AAA Publishers Crumbling Under the Weight of Infinite Growth Mandates; Indies Are the New Kings
Layoffs across the video game and tech sectors signal a severe retraction from pandemic-fueled spending, forcing a confrontation with unsustainable corporate spending models.
The chatter splits sharply: some argue the shakeup is a necessary 'crisis' because big publishers' mandates for infinite growth are untenable, citing 'Bbbbbbbbbbb.' Others dismiss this as drama, arguing the industry is actually 'booming' and layoffs are mere shareholder theater, according to 'paddirn.' More specific critiques target the AAA model, with 'cloudless' stating the cost structure doesn't guarantee a return, while 'djsoren19' blamed tech companies for overextending during the lockdown.
Macroeconomics appears the clearest consensus. The prevailing view sees this as a painful correction rooted in high interest rates and the end of hyper-growth. The signal points away from massive studios toward smaller, high-quality independent development, exemplified by the praise for 'Stray' from 'jaschen.'
Key Points
The industry is fundamentally unsustainable because of mandates for endless expansion.
Bbbbbbbbbbb argued that big publishers' goals of infinite growth are failing.
Layoffs are strategically designed to mislead shareholders about true financial health.
paddirn suggested the 'crisis' narrative is misleading, calling it cost-cutting for appearances.
The AAA development model is bankrupt due to excessive, unproven costs.
Cloudless noted the cost structure overruns are not backed by guaranteed investment returns.
Over-excitement during COVID led to staff bloat, which is now being pruned back.
djsoren19 characterized the tech downturn as gutting excessive lockdown hires.
Smaller, focused independent titles are overtaking overpriced AAA fare.
jaschen contrasted major players with the quality shown by independent titles like 'Stray.'
Source Discussions (3)
This report was synthesized from the following Lemmy discussions, ranked by community score.