Im not incredibly upset... the talent who made the games they listed are already gone. But its just the sign of the times. American/western gaming is on life support
Riot is owned by Tencent since 2012 (Chinese), Epic is owned by Tencent (not western), Sony (Not western) and Tim Sweeney and haven’t created anything worthwhile since 2020 with Fall Guys and Fortnite (2017). Both of which are garbage and haven’t evolved in any tangible way in the last decade. Sumo is owned by Tencent (chinese) and have only produced Sonic (Sega IP… Not western) and Forza (another multiplayer game with little to no story). Creative Assembly may be british but is owned by Sega (Not western).
Rockstar is the only producer in this list that qualifies and has arguably the best western franchises (pun unintended) IP and will most likely have the highest grossing game in history, this much is true. The highest grossing game does not necessarily mean it will be the best game and will sell because of IP developed from 1997 - 2013 ( it’s been 14 years since the last GTA renowned for its multiplayer) which is 8 years since the last release and 8 years from RDR1 to RDR2. In other words, little to no output over 2.5 decades as the leading story telling producer in the industry. Bethesda and Zeni Max were acquired by Microsoft in 2021. Since then they have released indiana Jones and starfield. Starfield flopped and Indiana Jones is unoriginal IP and released on Xbox Game Pass (Free Player acquisition through Microsoft). It’s been 11 years since their last release in successful original IP (Fallout 4).
CD Projekt Red is a western producer that overhauled their dev team (in favor of liberalism) and released Cyberpunk which was a broken unpolished game on release and was only fixed 3 years after release in 2023. 5 years before that in 2015 was their last successful release in the Witcher 3 which they are STILL RELEASING UPDATES FOR.
Activision (owned by microsoft) has acquired Halo’s IP which was purchased from Bungie (owned by Sony) which has not had a successful title since Destiny 2 which released in 2017! (Marathon Flopped as well, no player retention).
The reason why Warhammer games have been so successful and have a cult following is because their development is handed over to small studios and the IP remains intact.
So the original claim is true with all this evidence. Western gaming is dead outside of Rockstar. Massive, money hungry corporations have prioritised regular updates on unpolished multiplayer games, virtue signalling devs who are dead set on ruining franchises, and micro transactions over story rich plot lines, world building, emotional storytelling, and musical production. All the things that made gaming feel immersive, have been sold off to the highest bidder in exchange for a pay check and some dog shit dev team. Every successful title from 2010 onwards has stayed true to its original IP while adding additional world building and mechanics into their game. RDR 2, ME2 and ME3, Dragon Age Origins to Inquisition, Fallout 3, NV, and 4, Batman Arkham series, Dishonoured 2. Assassin’s Creed up until Unity (unpolished at release). Spiderman etc. etc. This is what killed Bioware and what has taken the soul out of the gaming industry. If you’re going to rip off IP, make it true to the writers vision, or don’t bother making it at all.
1.9k
u/Informalwizards 8h ago
Anyone paying attention saw this coming for a long time now. Still sad to see it happen and I hope the best for those that lost their jobs.