Summer Game Fest: Where Have All the AAA Games Gone?

It’s a strange year for video games. With the focus shifting to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC cloud gaming platforms, support for the PS4 and Xbox One is finally winding down. The pandemic has caused delays in game development, leading to a shortage of big releases in the latter half of 2022.

Looking ahead, indie and AA developers, cloud libraries, and mobile games from unexpected sources like Netflix are keeping the gaming scene alive. While the holiday release calendar for 2022 may look sparse, the first half of the year saw a flurry of well-funded releases like Horizon Forbidden West and Elden Ring, alongside indie titles like Neon White and Sifu.

Netflix has entered the mobile gaming arena with titles like Poinpy, offering ad-free, microtransaction-free games for subscribers. Mid-tier publishers like Devolver and Annapurna continue to release high-quality, unique games. Cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Premium offer a vast library of games for various devices.

Despite the lack of AAA blockbusters from major studios, there are still plenty of exciting games on the horizon. Microsoft and Sony’s release schedules may have gaps, but the industry continues to evolve with new and diverse gaming experiences. The anticipation for upcoming projects like Fable, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, and Starfield keeps gamers eagerly awaiting the future of gaming.
Sony and Nintendo’s Gaming Lineups

Sony finds itself in a similar situation, boasting more AAA exclusives set to hit the market in the second half of this year compared to Microsoft. Titles like Forspoken, God of War Ragnarok, and The Last of Us remake are on the calendar, but there are still quite a few unknowns in the PlayStation lineup. Final Fantasy XVI, a highlight of the PS5 announcement stream in 2020, is now slated for a summer 2023 release. Information on other long-awaited games like Wolverine, Knights of the Old Republic remake, and Spider-Man 2 remains scarce. Additionally, details on a standalone multiplayer mode for The Last of Us and Naughty Dog’s “multiple game projects” are still missing.

Nintendo, on the other hand, continues to march to the beat of its own drum. With games like Splatoon 3 and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet slated for release this year, alongside whatever surprises are revealed during its next Direct showcase, Nintendo maintains its unique position in the industry. However, challenges persist, such as the delay of Breath of the Wild 2 to 2023 and the prolonged development of Metroid Prime 4 since its announcement in 2017.

Industry Outlook and Conclusion

The current sense of insufficiency in the gaming industry can be attributed to console makers announcing projects too early, creating unrealistic expectations and timelines. Despite setbacks like the pandemic, studios have remained relatively quiet on major franchises, leaving fans longing for updates. While the next six months may see a shortage of AAA releases, the abundance of amazing indie games and various platforms offer plenty of gaming options.

In the words of Jonathan Blow, time is a construct, and the anticipation of new games transcends the constraints of time. The future may hold exciting developments in the video game universe, even if they don’t all materialize in the immediate future. With a plethora of games across different platforms, gamers have much to look forward to and enjoy.