AAA Games
Ongoing coverage on AAA Games.
Latest coverage
Just Cause Studio Working on Unannounced AAA Open World Title
Avalanche Studios, known for the Just Cause series, is developing a new AAA open-world title. While details are scarce, the announcement suggests a return to the studio's expertise in creating large, chaotic environments. The game's direction, whether a continuation of the Just Cause franchise or a new intellectual property, remains speculative.
Hideo Kojima and Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki's games have something other AAA titles don't, former PlayStation boss says: "You can tell it's their visions"
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida believes that unlike most AAA titles, games from creators like Hideo Kojima and Hidetaka Miyazaki clearly showcase the developer's unique vision. He suggests that the collaborative nature of AAA development often results in a 'group vision' rather than an individual one, though exceptions exist for proven creators with established fanbases.
Control got ported to iPhone, and it’s so good I think it heralds a new era of mobile gaming
Remedy Entertainment's Control: Ultimate Edition has been successfully ported to iPhone and iPad, offering a full AAA experience with impressive performance and even ray tracing support for $4.99. This port, requiring an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, suggests a new era for mobile gaming, potentially positioning iPhones alongside traditional consoles and PCs as viable gaming platforms.
Shuhei Yoshida Sees Gaming's Future As Indie, Not "Generic" AAA Games
Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida believes the future of gaming lies with indie titles rather than large AAA games, which he finds too time-consuming and often generic. He highlights the creative freedom and innovation found in indie development, contrasting it with the group-vision approach of many AAA projects. Yoshida also discusses the impact of digital distribution and community building on the success of independent games.
CoD Launches Are Gone, But Game Pass Should Ditch All The Other Games You've Heard Of, Too
Microsoft has removed day-one access to Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, leading to speculation about a new, cheaper tier focused on curated AA and indie games. The author argues that a more focused Game Pass library could help smaller titles gain attention and provide better value than a vast collection of AAA games.
Pragmata Is Exactly Why AAA Games Don’t Need To Drag On
The game Pragmata, developed by Capcom, demonstrates that AAA titles do not need excessive length to be enjoyable, with some reviewers completing it in as little as eight hours. Despite its shorter runtime, the game focuses on quality gameplay, story, and presentation, offering an innovative third-person shooter experience at a $60 price point, even on the Nintendo Switch 2.
"Be creative 99% of the time" – Glen Schofield on how creativity can help fix AAA industry woes
Glen Schofield, director of The Callisto Protocol, argues that the AAA industry's woes stem from inexperienced individuals being placed in leadership roles due to excessive funding, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He believes the solution lies in identifying and empowering true creative talent, leveraging AI as a tool rather than a replacement for human creativity, and optimizing release timing to avoid market saturation. Schofield emphasizes that while AI can enhance efficiency, it cannot replicate the nuanced creative process essential for developing innovative AAA titles.
EasySMX D05 review
This article discusses the current state of the gaming industry, with commenters expressing disappointment in the quality of AAA games and the prevalence of live service titles. They lament the shift from the past, where more diverse and numerous games were released by smaller teams, and question the high development costs and focus on profit over player experience.
Op Ed
This opinion piece discusses the emergence of 'outsider AAA' studios, using examples like CD Projekt Red's The Witcher and Pearl Abyss's Crimson Desert. It explores how these studios, often with less traditional backgrounds, are achieving success in the high-budget game development space.
"As one guy at Ubisoft, I had no impact": Assassin's Creed dev turned indie says he was "miserable" as "one cog" in the massive AAA machine
Former Ubisoft developer Darenn Keller, who worked on Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Mirage, discusses his transition to indie game development with his successful city builder Dawnfolk. Keller expresses dissatisfaction with the creative restrictions and hierarchical processes at Ubisoft, finding more fulfillment and happiness in the freedom and direct impact of solo development.
"They wouldn't look at any game that was less than £50 million" Why Tencent's all-in strategy didn't suit Bulkhead
Bulkhead, a studio acquired by Tencent via Splash Damage, found the parent company's demand for games with budgets over £50 million unsuited to their development style. Despite initial success with Battalion 1944 and pitching the PC shooter Wardogs, Tencent's scale led to Bulkhead spinning out into a new holding company, Super Media Group, with Team17 and Hiro Capital. The studio is now focused on Wardogs, aiming for a sustainable player base rather than massive AAA success.
Damon and Baby Review – A Fun but Repetitive Twin-Stick Shooter
Damon and Baby is a twin-stick shooter with endearing qualities and decent core gameplay, but its repetitive nature and clunky mechanics prevent it from reaching its full potential as a AA game. While the colorful visuals, inspired world and story, and unique characters are highlights, the confusing map design and frustrating inventory management detract from the experience.
Palworld publishing boss thinks "we're a few years away" from a AAA survival crafting game, and he was "super excited" for the one Blizzard canceled
John Buckley, head of publishing for Palworld, believes AAA companies are a few years away from attempting another survival crafting game, but expects them to increasingly borrow elements from the genre. He expressed excitement for a potential AAA survival crafting title, referencing a canceled Blizzard project.
PS5's New Castlevania the Star of 40+ Game Showcase Presentation Next Month
The Triple-i Initiative showcase will feature over 40 indie and AA titles on April 9th, 2026. Notably, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse from developer Evil Empire will be present. While not all games will be available on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, a significant number are expected.
Lightspeed Studios unveils proprietary development framework to build titles 'rooted in reality'
Lightspeed Studios has unveiled a new proprietary IP development framework designed for building large-scale AAA titles. The framework prioritizes a strong visual identity rooted in reality, with 90% of a title built on a templated foundation informed by real-world references. The remaining 10% allows for creative interpretation and narrative development. This system is being developed with innovations from their upcoming title, Last Sentinel.
Roblox and Minecraft players are less likely to play traditional AAA video games
A Newzoo report indicates that players of Roblox and Minecraft have significantly less overlap with traditional AAA game audiences compared to live service titles like Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto V. This trend is attributed to a shift away from graphical fidelity as a primary driver of popularity and the younger demographic's preference for free-to-play models. The analysis questions whether these players will transition to AAA games as they age or continue to favor sandbox and live service experiences.
Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami working on new 'original AAA' console game
Shinji Mikami, the creator of Resident Evil, is working on a new original AAA console game with his studio Unbound Games. The title is being developed in Unreal Engine 5 for PlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC. Mikami, who previously founded Tango Gameworks, left the studio in 2023 and established Unbound Games in May 2023.
Devolver Digital Co-Founder Calls GTA 6 the First-Ever "AAAAA" Game
Devolver Digital co-founder Mike Wilson referred to Grand Theft Auto 6 as the first "AAAAA" game, highlighting its massive development budget and projected revenue. The game is slated for a May 2026 release.
Ubisoft got it wrong. The company won't stop making AAA games
Ubisoft clarified that despite reports, the company will not stop making AAA games. While Ubisoft plans to invest more in shareware projects and microtransactions, it will continue to release premium titles such as Far Cry 6 and Skull and Bones. The Division: Heartland is highlighted as an upcoming shareware title.
