Shawn Layden, the former chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, recently spoke at Gamescom Asia and shared his concerns about the state of the gaming industry. According to Layden, there has been a "collapse of creativity" in games today, driven by the rising costs of AAA game development and an overreliance on sequels, remakes, and copycat titles.
Layden explained that the entry costs for making a AAA game have reached "triple-digit millions", causing publishers to become more risk-averse and focus on safer bets rather than investing in more experimental or creative projects. He noted that the "middle piece" of the industry, represented by studios like Interplay, Gremlin, Ocean, and THQ, has largely disappeared, with developers now either having to succeed as a AAA blockbuster or find a niche in the indie space.
Layden warned that this trend is a "death sentence" for the industry, as relying solely on blockbusters will stifle innovation and diversity. He emphasized the importance of nurturing lower-budget, "super creative and super unusual" games, which he believes can bring "the new thing" to the market. Layden urged developers to focus on the creative vision for their games rather than leading with monetization schemes, stating that "if you're going to pitch me your AA game, and in the first two pages of your deck is your monetization and revenue, subscription scheme, I'm out."
The former PlayStation executive also expressed skepticism about the role of AI in game development, stating that it is "just a tool, it's not a savior" and that the industry's excitement about generative AI is "kind of humorous." He believes AI can be a useful tool in certain areas, such as QA and ideation, but it is not a magic solution to the industry's challenges.
Overall, Layden's comments highlight the need for the gaming industry to find a better balance between commercial success and creative expression, and to nurture a diverse ecosystem that includes not just blockbusters and indie titles, but also the "middle piece" of AA studios that can bring fresh ideas and experiences to players.
Former PlayStation exec says there's a "collapse of creativity" in the industry
Former PlayStation exec Shawn Layden has discussed the state of the games industry, stating there's a "collapse of crea…
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