Josef Fares, director of Split Fiction and It Takes Two, has expressed concern about the future of AAA games amid the growing popularity of AA projects, but noted studios that combine large budgets and innovation.
In an interview, Fares noted that the success of AA games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which won at the Game Awards 2025, may create difficulties for the AAA sector.
I couldn't live without AAA projects. I want to play big blockbusters.
According to Fares, developers with smaller budgets can afford more experimentation, but several large studios continue to introduce fresh ideas even with large expenditures.
Naughty Dog is pushing the boundaries of innovation with a AAA budget. Rockstar does it, Nintendo in most cases too. You can create a large AAA project and take risks at the same time.
Fares added that after a budget of over $100 million, developers begin to fear mistakes, which is understandable, but experience shows that innovation is possible.
At Hazelight Studios, Fares sees the future in local co-op.
