A former PlayStation executive has criticized the gaming industry for losing sight of the “fun factor” in game design. He noted that modern development often prioritizes monetization strategies and player retention metrics over the actual quality of the gameplay experience.
“When I’m pitched a new project, the initial conversation is almost always about monetization strategies, market reach, and incentives. I sometimes have to stop people and ask: ‘Hold on, where is the fun part?'”
Layden stressed that while financial sustainability is crucial for any business, creative vision and the pursuit of excellence are just as vital. He expressed disappointment that the industry is beginning to overlook the genuine pleasure of play in favor of commercial metrics.
In Layden’s view, studios should shift back to crafting tight, 20-to-25-hour experiences rather than bloating projects into 100-hour marathons designed solely for maximum engagement. This approach would help rein in development budgets, which currently frequently exceed hundreds of millions of dollars.
Emerging titles such as Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight: Silksong have demonstrated that success can be achieved by prioritizing artistic ingenuity and player satisfaction over aggressive monetization and padded mechanics.
Source: iXBT.games