Understanding High Costs in Video Game Production
As companies spend millions on video game production, The New York Times associates this with the pursuit of visually realistic graphics. This race seemingly delivers diminishing returns, causing employee layoffs and studio shutdowns.
The Real Causes Behind the Rising Costs
However, Jason Schreier of Bloomberg views things differently. He confirms that budgets have inflated significantly (from $20 million for Naughty Dog’s “Uncharted 2” in 2009 to $220 million for their “Last of Us Part II” in 2020), and while graphics contribute, he suggests the expansion in game scope and the need for larger teams over extended periods are key factors.
Management Decisions – A Major Contributor
Schreier notes how game professionals share tales of mismanagement decisions negatively impacting video game development. Instances include cancellation of features due to CEO’s children’s disapproval or large teams struggling during pre-production with defining the game’s ‘core loop.’
Addressing the Budget Inflation Issue
To tackle the issue of escalating budgets, Schreier advises companies to evaluate mismanagement that wastes resources and time. Hence, focusing on improving management strategies could be a potential solution to curb the soaring game production costs.
Fonte original: Leia a matéria completa no TechCrunch
