The creator of DOOM has it clear: games like Expedition 33 and Baldur’s Gate 3 are the future

John Romero believes that AA and independent productions will set the course for the industry.

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The success of titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 or Baldur’s Gate 3 has sparked a new debate about the future of video games. Far from the multimillion-dollar budgets and increasingly riskier blockbusters, it seems that more modest titles – but with great personality – are gaining ground. And that same idea has been defended by none other than John Romero, creator of DOOM, in a recent interview.

During his participation in the Deep Dive podcast of Nightdive Studios, Romero spoke about the role of independent studios and AA productions in the current landscape, pointing out that these are the projects that are really pushing the industry forward. “Today, the sector is more alive than ever, especially in the indie terrain. You just need to look at platforms like itch.io or the number of monthly releases on Steam to see the magnitude of this scene,” he explained.

John Romero defends a more creative model against the wear and tear of AAA

For Romero, the key lies in the creativity and freedom offered by this type of development: “Every year, we see how among the nominees for game of the year, there are more and more independent titles or with adjusted budgets. Balatro, Baldur’s Gate 3, Helldivers 2, Expedition 33… all have shown that you don’t need to be a blockbuster to make an impact,” he commented.

The veteran designer believes that this trend is not only positive but also forces large companies to rethink their approach. According to him, these smaller works are the ones that “make the AAA giants reflect, forcing them to adapt or change.” An opinion that, by the way, is also shared by Shawn Layden, former PlayStation executive, who has been warning that the current AAA model is not sustainable in the long term.

Romero even cited the case of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that has caught the attention of Square Enix for its artistic approach and turn-based combat system. Will we see a new Final Fantasy following that path? Time will tell. What is clear is that, according to one of the most influential names in the history of the medium, the future of video games does not lie in making them bigger, but in making them different.