Games that demand 100 hours of gameplay, particularly open-world titles, can be extremely exhausting—especially for players who engage with them solely for the story. This sentiment was echoed by former PlayStation head Shawn Layden, who served in executive roles at PlayStation Studios for decades and shared his perspective on the matter.
Layden, who managed PlayStation Studios globally from 2014 to 2019, recently noted that the cost of developing games has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. He attributed this partly to the excessive length of modern games, particularly open-world ones.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Layden stated that game development costs nearly double with each new console generation. During the PS4 era—the last generation he oversaw—the cost of developing games was around $150 million. This figure only covered initial development, excluding the crucial marketing expenses required to ensure a game’s success.
Layden also projected that for PS5 games, total sales might need to reach $300 million to $400 million to break even. However, he described these estimates as anything but stable or reliable.
He cited Red Dead Redemption 2 as an example—a game praised for its brilliance but requiring around 90 hours to complete. Layden admitted he doesn’t have the time to finish such lengthy titles. He observed that the average gamer used to be between 18 and 23 years old, an age group with no problem dedicating hours to gaming. However, today’s gaming audience includes many older, working individuals who simply lack the luxury of time to complete such long games.
Layden believes the gaming industry needs to reconsider the length of games to reduce development costs and attract a broader audience.
Do you agree with the former PlayStation head's perspective?
Follow US