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 Game Development Games 
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 (..)
Build 
105
105 Join 5,000+
Insiders
Sign Up for our Newsletter
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Trending Sources
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.). The traditional way to make games longer since the beginning of times is to divide them in stages. Additionally, Godot 4.0
AAA 145
145 
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. Read more
AAA 136
136 
Virtuos acquires British indie game developer Third Kind Games
GamesIndustry.biz
AUGUST 20, 2024
Virtuos has acquired British indie game developer, Third Kind Games. Virtuos says the acquisition will enhance its "AAA co-development capabilities and establish a new foothold for Virtuos in the UK."
Indy 129
129 
AWS to showcase tools for breakthrough gaming experiences at GDC 2025
AWS Games
MARCH 13, 2025
Experience first-hand how Amazon Web Services (AWS) for Games helps build breakthrough gaming experiences at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), March 17-21, 2025 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Meet with AWS for Games experts to learn about the transformational power of generative AI and cloud game development.
AI 100
100 
Solo developer Kaighen Finley: “It’s easy to lose myself in game development”
PreMortem.Games
APRIL 17, 2023
Fresh out of school Kaighen Finley started his own web & game development company Team iNtuition. Just to be on the safe side he mainly focused on web development, but his heart was not in it. It took him 4 years to create his game and in that time he learned some valuable lessons. “If I function well like that.”
Game Development 197
197 
The Top 10 Popular VR Game Development Tools
Logic Simplified
NOVEMBER 7, 2024
Similarly, in a game development setup, various virtual reality tools have become easily accessible to both creators and consumers to create and encounter immersive experiences. 10 Popular VR Game Development Tools There are a range of tools and frameworks that are being used for VR game development projects.
Shawn Layden's advice on making games faster and cheaper
GamesIndustry.biz
JUNE 18, 2024
It was back in 2020 when Shawn Layden began sounding the alarm around rising game development costs. Now, four years later, we have caught up with Layden as part of our new GI Sprint series of video, podcasts and articles, which is all around lowering the cost of game development. Read more
AAA 145
145 
PlayStation-backed Deviation Games closes
GamesIndustry.biz
MARCH 9, 2024
New AAA game developer Deviation Games is closing, the studio announced. It was formed in 2020 by Jason Blundell and Dave Anthony, two development veterans best known for the Call of Duty: Black Ops franchise. But the project hit challenges. I want to express my deepest gratitude to our entire team.
AAA 145
145 
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.
AAA 102
102 
What Resident Evil Village on iOS tells us about the future of AAA mobile game development
GamesIndustry.biz
OCTOBER 4, 2023
It feels like alchemy when considering the most recent port of the game to a handheld device was the cloud version on Nintendo Switch.
Mobile 129
129 
EA reveals Cliffhanger Games, the new studio working on a Black Panther game
GamesIndustry.biz
JULY 10, 2023
EA has formally announced Cliffhanger Games and revealed its first project. The AAA developer is based in Seattle, and it's creating an original third-person single player game based on Marvel's Black Panther franchise. It follows news that EA's Motive studio is creating a game based on the Iron Man IP.
Studios 145
145 
The 7 Stages of Game Development
Starloop Studios
NOVEMBER 24, 2022
The game development pipeline is a lengthy process. In our experience working on everything from AAA titles to smaller-scale projects, a common thread are the stages of game development.
Why external and distributed development is the future of AAA games
GamesIndustry.biz
MARCH 7, 2024
It’s no secret that game development has seen a massive expansion in scope in recent years. What would have once taken a development team three or four years to make now requires much more people, and four to six years to ship.
AAA 124
124 
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.
AAA 52
52 
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. If the name sounds familiar, it's because Sony had already announced it would be publishing Firewalk's first game back in April 2021. It now boasts almost 150 employees.
AAA 81
81 
AWS for Games debuts Guide to Generative AI for Game Developers, and more at GDC 2024
AWS Games
MARCH 27, 2024
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries, a seismic shift that was certainly felt at the 2024 Game Developer Conference (GDC) held last week in San Francisco at the Moscone Convention Center. Check it out , and follow the recap below for a full rundown of AWS for Games activities at GDC 2024.
AI 108
108 
Game-Changing Storytelling: How To Integrate Narrative Elements in Mobile Games
Game Refinery
NOVEMBER 30, 2023
Narrative design has always been an important part of video game development, but its significance in modern-day games continues to grow as narrative elements play an important role in player engagement and retention. Several exploration games also incorporate similar story designs. The core gameplay in Gossip Harbor.
Mobile Gaming 262
262 
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.
AAA 52
52 
Top AAA Game Companies in Europe
Juego Studio
DECEMBER 15, 2024
The leading players in the video game industry have consistently been AAA game companies. These major development firms establish innovation, creativity, and player engagement standards.
AAA 52
52 
How to Create a Game-Ready AAA asset
Logic Simplified
AUGUST 5, 2024
At Logic Simplified , a leading game development company , we created an FPS game Mr. 45. This is the workflow for creating a AAA model of an AK-47, using Maya, Substance Designer, Substance Painter and Marmoset. Seasoned gaming studios like ours love Maya for its features and flexibility.
AAA 78
78 
As a AAA dev, what is a task *outside* of the actual game development that is underrated but super critical to your job? Beyond coding, arting, programming, modeling, and QA…ing. (Obviously aside from hiring people.)
Ask a Game Dev
JANUARY 3, 2025
Short questions: Ask a Game Dev on Twitter Long questions: Ask a Game Dev on Tumblr Frequent Questions: The FAQ The more one's responsibilities increase in scope, the more valuable communication skills become. Join us on Discord ] and/or [ Support us on Patreon ] Got a burning question you want answered?
Column Tomas Sala • Art schools should educate designers, not production drones
PreMortem.Games
DECEMBER 15, 2023
Now that the games industry has witnessed more than 9.000 layoffs this year, we have to seriously reconsider how the educational system is operating. Do we really need tons of new AAA production workers to come into the industry every year? All screenshots are taken from the upcoming game Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles by Tomas Sala.
Educational 166
166 
Unity Games That Last: How Testing, Art, and LiveOps Drive Revenue and Retention
iXie gaming
APRIL 23, 2025
The global gaming industry is booming and yet, most Unity-based titles fail to sustain player attention or generate long-term value. For studios aiming to build not just games, but game-driven businesses, these three pillars are no longer optional. Because success isnt defined by shipping a playable build. Its the opening move.
Art 52
52 
Developer cohort unveils Fun Dog Studios
GamesIndustry.biz
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox A team of game developers who have worked on various AAA titles such as Mass Effect, The Witcher, and Doom Eternal have unveiled Fun Dog Studios. The studio is a minority-led and completely employee-owned game developer. Read more
Studios 117
117 
Testronic parent Catalis Group acquires Secret 6
GamesIndustry.biz
JANUARY 11, 2023
Based in Madrid and Manila, Secret 6 is outsourcing firm that provides 3D and 2D art, QA services, and full game development support. It has worked on a wider range of titles, from AAA blockbusters like The Last of Us: Part 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 to mobile hits such as Episode and Monster Train. Read more.
AAA 126
126 
The Rise of Hybridization in Mobile Games: How Developers are Genre Mashing Their Way to Success
Game Refinery
MAY 4, 2023
We’ve been writing about the growth of ‘hybrid’ mobile games – when a title merges two or more genres to create an entirely new gameplay experience – since 2020, but hybrid games have evolved a lot since then, especially when it comes to the game genres that are being merged together.
Mobile Gaming 280
280 
The Complete Guide to Unity Game Engine
Starloop Studios
NOVEMBER 1, 2024
Unity game engine is one of the gaming industry’s premier game engines, used by development studios for everything from small-scale independent games to AAA titles. The post The Complete Guide to Unity Game Engine appeared first on Starloop Studios.
Game Engine 52
52 
Former EA devs' Simply Sweet Games aims to "raise the bar for the entire industry"
GamesIndustry.biz
MARCH 7, 2024
Industry veterans Tina Merry and Carina Kom have formed a new studio, Simply Sweet Games. Headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, Simply Sweet Games is a fully remote studio that is currently developing its inaugural mobile title – the roguelike word puzzle Criss Cross Castles.
Electronics 106
106 
Firewall studio First Contact shuts down
GamesIndustry.biz
DECEMBER 22, 2023
As an AAA VR game developer, we are just not able to justify the expense needed going forward," the studio said. "[We] The Los Angeles-based studio shared a statement on social media , citing a "lack of support for VR within the industry" as the main reason for closing its doors. "As
Studios 127
127 
What are AAA Games and Mobile Games?
iXie gaming
FEBRUARY 17, 2023
Game creators today, release a large number of video games based on the taste and budget of their customers. Some of these games are not as famous as their creators and publishers would like, while others are increasing in fame and sales. Now, when you think about high-end games, you think about AAA.
AAA 52
52 
Four ways to build better indie marketing campaigns
GamesIndustry.biz
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
Getting your game noticed isn't easy, and it's particularly tough for indie game developers right now. But even then, indie games have a much harder time cutting through the noise.
Indy 110
110 
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.
AAA 52
52 
Game Classification: Defining AAA, AA, and III Games
Tiny Hydra
JUNE 17, 2021
At first, games were just games. Good games, bad games; big games, little games. 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.
AAA 52
52 
ProbablyMonsters unveils Hidden Grove
GamesIndustry.biz
APRIL 9, 2024
ProbablyMonsters has had a long and eventful life for a company that has yet to ship a game.
AAA 122
122 
Battlefield leaders form new shooter studio Time To Kill Games
GamesIndustry.biz
MAY 23, 2023
Former EA DICE leaders have reunited to form Time To Kill Games, a new AAA studio based in Stockholm, Sweden. The developer is led by Lars Gustavsson, who up until November last year, ran the Battlefield series as creative director at EA DICE. It’s working on a new shooter built using Unreal Engine.
Studios 112
112 
AAA Game Development: Creating Next-Generation Games
Starloop Studios
MAY 4, 2023
With every new console generation comes the anticipation of next-gen games and the experiences they can bring to players. The arrival of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S was met with similar excitement and curiosity as to what the new console generation would bring. At Magic Media, we are well-versed in [.]
AAA 52
52 
How VFX Streamlines Player Experience
Starloop Studios
JANUARY 12, 2023
Visual effects in modern gaming can be a transformative process that brings a title’s presentation and immersion to the next level. It has become an integral part of game development, from small-scale indie gems to AAA blockbusters.
AAA 98
98 
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.
AAA 52
52 
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.
AAA 52
52 
Video Game Development Trends That You Should Know
Moonmana
JULY 25, 2022
Video games industry is going big and bigger. How do we see it in 2022 and what’s at play for developers? What are the fresh trends in the gaming industry? The last few years have been motivating the game development field quite actively. Video games development incorporates PC games and consoles.
Survey finds more than half of game developers experience crunch
GamesIndustry.biz
SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
A new union survey raised further concerns about crunch culture in game development, with more than half experiencing crunch in the past two years. 57% of those surveyed said they most recently worked on an AAA game. 57% of those surveyed said they most recently worked on an AAA game. Read more
The joy of intergalactic journalism in Times & Galaxy by Copychaser Games
PreMortem.Games
MAY 17, 2024
In Times & Galaxy by Copychaser Games , players have the opportunity to experience the thrilling life of a space reporter for the solar system’s most trusted holopaper. Before I got into game development, I was a crime reporter at a daily newspaper”, says Ben Gelinas , creative director on Times & Galaxy and Copychaser Games’ founder.
Games 118
118 
Let's personalize your content