In a recent interview with Axios, Matt Booty, the chief of Xbox Game Studios, emphasized the increasingly lengthy development cycles of major video games. Booty pointed out that it is essential for both gamers and the industry as a whole to grasp the fact that most big-budget titles now require around five years of development time.
The gaming industry has experienced a notable shift from the previous generation of consoles. During the Xbox 360 and PS3 era, numerous franchises released multiple instalments within a short span. However, factors such as rising game budgets and larger development teams have resulted in a significant slowdown in release frequency.
Read more: Assassin’s Creed Mirage Has A Visual Option To Pay Homage To AC1
Booty specifically highlighted the extended timelines for high-end big-budget games, indicating that they now typically take four, five, or even six years to develop. This trend affects even annualized franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty, which are now allocating three to four years per title by leveraging the involvement of multiple studios.
Notably, the upcoming Starfield, regarded as Xbox’s flagship game for the year, marks the first release from Bethesda Game Studios since 2015’s Fallout 4, representing an almost decade-long gap between titles. Booty also acknowledged that The Elder Scrolls 6, announced in 2018, may not see the light of day until roughly a decade following its initial reveal.
Xbox has faced criticism in recent years for a perceived lack of major game releases. However, Booty expressed confidence that the company has already made significant strides in delivering first-party titles and expects a more robust lineup starting in 2024.
Read more: Ubisoft Ventures Into Uncharted Territory With Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
While some eagerly anticipated titles like Fable, Perfect Dark, The Outer Worlds 2, and Indiana Jones were absent from the recent Xbox Game Showcase, Booty’s remarks suggest that gamers may need to exercise patience as these projects remain without concrete release dates.
The gaming landscape is evolving, and the expectation of higher fidelity experiences necessitates the longer development times seen today. As gamers eagerly anticipate the next wave of captivating titles, it becomes increasingly important to appreciate the intricate process of crafting these ambitious games.