Ten Times Smaller Budget, Millions in Sales: Clair Obscur and Hades 2 Set the Standard for the Industry

Can games developed with budgets far smaller than those of major blockbusters sell at the same level? Jagex CEO John Bellamy says yes, and he cites figures that could reshape the market.

In an interview with The Game Business he stressed that AA-tier projects have become a lifeline for an industry facing turbulence. He noted that their production costs are roughly one-tenth of AAA titles, while sales can be comparable.

A case in point is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which moved 3.3 million copies in 33 days. Results like that encourage emerging studios and show that even small teams can challenge the big players.

Bellamy added that AA success is driven not only by lower costs but also by a greater chance of turning a profit.

“You can sink $400 million into a project, but you could just as well attempt to do it with a tenth of that sum and achieve a similar outcome if the game proves successful.”

According to him, 2025 has become a moment for mid-sized and smaller games: alongside Clair Obscur, notable positions are held by Hollow Knight: Silksong, Peak, and Hades 2. Increasing numbers of developers, disappointed with the AAA segment, are choosing this path.

Source: iXBT.games