Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Raises Concerns Over AA Takeover, Former Assassin’s Creed Director Calls Mid-Budget Funding an “Absolute Wasteland”

Games like Rematch and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from last year have shown that developers can achieve significant success with moderately-budgeted projects, independent of the backing of massive publishers. However, this trend may not signal a shift in the industry, according to veteran developer Alex Hutchinson.

The conversation was sparked by Josef Fares, the dynamic director of Hazelight Studios, known for his work on titles like Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and It Takes Two. Recently, Fares expressed concern that investors might see the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and rush to fund more AA games.

“I would not be able to live without a AAA title. I really want to play the blockbuster games. You can’t do GTA for $10 million,” Fares remarked. “It’s important not to get stuck in ideas, like AA is a new thing, or indie is a new thing. We need the diversity.”

Alex Hutchinson, former director of Assassin’s Creed and current lead on Savage Planet, weighed in on the discussion, aiming to alleviate those concerns.

“If Josef Fares thinks almost any publisher is looking for or willing to fund a mid-price AA game right now then he is sadly mistaken,” Hutchinson tweeted. “This is the worst the market has been in that category since the early 2000s when Acclaim and others went bust.” He further described the current market as an “absolute wasteland.”

For every anticipated title like Hollow Knight: Silksong, there are countless indie games that barely make a blip on the radar. Similarly, for every success like Clair Obscur, there are numerous mid-budget games struggling to secure adequate funding. So while Josef Fares can rest assured that AAA games are here to stay, it would be beneficial for publishers to diversify their portfolios. A broader range of games across different budgets can only enhance the gaming landscape.

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