Former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, Shawn Layden, has once again criticized the modern gaming industry. In his opinion, the market has become less diverse, and developers should return to the approach of the PS1 and PS2 eras, when more small and experimental projects were released.
In an interview, Layden noted that the budgets of modern AAA games, often exceeding $100 million, prevent publishers from taking risks and supporting unusual ideas.
We keep doing the same thing. It's hard to break bad habits.
According to him, this is why companies rely on sequels, well-known franchises, remakes, and projects similar to already successful games.
Layden also announced that he is working on an initiative to support the AA segment to help developers who are not aiming to create blockbusters with multi-million dollar budgets.
The former PlayStation executive also believes that modern games have become too long. According to him, many acquaintances say: "We miss the times when a game could be completed in 10 hours," rather than perceiving it as a second job. Layden is confident that shorter, more accessible, and creative AA projects could once again occupy an important place in the market.