AA Games Won’t Make a Comeback as Publishers Chase Fortnite-like Hits

In a recent Limit Break Network podcast, Strange Scaffold’s Xalavier Nelson, known for Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator, expressed concerns about the gaming industry’s current direction.

According to Nelson, publishers are focusing on betting big on Fortnite and Suicide Squad-sized games, leading to the decline of mid-budget or “AA” games. He noted that the industry’s current environment makes a “AA revolution” unlikely as investors prefer the potential high profits from AAA games.

Despite recent success stories like Hogwarts Legacy and AA hits such as Hi-Fi Rush and Lies of P, publishers remain fixated on achieving massive success. Nelson explains, “Everyone who has the money to do a AA revolution instead wants to make a new Fortnite, and that new Fortnite might get canceled before it ever gets released.”

Publishers like Warner Bros. are doubling down on live-service games, even after the success of Hogwarts Legacy. Nelson emphasized how the trend is likely to continue, with big-budget titles overshadowing innovative mid-tier games, limiting the potential for a true AA resurgence.

The gaming community is watching to see how this trend will impact future releases, but for now, the focus remains on big risks with even bigger rewards.