We won’t get “the next FromSoftware” or “another Remedy or Larian” at this rate, warns veteran dev: “We have to change that”
A veteran games developer has warned that the industry’s current conditions could prevent the emergence of studios comparable to FromSoftware, Remedy Entertainment and Larian Studios. The argument is that creating distinctive, successful developers requires long-term support and room to take risks, rather than expecting immediate large-scale returns.
The warning matters because these studios are widely associated with critically acclaimed, commercially successful games built over many years. The developer said the industry “has to change” if it wants to foster the next generation of similarly influential teams.
In short
- Industry conditions may hinder new standout game studios.
- Successful studios need time, risk-taking and sustained support.
- A veteran developer calls for change.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The industry needs to give studios sustained support and room to experiment, because distinctive creative identities and ambitious games often take years to develop. If publishers and investors demand immediate returns, they may discourage the risks and gradual growth that helped established studios build lasting success.
The case against
Publishers and investors have to manage real financial risks, especially when large games require substantial budgets and uncertain development timelines. Requiring evidence of demand, controlling costs and prioritising reliable returns can help keep studios viable and fund future projects, even if it limits some ambitious experiments.
Explained simply
FromSoftware, Remedy Entertainment and Larian Studios are video game developers whose names have become synonymous with critical and commercial success over many years. FromSoftware created the Dark Souls and Elden Ring series, Remedy developed Control and other acclaimed titles, and Larian created Baldur's Gate 3, which became a major recent success. These studios are valued for producing distinctive, ambitious games that achieved worldwide recognition.
A veteran games developer has warned that the industry's current economic and business conditions may make it increasingly difficult for new studios to develop in the same way these companies did. The concern is that building influential studios requires years of sustained support and the freedom to take creative risks, both of which have become harder to maintain in today's environment.
This warning matters because studios like these represent successful models of long-term creative development that the industry has often held up as ideals. If the conditions that enabled their success no longer exist, it suggests the gaming world could lose a pipeline for producing the next generation of similarly respected, game-changing developers.
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