In an interview, Shuhei Yoshida, the head of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, explains the current development of the gaming industry, the challenges in developing AAA titles, and what conclusions Sony’s in-house game studio draws from these for their projects.
The current president of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida, will receive his Develop Legend Award this week as part of the Develop Awards. In advance, the Sony legend spoke in an interview with the British site MCV about his views on the development of the gaming industry and the reasons for the success of Sony Interactive Entertainment. We summarize his key statements for you.
The gaming industry is evolving – this is important for success
AAA games are the driving force of the industry: On one hand, Yoshida notes that there has been a significant leap in the scale and technologies involved in developing large titles. However, every new AAA project feels like placing a big bet.
AAA titles: No room for experiments
Due to the enormous investments, each AAA title simply feels too big to fail and therefore builds immense pressure when it comes to successfully managing such AAA projects. After all, AAA games are the engines, the driving force of the gaming industry. They are increasingly becoming mainstream entertainment – no longer just a niche.
And the result is at best a great fusion of art and technology that offers hours of exciting interactive entertainment – in a large, often open world, with lifelike characters and imaginative creatures.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance to continue advancing the art of AAA development in light of these developments.
Innovation lies with the Indies
Indie developers provide innovation and willingness to experiment: On the other hand, according to Yoshida, it is currently a golden age for indie developers. Thanks to tools like Unity and Unreal Engine, many individual talents and smaller teams have the unique opportunity to develop games for a global audience.
At the same time, the number of AAA titles is declining, and the type of these games is becoming increasingly similar to minimize risks. This opens up a wide field of different game types for indie developers that can be explored and potentially lead to success. Indie games are driving innovation and experimentation in the gaming industry. Therefore, Yoshida believes it is important to continue supporting the flourishing indie market.
No room for a half-hearted mix of single-player and multiplayer
Clear separation between single-player and multiplayer titles – each in their own element: In most current titles, a clear divide can be observed between story-driven single-player experiences and ongoing multiplayer live experiences. According to Yoshida, this development can be explained by the fact that nowadays it is extremely challenging to develop a successful single-player or live multiplayer game.
The art of creating each of these game types has progressed so far that developers are increasingly inclined to focus on what they do best. It is not particularly sensible to slap a half-baked online mode onto a single-player title – and vice versa. This trend is a result of rational thinking from both developers and publishers.
The audience for AAA titles is broadening – the heroes are becoming different
The character of the games evolves as well: The character of games evolves with time. Sony’s lineup at the E3 2018 reflects this. For example, the showcased titles show increasing maturity, diversity, and representation of minorities.
Especially considering that games are increasingly becoming part of mass entertainment, this development is extremely important in Yoshida’s view. One must tailor the product to a broad audience – regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or belief. It is beneficial to create protagonists with whom diverse people can identify.
