Shawn Layden, the former president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, is developing a plan to fund Double-A games as a sustainable alternative to rising Triple-A budgets.
Layden has long argued that blockbuster game development costs have grown unsustainable. He noted that expenses double each generation, reaching around $150 million for top PlayStation 4 titles and potentially $300 million to $400 million for PlayStation 5 games.
The executive pointed to the unchanged publishing model from the 1990s as a core issue. This structure favors sequels and major franchises while limiting quirky or original projects that once helped expand the audience, he said.
Layden aims to create a publishing concern focused on Double-A titles made by smaller teams. These games would require fewer resources and appeal to time-poor players who often do not finish longer experiences.
He observed market fatigue in live-service games and a shift toward single-player titles. Layden added that less than half of players complete today's biggest releases.
