How many years has it been since each of the major publishers had a significant new franchise? Own development? The answer is one – it was a long time ago, and it's not their fault. When you get that big, the only games you can chase are the ones you think will bring in hundreds of millions. You can no longer create smart little games because it doesn't please the stock market. It doesn't increase your revenue.
Daglow notes that with budgets of $440 million, no one wants to take risks. However, the success of Expedition 33, created by a team of 35 people, proves otherwise. The game looks like a AAA product, but is built on a much smaller budget.
If you spend $440 million on a game, it's not the place where you take risks and do something unpredictable.
Daglow advises looking for originality in the indie sector:
That's where a lot of exciting new ideas come from. Many of them will not find their audience, but some will.