Recent developments in PC gaming have been filled with legal issues and disappointing releases.
Recent developments in PC gaming have been filled with legal issues and disappointing releases.
I've attempted to play DAO twice, but both times I left at the tower because I couldn't tolerate the game anymore. I considered the Mass Effect titles as only average at best. Bioware excels in character development, yet falls short in world-building and overall design. I enjoyed the DAO characters and their dynamic with the player, and I truly valued Miranda's backstory in ME2. However, both universes seemed quite dull and unoriginal.
Despite this, I acknowledged Bethesda's consistent struggles, often described as mediocre. EA has increasingly become a conglomerate focused on profit, absorbing smaller studios and dissolving them when they aren't profitable. Respawn remains a question in my mind—Criterion appears to be mainly involved in supporting other franchises, even canceling projects they had in progress. EA reportedly sabotaged Visceral by introducing mechanics like crafting, multiplayer, and microtransactions in Dead Space 3, which received poor reviews. They then shifted focus to side projects until Battlefield Hardline was released, which they improved significantly, though it was too late to save the franchise.
That's the situation up to Visceral's closure. I'm unsure if any new projects have emerged since then. Even surviving companies tend to play minor roles, such as Criterion. EA's main outputs seem limited to its sports and Battlefield lines.
Ubisoft has received less attention, but they're following a similar path and seem stuck in their design approach. Far Cry titles have evolved significantly—Far Cry 3 was once impressive, but subsequent entries like Far Cry 4 and Far Cry Primal, Watch Dogs, and Assassin's Creed have all adopted a similar open-world structure. This has led to a sense of monotony and repetition.
I find it puzzling how people still remain captivated by Assassin's Creed. The series has become increasingly formulaic over time, shifting from innovative gameplay to a more conventional RPG format with health bars and level systems. The Tom Clancy series has also seen a decline in innovation, with Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six Siege offering little beyond their predecessors. Even the Tom Clancy games have become repetitive, with health bars and structured progression dominating.
The Blood Dragon spin-off, Far Cry 4, Far Cry Primal, Watch Dogs, and Assassin's Creed all share a similar open-world design. While technically AC1 existed earlier, Far Cry 3 helped popularize this style. Many titles I can't recall from other studios follow the same pattern, making them feel unoriginal and monotonous.
I'm also confused about the continued popularity of Assassin's Creed. It seems less inventive over time, evolving into a more traditional RPG with health metrics and leveling systems.
The Tom Clancy games, once respected, now feel like a tired series with little change in approach.
EA is a publisher, not a developer. They manage development teams like Bioware. Those who preorder are the main issue—they keep complaining about delays or mismatches, but their actions only reinforce those attitudes.
I believe it's becoming more likely you'll find success with lesser-known studios rather than the well-established AAA companies that are relying on past trends. I'm considering titles such as Shadow Warrior, The Witcher, and Hellblade: Sensua's Sacrifice. These smaller studios seem more connected to their audience and driven by genuine passion, unlike the major publishers focused on profit.
Today's games consist of many more components. Developers now prioritize visual aspects more than functionality.
I understand that major publishers have recently lowered quality for some time. I believe this is due to the industry becoming heavily focused on profit, with an emphasis on microtransactions, pre-orders, and seasonal passes. It seems more about marketing than actual gameplay. Take the Fallout series as an example—it evolved from a complex RPG with a compelling story into a sandbox game with minimal narrative and dialogue. In my opinion, this shift is mainly about selling more.
Smaller publishers have had a better experience lately. The Shadowrun series is thriving in modern RPGs, Pillars of Eternity, Tyranny, and Wasteland 2 are all successful. Stardew Valley stands out as an outstanding title beyond just a farming simulator. Darkest Dungeon offers a strong atmosphere and engaging gameplay, while UnderRail has received high marks despite not being tried yet. Change is happening, and many disappointments are likely along the way.
The main reason is: EA and their counterparts are publicly listed companies aiming to satisfy their shareholders. When they discover a franchise that performs well, they capitalize on it until it fades, then shift focus to the next opportunity.
It is generally more secure to create a follow-up to a well-known franchise instead of attempting something entirely new. You might invest millions in a single title, and if it underperforms, you face significant financial losses. Repeating similar projects, such as another FIFA, Sims, or Battlefield game, reveals the expected sales numbers, usually around a few million copies.
This pattern is also evident in the film industry, with a constant stream of sequels.
The issue has intensified as game development costs rise. GTA V required approximately $500 million to produce. "Back then," a game could be developed for a much smaller budget. Today’s high production standards—4K visuals, advanced music, voice acting, etc.—make game creation extremely costly. Therefore, opting for a predictable sequel is often wiser than pursuing originality.
EA also falls into this category, incorporating numerous microtransactions and season passes, but the core issue remains their preference for safer strategies.
Fortunately, there are now many indie developers offering fresh ideas and engaging gameplay, providing a chance to experience classic-style titles.
It's not accurate to say exactly what the 8 color days were about, but pixel artists remain significant today due to their impact. Early games allocated a large portion of their budgets to visuals.
When a game is priced at $400 million, it's still a small part of the $500 million total.
I strongly believe that 4k assets are now more affordable to acquire and create. There are plenty of resources available online, and consumer cameras offer impressive resolution—textures often remain around 2k. Photogrammetry further simplifies the workflow by generating textures and models simultaneously. While some shader work remains, modern tools make it much faster.
Dude, you just don't get it.
Back then, games like Doom (1993) were crafted by a small group of nine people, with development taking months instead of years. Atari titles were often created by just one individual in a short time, sometimes within weeks. Budgets stayed under $1 million. Even when adjusting for inflation, it’s a huge difference compared to today.
Games such as GTA V are built by teams of hundreds, including composers, voice actors, marketers, and more. The development cost was $256 million—though I might have been wrong, as some estimates suggest the game generated over $500 million at one point.
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I understand your point to some degree... many AAA titles have struggled both in their business approaches and in the quality of the games themselves.
I’m 32 years old and have been a gamer for more than two decades... so I’m going to share my thoughts here:
Right now is definitely the optimal moment to enjoy video games.
- The variety is unmatched, whether it’s indie releases or AAA offerings, across both PC and consoles.
- New titles are released regularly, covering a wide range of genres (strategy, puzzles, racing, shooters, RPGs, adventures, etc.) far more than before.
- The production quality has reached impressive levels; games like Battlefield V and Zelda: Breath of the Wild look truly stunning.
- Narrative elements in games now match the depth of movies, with strong storytelling, acting, character growth, and music.
- Still, there remain excellent AAA games (just a few examples that come to mind from recent years): Hitman, Battlefield 1, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Witcher 3, Fallout 4, God of War, Uncharted 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, etc.
- Modern gaming tech has advanced significantly compared to past innovations: VR, motion controls, remote play, etc.
- Console graphics are now portable and high-quality: Nintendo Switch, PS Vita, or devices like the Nvidia Shield. Compare that to my old Game Boy (first generation): wow!
- The gaming platform has improved immensely: cloud saves, resume options, online multiplayer, sharing achievements, social features, buying digital games from home, etc.
So yes... there are definitely areas for improvement. But there’s no pressure to force yourself into playing specific titles. There are still many great games available, just like always.