Innovation in Gaming: Why Large Publishers Shun Small Projects While Indies Flourish

Gaming industry veteran Dan Daglow asserts that leading publishers are increasingly trapped in a cycle of sequels and established franchises. He believes that only exceptional indie projects, such as the highly anticipated Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, possess the potential to break through the pervasive dominance of familiar brands.

"How many years has it been since any of the major publishers had a significant new, self-developed franchise? The answer is a long time, and it's not their fault. When you get that big, the only games you can chase are the ones you think are going to make hundreds of millions. You can no longer make smart small games because it doesn't please the stock market. It doesn't increase your top line,"

Dan Daglow

Daglow explains. He emphasizes that with game development budgets soaring to figures like $440 million, publishers are naturally unwilling to take substantial creative risks. However, the emerging success of Expedition 33, developed by a nimble team of just 35 people yet boasting the visual fidelity of a high-budget title, effectively demonstrates the viability of groundbreaking ideas on a much more constrained budget.

"If you're spending $440 million on a game, that's not where you take risks and do something unpredictable,"

Dan Daglow

Daglow adds. According to his perspective, the true wellspring of original and exciting concepts lies within the indie sector. "That's where a lot of exciting new ideas are coming from. A lot of them won't find an audience, but some of them will," he concludes, firmly positioning indie developers as the primary catalysts for innovation in the contemporary gaming landscape.