Are Great Graphics Still Worth it? AAA Games Struggle to Keep Up

Level 3A games face severe challenges: the contradiction between high production costs and the decline in returns is becoming increasingly prominent. At the same time, player preferences are also changing, forcing game developers to rethink their development model.

High picture cost

Game studios like Sony, Naughty Dog and R Star have been focusing on creating amazing graphics for years. Games such as "The Last of Us", "Horizon: The West" and "Red Dead Redemption 2" continue to break through technical limits and raise the game experience to a level close to the movie.

Take "Marvel Spider-Man 2" released in 2023 as an example. Its fine New York City landscape, realistic light and shadow effects and material texture are impressive. However, the game costs as much as $300 million, three times the previous work a few years ago.

Although the game sales exceeded 11 million copies, the high cost is still unbearable. Soon after, Sony laid off hundreds of employees, including those from game developer Insomniac Games.

Changes in player preferences

Although exquisite graphics used to be a key factor in attracting players, young players today seem to value the social attributes of the game more. Popular games like Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite have relatively simple graphics but rich social functions. For many players, games are no longer just visual feasts, but also social platforms to connect with friends.

Game market analyst Joost van Dreunen concludes in simplicity: “For many young players, gaming is just a tool for socializing.”

This change has caused some developers to question whether it is still worth investing heavily in creating realistic images.

Explore new modes

To adapt to changes, some studios are exploring new business models. "Online service games" that are constantly updated are becoming more and more popular. "Genshin Impact" is a successful case of this model, and it has earned billions of dollars in revenue through continuous updates of content.

However, this model is not foolproof. The failure of high-profile games such as Suicide Squad: Kill Justice League and Sony's Concord also highlights the huge challenges of online service games.

Other studios try to reduce costs. Some believe that artificial intelligence can help reduce the time and money needed to create realistic images. But not everyone agrees with this view. Critics believe that artificial intelligence itself cannot solve the deep problems facing the gaming industry.

Future Outlook

Level 3A games are at a crossroads. The cost of making games with stunning visual effects is higher than ever, but younger players tend to have a more concise and social-oriented gaming experience. Developers are trying out various new approaches, but there is no clear solution yet.

As the industry develops, one thing is certain: the games we play and the way we play games will continue to change. For developers, the key may not be to make the game look better, but to make the game more cohesive.

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