Where do we go from here?
summary
Argues that narrative single‑player games are the industry's core and that pandemic lockdowns accelerate gaming's cultural role while forcing practical change: AAA titles now cost $80–$150M+, sometimes take five to seven years and thousands of people, and studios can’t scale that forever. Recommends exploring shorter, tighter experiences—12–15 hour games or three‑year builds—and new business models like subscriptions and licensing to capture long‑tail value. Notes remote work strains ideation, cites PS5-era tech and Last of Us Part II as proof of the stakes.
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chapters (15)
- 0:00Introduction
- 3:59Career transition reflections
- 6:10Gaming’s pandemic growth
- 7:35Narrative gaming future
- 14:34AAA costs unsustainable
- 17:45Managing creative teams
- 21:58New gaming business models
- 26:59Inspiring game creativity
- 30:11Life outside Sony and industry shifts
- 33:58Work culture and mental health
- 35:20Big tech in gaming
- 37:26VR and interactive trends
- 40:43Next console advice
- 43:11Diversity in gaming
- 46:00Lessons from 2020
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