Video games have become a dominant force in the world. The release of Call of Duty is a significant economic and cultural event every year, with many popular movies and TV shows based on beloved games. Even the anticipation of a possible trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI generated significant news. Gaming is becoming increasingly popular across diverse demographics and game genres, even as other entertainment industries face challenges.
However, the biggest and most important games in the industry seem to be facing some peril. Even industry leaders like Microsoft's Phil Spencer believe that the production of AAA games has become so complex and expensive that it is increasingly difficult to get everything right.
The traditional AAA model of releasing a $60 or $70 game every year or two, with players expected to upgrade, is also facing challenges. Live service games like Roblox and Fortnite are redefining what a "game" is, while subscription services like Game Pass and Apple Arcade are changing how people pay for games. Despite gaming's overall growth, the industry appears to be undergoing a significant shift in how people play and what they play.
In this episode of The Vergecast, the hosts are joined by Polygon's Chris Plante and Russ Frushtick to discuss the future of the biggest titles in gaming. They examine four possible futures for AAA games, exploring whether franchises like Assassin's Creed, Madden, and Call of Duty will follow the trajectories of the Avengers, the iPhone, the music industry, or peak TV, or if they will face a different fate entirely. The question is whether the established big names can maintain their status or if a new generation of indie darlings and metaverses will take their place.
The gaming industry is complex and constantly evolving, but one thing is clear: Grand Theft Auto has a history of being a game-changing franchise, and whatever its next iteration looks like and however it is played, it has the potential to reshape the industry once again.