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- Developers believe the pursuit of lifelike graphics in AAA games is no longer possible.
- They argue that most people don’t care about high-end visuals.
- Many industry veterans are in favor of budget-friendly titles.
The pursuit of better graphics in the gaming industry has always been a massive factor pushing the industry forward. Even with a slew of graphically impressive games being released in 2023 and 2024, including Alan Wake 2 and Black Myth: Wukong, the industry is still trying to aim higher.
Unfortunately, it seems this pursuit has led studios to a dead end, with developers now believing the costs have caught up and created a troubling situation.
Why it matters: The industry has suffered thousands of layoffs this year alone. From gaming giants like PlayStation and Xbox to various smaller studios, everyone is struggling today.
As reported by the New York Times, many developers have noted that the industry can no longer handle the constant need to one-up itself in terms of graphics.
This is mainly because high-end visuals push AAA budgets to excessive heights, creating needless pressure on everyone involved in development. When a game worth more than $200 or $300 million fails, it ultimately leads to layoffs, something that has become all too common in the industry.
In the wake of recent failures like Suicide Squad and Concord, gaming studios have lost millions of dollars this year. Moreover, the report highlights that cutting-edge graphics aren’t necessarily big selling factors in today’s market.
As per a former Square Enix executive, lifelike visuals matter to a small subset of the entire market. He argues that younger audiences are drawn toward stylized visuals seen in games like Minecraft and Fortnite.
It’s clear that high-fidelity visuals are only moving the needle for a vocal class of gamers.
-Jacob Novak
Game developer Rami Ismail noted that one solution to the industry’s current problems could be a focus on shorter and worse-looking games. This could temporarily combat the AAA industry’s ballooning budgets without turning audiences away.
Recently, a game like Astro Bot won Game of The Year, making a solid case for more budget-friendly titles that rely on an engaging aesthetic over cutting-edge graphics. Looking at the industry’s current struggles, it will be interesting to see whether releases like Astro Bot become more popular moving forward.
What do you think will happen? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow this link to the Tech4Gamers Forums for further discussions.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 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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