The changing landscape of AAA gaming
I have a theory. And this theory is only based on my own opinions and ideas. T's and C's apply
I believe that there is a change coming in gaming. You can see it forming with new titles releasing. The entire way n which AAA titles are classified, designed and marketed will change with it.
I believe that in the future we will see AAA titles being only those with the much talked about "games as a service" business model. These big titles will be riddled with loot boxes, microtransactions and paid-for DLC. These will have every type of monetization model that the industry comes up with. You will also see these games focusing on multiplayer either exclusively or heavily. Removed from these games will be a new classification of games. Something like AA style games. These games will be more singleplayer focused, will have definitely higher budgets than those of indie titles, but almost be indie in nature.
I believe then that the AAA gaming model will split in two, with clear distinctions in budgets, scope and focus between the two groups.
The reason I think this can be summarized in one word: money. Say what you want, but games with the "games as a service" model makes a tonne of money. People spend billions each year on games such as Overwatch, Destiny, COD, Battlefield, even Dota and LoL. These are the type of games you would expect to see in the AAA classification.
The problem is this; as gaming budgets increase, more and more games feel like they need to add microtransactions to their game in order to be profitable. Publishers will also focus on getting a return on their investment as fast as possible and will demand these business models from games. But some games just simply can't justify them, and many games will burn their fingers by trying to overextend their ability to monetise in-game content. This will lead to some high profile game failures, and publishers getting wary of their practices. But the enticement of money is strong, and people will continuously chase that dragon.
Through this, publishers will realise that, in order to make it big with a game, they need to throw a huge pile of money in the form of marketing into a game, and try and monetise every little aspect of the game. Thus they will shoot for the AAA segment. But some games will be made to appease the masses. Games with smaller budgets, smaller marketing pushes. Games that rely on word of mouth to get their message across. These games with smaller budgets will have limited scope as well, focus on single player only, and will need much fewer sales to break even. And thus the AA classification of games will be born.
Now indie titles will not go away. In fact, quite the opposite will happen. Even more indie titles will move into the AA space, blurring the line between indie and AA gaming. But AA will exist for publishers that simply cannot afford to move into the AAA space.
AAA games will be meant to play and supported for a long time, while AA games will be more traditionally styled and developed games. AA games will also help with brand images of some publishers that get hit with negativity for their AAA behaviours.
Overall I think it will be a positive move, one that would make fiscal sense as well as brand image sense to publishers.
