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Space Marine 2 developer studio boss prophesies the death of AAA games

by David Feb 28,2025

Matthew Karch, head of Saber Interactive, recently shared his perspective on the future of the gaming industry, predicting the decline of the high-budget AAA model. Karch, whose company developed Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2, stated that the era of games costing $200 million to $400 million is unsustainable and detrimental. He believes these massive budgets are a significant factor contributing to recent industry layoffs.

The relevance of the "AAA" designation itself is being questioned. Originally signifying high-budget, high-quality projects with low failure rates, it's now, according to developers, associated with profit-driven competition that compromises quality and innovation.

Revolution Studios co-founder Charles Cecil echoed this sentiment, calling the term "silly and meaningless." He argues that the shift towards massive publisher investment, while changing the industry, hasn't resulted in positive outcomes. Ubisoft's Skull and Bones, marketed as a "AAAA" title, is cited as a prime example of this trend.

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