Thief Designer Questions the Push for AAA Graphics: “Do We Really Need Better Visuals?”

Veteran game designer Randy Smith Evergreen, known for his work on the Thief series, emphasizes that a significant part of the gaming industry, particularly in the indie sector, should prioritize “high-quality content” and engaging gameplay over “enormous production budgets” driven by the pursuit of advanced, hyper-realistic graphics. This is especially relevant for those developing immersive sims akin to Thief in 2026.

In a recent interview, Smith Evergreen reflected on his experiences with the Thief franchise, noting that the original game had a production cost of $3 million, a figure he believes could be even lower today due to the availability of off-the-shelf digital assets. He suggests that for a modern immersive sim in 2026, a budget of “about three to $10 million” would be more appropriate, as he doubts there’s a large enough audience to justify a massive AAA budget for this genre. Instead, he advocates for creating “smaller” games with a team of skilled and passionate developers who can work efficiently.

“It’s not clear to me that the $3-million Thief or Deus Ex-style immersive sim you want to create in 2026 will sell significantly more copies than a $250-million title from a major studio,” he stated.

For Smith Evergreen, the essence of games, particularly those with solid gameplay, doesn’t require excessive graphical fidelity to attract players.

“I remember when Alan Wake was released,” he recalled. “I thought, ‘This is relatively photorealistic. I know I’m on a ferry heading to an island in the Pacific Northwest. Why do we need more graphics?’ Because they can be incredibly expensive.” He believes that as long as a game’s visuals effectively convey the atmosphere and essential information to the player, that suffices.

“Would fans prefer an immersive sim with stunning visuals and breathtaking Arkane Lyon-quality landscapes? Absolutely. But is that necessary for the immersive sim experience? I’m not so sure. Many of the most cherished indie games from the last three decades—like FTL—were created quickly and affordably, yet they delivered exceptional gameplay and creativity.”

“And that’s the direction I think many projects should take right now,” Smith Evergreen concluded. “Especially in the indie space. They should focus on high-quality content without the burden of enormous production budgets.”