Ex-PlayStation Boss: Too Many Devs Chase Hits, Not Passion

Ever feel like big-budget games are playing it a little too safe lately? You're not alone—former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden thinks so too, and he's not holding back.

Speaking on The Expansion Pass, Layden said too many developers are chasing "the thing that they think is just going to hit" rather than building the game that someone inside the studio has "bursting out of their brain"—the kind of idea that makes you feel "I need to build this game or I can't sleep at night." He contrasted that with Rockstar and Take-Two, who he says "know what they're doing [and] they're fine. But other places…"

Layden hesitated to use the word "pander" because it might be "too harsh of a term," but his point is clear: the industry's obsession with surefire hits is squeezing out creative risk. And honestly, it's hard to argue when you look at how many AAA games follow the same third-person cinematic formula or open-world template. Meanwhile, everyone's still chasing Fortnite money with live-service games that keep flopping because, let's face it, nobody has time to grind five of them at once.

But here's the catch: it's not as simple as telling devs to just follow their dreams. Getting a publisher to greenlight a risky idea these days is a whole different battle. The host pointed out that Xbox has shut down or divested from studios like Double Fine and Compulsion Games—teams that were pursuing their own creative visions.

Layden agrees that artistic vision still needs guidance. He mentioned games with "strictly artistic vision with no guard rails," saying he won't name names but "you know the ones I'm talking about"—the ones that make you go, "what were they thinking when they built that thing?" His take: "You still need to have guardians in the room."

Unfortunately, few publishers outside of Capcom and Nintendo seem eager to fund those guided passion projects. Especially not when millions that could fund an entire game are being wasted on CEO bonuses. It's a frustrating cycle, and Layden's comments echo what PlayStation's creator said about games stagnating and the industry needing to rediscover its "curiosity" as it approaches a major turning point.

So, what do you think? Are AAA games too safe, or is playing it safe just smart business? Will you be picking up the next big risky indie instead? Let us know in the comments!