Developers Just Exposed Who’s Really Killing Games

Summary

The gaming industry is facing a crisis driven by investor pressures, which are harming creativity and game quality. Developers, for the first time, are publicly blaming investors for unreasonable expectations that lead to rushed projects and studio closures. With numerous examples like Craftton's treatment of Unknown Worlds and Microsoft's handling of Zenimax, the industry's systematic destruction by financial interests is evident. A survey reveals that 64% of developers blame investors for these issues. The solution lies in supporting independent studios that prioritize creativity over profit-driven pressures, showing that quality games can succeed without investor interference.

Takeaways

• 😀 64% of developers blame unreasonable investor expectations for the industry's problems.
• 😀 Investors are more interested in predictable financial returns than making good games.
• 😀 Investor pressure is causing studios to rush game development, often sacrificing quality.
• 😀 The delay of *Subnautica 2* ensured the studio missed payout targets, showing how investors prioritize profits over creative freedom.
• 😀 Developers are increasingly speaking out against the negative impacts of investor interference in game development.
• 😀 Microsoft’s involvement with Zenimax led to the shelving of years of work on an MMO, without prior notice to developers.
• 😀 Obsidian’s *Fallout: New Vegas* missed a bonus by just one point on Metacritic, despite generating hundreds of millions of dollars.
• 😀 Private equity has tripled its stake in gaming since 2018, injecting billions into the industry with harmful expectations.
• 😀 Investors are pushing for quick turnarounds, often forcing studios to produce lower-quality games in shorter timelines.
• 😀 The human cost of investor pressure is significant, with developers facing burnout, stress, and job insecurity.
• 😀 To combat these issues, we need to support independent studios and avoid funding broken games created under financial pressure.

Q & A

What major shift is happening in the gaming industry according to the video?

The gaming industry is seeing developers publicly blaming investors for ruining games, which is a significant shift from the typical silent dynamic between studios and the financial backers.

What is the Game Developer Collective's survey revealing about the industry's problems?

The survey reveals that 64% of developers blame unreasonable investor expectations for the industry's problems, and 60% cite mismanagement as a key issue.

What happened with Craftton and Unknown Worlds regarding the Subnautica 2 game?

Craftton bought Unknown Worlds and tied a $250 million earnout bonus to Subnautica 2 hitting sales targets by 2025. However, Craftton delayed the release to 2026, ensuring the studio would miss its bonus, and fired the creative team despite claiming the game was ready for early access.

How did Microsoft affect the development of Zenimax's unannounced MMO?

Microsoft walked into Zenimax and informed 200 developers that their unannounced MMO was indefinitely shelved, which led to an abrupt end to years of work and a major disruption to the developers' lives.

What happened to Secret 6 Madrid, and what do workers claim about their treatment?

Testronic shut down Secret 6 Madrid, a studio that worked on The Last of Us Part Two and other titles, after systematically starving them of contracts for two years. Workers claim the company intended to drain the studio's content and move the work to a Manila office to reduce wages.

How did Obsidian’s experience with Fallout New Vegas reflect the industry's issues?

Obsidian shipped Fallout New Vegas, a game that generated $300 million in revenue, but missed out on a crucial bonus by 1 point on Metacritic. This led to layoffs, showing how the industry's reliance on arbitrary performance metrics can directly harm developers.

How has private equity impacted the gaming industry since 2018?

Private equity has significantly increased its acquisitions in the gaming industry, investing $21 billion and influencing major studios with unrealistic expectations for quick returns, which often undermines the quality of the games produced.

What issues arise when investors impose tight timelines on game developers?

Investors impose unrealistic deadlines for game releases, often forcing studios to compromise on creative elements, which leads to rushed games that lack depth and fail to meet players' expectations, especially for RPGs which require more time for proper development.

What was the downfall of Arcane Studios under Bethesda’s influence?

Bethesda's interference led to Arcane being forced to use the Prey title for their 2017 game, which they did not want, and later chased trends like live-service games instead of focusing on what made them successful, ultimately leading to the disastrous launch of Redfall.

How did Bioware’s experience with EA affect their games like Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem?

EA's pressure led to panicked development, with Bioware being forced into live-service models for games like Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem, which resulted in poor reviews, high employee turnover, and damaged the studio's reputation.

What examples of studios thriving without investor pressure are mentioned?

Larian Studios, which developed Baldur's Gate 3, and CD Projekt, the creators of The Witcher 3, are cited as examples of studios that thrived without the burden of investor pressure, producing highly acclaimed and commercially successful games.

What is the suggested solution to the issues raised in the video?

The solution is to stop treating these issues as just business, support independent studios, and back campaigns that promote creative freedom. Players should stop buying broken games from compromised studios and call out investor-driven failures.