Cliff Bleszinski Says Triple-A Game Development is a “Nearly Unsustainable Model”
Cliff Bleszinski is a name one might recognize from Unreal Tournament, Bulletstorm, or what could be considered his masterpiece, the immensely popular third-person shooter franchise Gears of War. Some may have even heard his name come up in the past year or so, as his new studio, Boss Key Productions, is creating the upcoming team-based FPS LawBreakers. Recently, while speaking to those in attendance at the Reboot Develop conference, Bleszinski touched on a number of topics, including the current business model being used for triple-A game development and how it is “nearly unsustainable.”
GamesIndustry has reported that Cliff Bleszinski spoke of his concerns and possible solutions for the current state of triple-A game development. He likened it to “the American restaurant scene” in that everything seems to be the same when scoping out a place to dine. “They’re not bad, they’re not great, they’re just there,” he said. Cliff mentioned that triple-A developments has become a “category of eight games that are getting repeated over and over again,” which can most certainly become a little tiresome for all involved. He also added:
$60 is still a lot of money to ask people for,” he said. “And to ask them to make that bet multiple times per year? Gamers are picky, they’re smart. This is a nearly unsustainable model, unless you’re an Activision, 2K or a Sony.”
His solution? Start moving away from triple-A and aim for “double-A” development. Cliff considers this to be types of “games that look and play great but pick their battles in terms of budget and marketing.” Rust, Rocket League, and Warframe were the examples he provided, saying that the majority of successful double-A titles are either free-to-play or digital exclusives. This model coincides with LawBreakers, as it will be available through Steam, and it won’t carry that triple-A $60 price point. For the uninitiated, here’s a look at what the upcoming multiplayer game from Boss Key Productions is all about:
What do you think, gamers? Does Cliff Bleszinski have a point? Are triple-A titles becoming more repetitive than anything, or are they just stuck in a rut? What about the double-A offerings? Does it seem like that will be the way to go in the future? Drop those thoughts in the comments section below. As always, be sure to follow DFTG on Twitter for live gaming and entertainment news 24/7! If it is more reading that you are needing, check out the following:
Eric Garrett2269 Posts
Eric is an editor and writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. When he is not staring at a computer screen filled with text, he is usually staring at a computer screen filled with controllable animations. Today's youth call this gaming. He also likes to shoot things. With a camera, of course.
