Former God of War Dev Says Major Studios Should Make Smaller Games to Complement the Big Ones

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Developing high-budget games is getting increasingly costly. To keep making these big titles, large game studios should consider creating projects of varying sizes.

Meghan Morgan Juinio, a producer who spent a decade working on the God of War games at Santa Monica Studio, shared this information.

Morgan Juinio told Game Developer that while large, popular games are still important, they need to be complemented by smaller games. This mix helps the industry thrive and provides a better experience for players.

As a gamer, I’m thinking a lot about the bigger picture right now. Morgan Juinio pointed out something really smart – we’re at a point where everyone, from casual players to hardcore veterans, needs to step back and think long-term, like five to ten years out. The pandemic forced a lot of quick, reactive decisions, and now we need to adjust our strategy to get back on track.

Although popular, large-scale games like God of War and Call of Duty still have their place, and can be very rewarding. However, supporting smaller game projects would actually help ensure the continued success of those big titles as well.

I believe major companies have a chance to expand into smaller game development areas – like AA, indie, and single-A titles. It’s unclear exactly how that might look, but we need to move past simply reacting to the changes caused by the pandemic. We need to think long-term about the kind of games we want to create and develop a clear plan to achieve that vision.

Morgan Juinio highlights games such as Astro Bot and Split Fiction as examples of smaller-scale projects that still connect with players. While they may not have the massive scale or cutting-edge technology of big-budget games, these titles can often be more creative and engaging than what’s typically seen from larger, more cautious studios.

She emphasizes the importance of creating truly enjoyable games. She believes players are no longer easily impressed by just good graphics or a large scope. Ultimately, a game needs to be fun and engaging to connect with people – no matter how visually stunning it is. If it’s not fun, it won’t matter how good it looks.

Sony has gradually been moving towards creating games this way for some time now. We’ve seen it with titles like inFamous: First Light, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales – these are all smaller games within larger, popular series. And lower-cost games like Concrete Genie and Astro Bot have also become important parts of what PlayStation offers.

There’s a rumor going around that Santa Monica Studio is working on a smaller-scale God of War game. Apparently, it’s a 2D action adventure in the style of Metroidvania games, which would be a good fit for the studio if the reports are accurate.

What are your thoughts on Morgan Juinio’s recent statements? Are you interested in seeing major game studios create smaller, more focused games? Share your opinions in the comments!

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2025-10-20 18:07