Matt Booty, the chief of Xbox Game Studios, recently talked with Axios about the increasing time required for game development as well as the rising expectations of players and the gaming industry as a whole. Booty stated that major game titles now take four to six years to develop, indicating a significant shift from previous console generations' shorter development cycles.
Booty expressed his belief that both the gaming industry and its fans need to recognize and adapt to the new reality that games are no longer completed within two or three years. Specifically referring to high-end, big-budget games, Booty stated that their development cycles now extend to four, five, and even six years. This shift reflects the growing complexity and ambition of modern games, as developers strive to deliver higher levels of fidelity and immersive experiences.
Popular franchises such as Gears of War, Halo, and Uncharted had multiple installments released within a single console generation during the Xbox 360 and PS3 eras. However, with the introduction of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and frequency of game releases slowed significantly. This change can be attributed to the increased budgets required for game development and the larger teams involved in creating these ambitious titles.
While some franchises, such as Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty, continued to release games annually, they were able to maintain this pace by leveraging multiple studios and alternating development responsibilities. In order to maintain a high standard of quality, these franchises now spend more than three or four years on each title.
The upcoming release of Starfield, Xbox's highly anticipated game of the year, highlights the extended development cycles. Starfield is the first title to be released by Bethesda Game Studios since Fallout 4 in 2015, marking nearly a decade between releases. In order to put this into viewpoint, Fallout 3 came out in 2008, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim came out just three years later.
Bethesda confirmed the development of The Elder Scrolls 6 through a teaser trailer in 2018. However, if Booty's estimates are accurate, it may take approximately ten years from the initial announcement until the game is released. Booty's comments shed light on the criticism faced by Xbox due to the perceived lack of major releases in recent years.
While the recent Xbox Game Showcase aimed to address these concerns, some fans noted that certain titles, including Playground's Fable reboot, remained undated despite being announced several years ago. The absence of the reboot of Perfect Dark, Obsidian's The Outer World's 2, and Machine Games' Indiana Jones further fueled speculations about their release dates. Based on Booty's remarks, it seems that gamers may have to wait even longer to experience these highly anticipated titles.
Booty acknowledged the increased expectations placed upon game developers and emphasized the continuous improvement in fidelity. The advancements in technology enable developers to deliver more immersive and visually stunning experiences. Booty believes that Xbox has already made progress in delivering first-party titles on a regular basis and expects an even more substantial lineup by 2024.
Major titles now take four to six years to create, reflecting a shift in the gaming industry toward longer game development cycles. Matt Booty, the chief of Xbox Game Studios, stressed the need for players and the industry to recognize and adapt to this new reality. As expectations continue to rise, developers strive to deliver games with higher levels of fidelity and engaging experiences. While fans eagerly await upcoming releases, including Starfield, they must understand that the development process is a complex undertaking that requires time and dedication from game studios.