You’re totally right.

Many of the big companies talk about how “small bet” games aren’t worth the investment relative to the returns…then they’re really surprised when something like Helldivers or Space Marine makes a ton of money.

I think more companies could *easily* engineer some sustainable AA hits again, and build up a talented internal dev roster in the process instead of continuing the endless staff churn they so love.

It’ll take someone major succeeding a number of times to force the change. It’s all still very much “big gamble or nothing” right now, sadly.

Microsoft’s lineup this year is firmly in mid budget territory and I’m weirdly hopeful that they succeed even though I think they’ve made more poor choices in the last ten years than most of their competition.