An Unexpected Optimism for Gaming’s Future
Despite surface-level problems plaguing the video game industry, we’re witnessing the foundation for a resurgence of fair-priced, quality content. This optimism might seem misplaced when Nintendo and Microsoft normalize $80 price tags and major publishers like Ubisoft circle the drain, but the reality is more nuanced than headlines suggest.
The gaming industry has genuinely struggled under political activism, aggressive monetization, and antagonistic journalism disguised as inclusivity. These were real problems six years ago and remain issues today. However, they’re no longer the most pressing concerns facing gamers.
The Decline of Gaming Media Gatekeepers
Major gaming media outlets like IGN, Kotaku, Polygon, Gamespot, and PCGamer once served as gatekeepers between players, publishers, and developers. E3 exemplified this dynamic—an exclusive event where media figures filtered information to the general public. The convention didn’t allow regular players until 2015, and now, just eight years later, it’s cancelled completely.
Publishers and developers realized they could connect with fans directly through social media and strategic advertising. Google Trends data reveals the dramatic shift:
- Search interest for major gaming publications has dropped 80-95% since 2010-2015
- Information once exclusive to magazines or digital articles now appears instantly on Twitter feeds and Twitch broadcasts
- Anyone with a smartphone can access gaming information without reading traditional media outlets
While political activism in gaming journalism remains problematic, its influence diminishes daily as these outlets lose relevance. Getting “cancelled” by gaming media often results in increased subscribers, supporters, and followers—a complete reversal from years past.
The Real Problems Facing Gaming
More pressing issues than politics include:
- Creative stagnation through over-reliance on existing franchises
- Aggressive monetization with season passes and microtransactions costing more than games themselves
- Live services shutting down, rendering purchases useless
- Skyrocketing prices and development budgets when consumers have less disposable income
These concerns far outweigh the politics of a community manager for a failing game nobody wanted to play.
The Unsustainable Triple A Model
Major Triple A games now cost hundreds of millions to make, market, and ship. Publishers like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft load these games with microtransactions, creating an endless pipeline of mediocrity. They need to earn more to justify spending more, locking themselves in a destructive cycle.
The harsh reality: a sizable chunk of their audience cannot afford higher prices while dumping money into microtransaction stores. Consider these statistics:
- More American workers than ever are working multiple jobs
- Consumer buying power hasn’t changed in decades
- Outstanding credit card debt over 25 years is at an all-time high
Despite revenue in the video game industry being 95% digital—eliminating 18% of distribution costs—publishers continue raising prices while monetizing “per user” more aggressively than ever.
Record Profits, Mass Layoffs
Microsoft’s quarterly revenue report post-Activision Blizzard merger shows Xbox content and services revenue increased 62%. Yet Microsoft led the industry in laying off thousands of workers. Even before the acquisition, Activision Blizzard reported “the best in our history” with $7.26 billion in net bookings in 2018, then laid off 8% of its workforce.
Tens of thousands of industry workers lost jobs in 2024 despite record profits. These publicly traded companies must increase revenue every quarter or executives lose their positions—a system that prioritizes shareholders over creativity or sustainability.
The Double A Renaissance
The bright future of gaming has nothing to do with EA, Ubisoft, Take-Two, or Microsoft. It has everything to do with names you’ve never heard of.
Expedition 33: A Case Study in Success
Expedition 33 exemplifies the new renaissance of Double A creativity. This phenomenal game blends turn-based mechanics with incredible graphics and a compelling story, competing with any Triple A product. Crucially, it launched at $50—less expensive than the new standard.
Developed by Sandfall Interactive (founded in 2020) and published by Kepler Interactive, the game represents a new model for success. Kepler Interactive operates on a unique co-ownership model, giving studios a stake in the business and leadership roles in strategic decisions while preserving creative independence.
This model addresses the number one complaint since 2014: that controlling decision-makers aren’t actual gamers or creatives. The results speak for themselves—a game competing with Triple A products for a fraction of the cost, from a smaller team with a shorter development cycle.
Other Success Stories
Kepler isn’t alone. Hooded Horse has released multiple high-quality games including Manor Lords, Cataclysmo, and Falling Frontier, genuinely supporting their development partners.
Arc Raiders, developed and published by Embark (a Nexon subsidiary), targets a $40 price point—half the new Triple A standard. Despite competing with Bungie’s Marathon (backed by Sony), Arc Raiders appears monumentally superior in features and execution.
The Path Forward
Games with smaller budgets and teams but more creative freedom are occupying the main stage. Supported by publishers like Kepler Interactive and Hooded Horse with business models addressing decade-old criticisms, these titles don’t just compete—they surpass Triple A offerings.
While it’s easy to focus on failures like Suicide Squad, Skull and Bones, and Concord, these failures create opportunities for something better. The Double A gaming resurgence strategically outperforms the Triple A industry in raw value and creativity.
The player base literally cannot afford to keep inflating profit metrics for dominant publishers. The Triple A gaming industry has become a bloated, overly commercialized monstrosity out of touch with consumer desires, necessitating collapse.
A Bright Future Ahead
While certain titles like GTA 6 will break records at $100 price points, the appetite for smaller, creatively governed products continues growing. The prediction: 2025, 2026, and beyond will see a fantastic explosion of Double A yet extremely successful products from developers and publishers nobody previously knew.
The future of gaming isn’t in the hands of mega-corporations chasing quarterly earnings. It belongs to nimble studios creating passionate projects, supported by publishers who understand that creative freedom and fair pricing lead to both critical and commercial success. The renaissance has already begun.
