyun Park stated that modern AAA costs are constantly rising, and statistics aren’t always enough to assess whether a certain type of title will be successful.
This means that developers, particularly in regions like Korea, often take a gamble when working with new ideas or different genres that haven’t been experimented with. However, Yong-Hyun Park believes that player feedback is always a reliable reference to fall back on.
While a studio like Nexon still relies on data and overseas numbers for its decision-making, the developer emphasizes that fan feedback is more reliable. Even with the uncertainty of player retention, he finds basic feedback like fans enjoying the gameplay experience a valuable sign of potential success.
I think that focusing on user feedback is the most reliable standard.
-Yong-Hyun Park
Currently, many AAA releases have failed because developers were unable to consider player feedback. Despite ambitious teams and long development cycles, the likes of Suicide Squad, Marvel’s Avengers, and Concord have been anything but successful.
Looking at recent failures, the Nexon CEO makes a solid point. AAA productions will only get more expensive from here, so listening to fandoms will be crucial for all studios moving forward.
What are your thoughts on the CEO’s perspective? Do you agree? Join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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