The Challenge of Creating Blockbuster Games

The video game industry currently faces a paradox where it has never been easier to develop basic games, with platforms like Steam showcasing 15,000 new games released in a year, yet creating blockbuster titles is becoming increasingly difficult. The competition has grown fierce as blockbuster games must stand out against a vast array of alternatives, including 'games as a service' that keep players engaged for years. This intense competition drives studios to aim for enhanced graphical fidelity, with high-quality graphics now often requiring larger teams of artists and engineers, which can lead to project delays. The case of 'Undertale,' which, despite its simplistic graphics, became one of the best games of the last decade, illustrates that innovation and fun gameplay can sometimes outweigh the demand for high-end visuals.