5 things to learn from AAA studios
Game Developer
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
This article covers five key aspects—production, community, development, storytelling, and updates—valuable for both indie and AAA game developers.
AAA Related Topics 
Apple stakes its claim to AAA gaming on mobile with iPhone 15 Pro series
Game Developer
SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
Apple revealed the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro series, powered by a redesigned GPU, with exclusive ports of AAA console and PC games. This insight explores its importance, and why meaningful gains for publishers are far from guaranteed.
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89% of Devcom speakers believe AAA games don't need additional purchases
GamesIndustry.biz
AUGUST 19, 2024
As the Devcom developer conference kicks off in Cologne today, the organisers have shared the results of this year's speaker survey, with almost 90% of respondents stating they believe AAA games can succeed without additional purchases.
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New AAA studio Muddy Robot launches
GamesIndustry.biz
MARCH 18, 2024
A new AAA studio has launched, composed of industry veterans from EA, Sony, Blizzard, Disney, Apple, and Google. Founded in October 2023, Muddy Robot Games is led by former International Game Developers Association president Chris Hood.
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Netflix closes its only AAA game studio
Game Developer
OCTOBER 22, 2024
The Southern Californian developer was around for less than two years.
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Blurring lines: How AAA and indies can benefit each other | Opinion
GamesIndustry.biz
SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
As an industry, we're currently caught in a perfect storm of rapidly-evolving technology and the spiraling demands of modern AAA games, with a huge number of developers working for years to meet the level of scale and fidelity audiences have grown to expect. Read more
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Epic Games Release 500+ Free AAA Quality Game Animations
Game From Scratch
JUNE 12, 2024
GameFromScratch.com Epic Games Release 500+ Free AAA Quality Game Animations Epic Games are the kings of free stuff, from their monthly giveaways to today’s announcement, 500+ game ready motion matched game engines for Unreal Engine 5.4.
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Saber's Matthew Karch: "The AAA model is going to change"
GamesIndustry.biz
APRIL 10, 2024
While there are still a number of AAA games heading to consoles and PC by the end of the year, it's currently a quieter line-up than we would historically expect and some heavy hitters that are most likely to move the needle, such as Grand Theft Auto 6, aren't due until next year.
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Respawn veteran Stig Asmussen forms Giant Skull to build AAA single player games
GamesIndustry.biz
MARCH 12, 2024
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox Experienced veterans from EA's Respawn studio have formed a new AAA team called Giant Skull. The developer is led by Stig Asmussen, who is best known as the game director for 2019's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and 2023's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
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Why there's no market for AAA mobile games | GI Microcast
GamesIndustry.biz
JULY 22, 2024
The pair reflect on the challenges AAA hardcore games face on mobile devices and ponder the future of whether publishers will continue to invest in these technologically impressive but commercially disappointing ports.
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Come and Make: AAA games that push the boundaries
GamesIndustry.biz
OCTOBER 2, 2023
There's an exciting new AAA game studio that's growing rapidly in Leamington Spa and already picking up awards. Lighthouse Games is a new development team set-up by Gavin Raeburn, the co-founder and former studio head of Forza Horizon developer Playground Games.
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How to optimize AAA games for performance
Juego Studio
AUGUST 22, 2024
AAA games often face performance challenges. CPUs can struggle with complex game logic and AI, GPUs are taxed by demanding visuals and effects, memory is strained by large game worlds and assets, and slow storage can cause lengthy loading times.
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NetEase opens new AAA studio BulletFarm led by Treyarch vet David Vonderhaar
GamesIndustry.biz
FEBRUARY 28, 2024
BulletFarm is headquartered in Los Angeles but positioned as a remote-first studio, and is already working on a AAA game built in Unreal Engine 5. NetEase Games has opened another new studio in the West in the form of BulletFarm, and has hired Call of Duty veteran David Vonderhaar to lead the team.
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How I Get to Work in AAA Games
The GameDev Guru
JANUARY 24, 2023
Curious how I get access to help out in AAA games?
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The Strange State of the AAA Market
Game Wisdom
NOVEMBER 21, 2023
The Strange State of the AAA Market Josh Bycer josh@game-wisdom.com width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" Last Key to Games cast we spoke about the indie space, for this topic, recent news surrounding major names in the AAA space make us wonder what is exactly happening at the major studios.…
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Everything to know about AAA Game development
Juego Studio
FEBRUARY 12, 2024
In the simplest form, AAA games have a high development and marketing budget. For avid gamers, subtle nuances beyond the gameplay matter more than anything else. The graphics quality, sound effects, and framerate all influence the gamer’s psyche.
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Netflix hires Halo vet Joseph Staten for AAA game
GamesIndustry.biz
APRIL 18, 2023
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox At a glance Joseph Staten, a long-serving Halo developer, has joined Netflix to head up a new AAA project. Read more
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Former Criterion leaders set-up new AAA games studio Fuse Games
GamesIndustry.biz
MARCH 16, 2023
The veterans who left Need for Speed developer Criterion in December last year have reunited to form a new AAA studio: Fuse Games. The new outfit has been founded by studio general manager Matt Webster, head of content Steve Uphill, head of production Pete Lake, head of technology Andrei Shires, and head of operations Alan McDairmant.
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PlayStation to acquire AAA multiplayer developer Firewalk Studios
GamesIndustry.biz
APRIL 20, 2023
PlayStation has agreed to acquire Firewalk Studios, the AAA multiplayer developer that is working on a live service game for PS5 and PC. Firewalk was set-up in 2018 as part of ProbablyMonsters (a collective of AAA game developers).
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Ex-Ubisoft devs lead Krafton's new AAA studio in Montreal
GamesIndustry.biz
FEBRUARY 8, 2023
Currently employing 12 staff, the team hopes to grow to 150 people within the next three years, adding another AAA studio to the already competitive Montreal development scene. Read more
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Mastering the Art of AAA Game Development: Our Approach
Starloop Studios
AUGUST 17, 2023
AAA game development is a complex process that requires well-oiled teamwork from an experienced team. The AAA game development process is an intersection of art, technical skills, writing, and many more disciplines.
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Playground Games leaders form new AAA studio Maverick Games
GamesIndustry.biz
JANUARY 10, 2023
Some of the leaders behind the Forza Horizon series have formed a new AAA games studio in Leamington Spa called Maverick Games. The team is led by studio head and creative director Mike Brown, who was previously the creative director on the Forza Horizon franchise.
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Warner Bros. addressing "volatile" AAA console space with live services, mobile free-to-play
GamesIndustry.biz
MARCH 5, 2024
Discovery has been historically focused on AAA console games, but the company's CEO and president of global streaming and games JB Perrette wants to change that. The gaming business of Warner Bros.
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How to Create a Game-Ready AAA asset
Logic Simplified
AUGUST 5, 2024
This is the workflow for creating a AAA model of an AK-47, using Maya, Substance Designer, Substance Painter and Marmoset. At Logic Simplified , a leading game development company , we created an FPS game Mr. 45. Even though an AK-47 was not used as an asset, I got the opportunity to test my skill and indulge in my passion.
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Why Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s absence of DLC bucks AAA trends
Game Developer
SEPTEMBER 22, 2023
Eiji Aonuma recently revealed that Nintendo currently has no plans to release additional content for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This decision marks a notable departure for both a blockbuster game and a major first-party Nintendo release.
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Is it hard for programmers who work for mobile or indie companies to get a job in an AAA studio due to the difference in project scope? Does this lead to their experience being considered inferior to that of AAA developers?
Ask a Game Dev
MARCH 12, 2024
I've seen plenty of programmers who had experience working at smaller or mobile studios move to AAA games and many go in reverse. When we hire engineers for game dev, be it AAA or indie, we look for candidates who can work with a team and have a knack for solving problems with performant, legible, and elegant code.
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How to Seamlessly Integrate Stories Into AAA Console Gameplay
Starloop Studios
AUGUST 29, 2023
With AAA console game developers focusing on ensuring their games are more immersive than ever, intersecting gameplay and narrative has never been more crucial. Though the vast majority of games have a story, very few of them allow for meaningful gameplay and story integration.
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What are AAA Games and Mobile Games?
iXie gaming
FEBRUARY 17, 2023
With the rise of the gaming industry, two distinct categories of games have emerged: AAA games and mobile games. As a result, mobile gaming is pushed aside in favor of AAA titles, which have their own position in the market. Now, when you think about high-end games, you think about AAA. Can Mobile Games Be AAA?
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Prytania Media opens two new AAA studios
GamesIndustry.biz
AUGUST 17, 2023
Prytania Media has announced the opening of two new AAA development studios: Fang & Claw and Dawon Entertainment. The latest additions to Prytania Media will join sister studios Possibility Space and Crop Circle Games.
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New AAA studio Lighthouse Games formed by Playground co-founder Gavin Raeburn
GamesIndustry.biz
MARCH 27, 2023
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox A new AAA development studio has opened doors in the UK hub of Leamington Spa, helmed by the former studio head and co-founder of Forza Horizon creator Playground Games.
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Godot for AA/AAA game development - What's missing?
Mircosoft Game Dev
JANUARY 15, 2023
The features offered are also a lot more reminiscent of AAA games, such as far more material options and advanced visual effects (including circle DOF , volumetric fog, AMD FSR, etc.). Is solving these problems enough for Godot to become a top AA / AAA game engine? Rendering is significantly more efficient in Godot 4.0,
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iPhone 15 Pro will run native versions of AAA titles
GamesIndustry.biz
SEPTEMBER 13, 2023
AAA games like Assassin's Creed Mirage and the remake of Resident Evil 4 will soon be available to play on iPhone 15 Pro. Announced during Apple's Wonderlust Event , a new A17 Pro chip has enabled support for games previously only available on console and PC.
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Diablo 4’s Beta Shows the Horror of Modern AAA Design
Game Wisdom
MARCH 27, 2023
Diablo 4’s Beta Shows the Horror of Modern AAA Design Josh Bycer josh@game-wisdom.com It’s been a rough couple of years for Blizzard Entertainment, going from one of the premier studios in the world to one mired in controversy, scandals, lawsuits, and destroying years’ worth of goodwill with their fans.
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A Year With Indie Cup
Game Developer
JANUARY 9, 2024
"If you find yourself a bit bored while playing the next AAA title, thinking something like “I’ve seen this so many times before”, open a search engine of your choice, type “indie games” and press enter."
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GamesIndustry.biz
JULY 11, 2023
Chris Charla, strategic director of Microsoft's indie programme ID@Xbox, says the need to separate indie titles from AAA is diminishing in many regards.
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Game Classification: Defining AAA, AA, and III Games
Tiny Hydra
JUNE 17, 2021
Then came the rise of the AAA game. Suddenly a game either was or was not AAA. The post Game Classification: Defining AAA, AA, and III Games appeared first on Tiny Hydra. Inevitably, other classifications followed. In this article, we try to dig into what those are and what they mean.
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Epic’s Alan Wake 2 heralds a new dawn of digital-only AAA games
Game Developer
MAY 31, 2023
Epic Games, the publisher behind Alan Wake 2, a premium single-player game on consoles and PC, is defying consumer expectation by releasing the game as an exclusively digital release.
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Hitman maker IO Interactive will publish the new action thriller by Leslie Benzies’ Build A Rocket Boy
GamesIndustry.biz
OCTOBER 16, 2024
IO Interactive is moving into third-party publishing with MindsEye, the new action thriller by Build A Rocket Boy, the AAA team formed by GTA producer Leslie Benzies. Read more
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The Problem With Defining AAA Games (and How to Fix It)
Tiny Hydra
JULY 8, 2021
AAA games make up the minority of games released each year, but receive the vast majority of news coverage, consumer hype, and cultural mindshare. Because of that, you’d assume that anyone would be able to definitively say which games are and are not AAA, right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
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Embracer's Lars Wingefors on the "brutal truth" of the AAA market
GamesIndustry.biz
MAY 31, 2024
Embracer Group's latest financials showed the stark contract between two of the firm's biggest releases from its past fiscal year. On the one hand, Deep Silver's Dead Island 2 was the biggest seller, with three million sales and seven million players since its launch in April 2023.
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Zelnick on Take-Two's packed 2025, and why PC is increasingly crucial for AAA
GamesIndustry.biz
NOVEMBER 7, 2024
Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick has plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Read more
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Why You Can’t Objectively Build Great Games
Game Wisdom
NOVEMBER 8, 2024
Why You Can’t Objectively Build Great Games Josh Bycer josh@game-wisdom.com I was reading a piece over on Game Developer that gave me pause for a second about whether this is what game design at the AAA level is about now — focusing on analytics and trying to “math” the perfect … The post Why You Can’t Objectively (..)
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Several genres have gone extinct in the AAA space. Point and click adventure games, plastic instrument rythme games, and others are on life support like RTSes. What other genres do you think are next of being unprofitable at AAA production values?
Ask a Game Dev
NOVEMBER 22, 2023
For example, I think fighting games that aren't Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat have little chance of AAA success nowadays. Basically, AAA budgets can't exist if enough people aren't actively interested in the type of game and willing to keep playing it for a long time. UFC/MMA, PGA golf, WWE wrestling, skateboarding, etc.).
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I’m willing to accept that AAA games should often be sold at a higher price to help deal balance the increasing cost of development. Do you think that companies would do better to raise prices quickly and wait out the sticker-shock or to try and raise prices very slowly to attract less attention?
Ask a Game Dev
SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
Haven't you noticed just how many AAA game releases these days aren't about a single sale but live service? The cost of development for AAA fidelity games is mostly too high now to be profitable on their own. I'm pretty sure that, as an industry, we've mostly already moved beyond that. The live service model is the price increase.
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