Shawn Layden, the former chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment, has offered a sobering critique of the modern gaming landscape. He argues that in an era obsessed with hyper-realism and sprawling, hundred-hour narratives, the current AAA development model has become fundamentally unsustainable, teetering on the edge of a financial precipice.
Layden points out that development costs effectively double with every hardware cycle. While top-tier games once cost a few million dollars, today’s budgets frequently soar into the hundreds of millions. Comparing this trend to the “construction of cathedrals,” he asserts that the industry is trapped in a cycle of gigantism. This environment of extreme financial risk stifles creative ingenuity, as studios become increasingly hesitant to fund any project that doesn’t promise the monumental returns of a global blockbuster like Grand Theft Auto.
To illustrate the issue, Layden cited Red Dead Redemption 2. The former PlayStation executive admitted he has yet to even boot up Rockstar’s masterpiece, noting that despite being “retired,” his busy schedule leaves no room for a 90-hour commitment. He suggests that the “cult of longevity”—where playtime is touted as the primary metric of value—is alienating an older demographic of gamers who possess significant purchasing power but lack the luxury of endless free time.
As a remedy, Layden advocates for a return to more streamlined experiences: 12-to-15-hour titles developed over two or three years with budgets in the tens of millions. This pivot would allow for a higher frequency of releases, encourage bold creative experimentation, and mitigate the existential threat of a single commercial failure bringing down an entire studio.
Source: iXBT.games