重點資訊
Star Trek Online executive producer Thomas Marrone recently shared critical insights regarding the industry practice of shuttering game studios. His commentary, prompted by Electronic Arts closing BioWare, argues that such decisions are counterintuitive and destructive to long-term success.
Marrone compares game development to forming a band, noting that team chemistry and shared experiences are essential. He suggests that expecting immediate hits from groups of random veterans is unrealistic, as many successful studios only reach their potential after several releases. He highlights examples like Larian, Arrowhead, and Hello Games, questioning if those companies would have achieved their current status had they been closed following early struggles.
The executive characterizes the act of closing studios as equivalent to burning valuable property rather than making sound business decisions. He suggests that if publishers are solely focused on increasing numbers without interest in product creation, they should liquidate assets instead of disrupting established teams.
Marrone concludes that leadership should avoid chasing trends like NFTs or GenAI. Instead, he advocates for a simpler approach: understanding the product and its audience while nurturing and empowering development teams to achieve sustainable profit.
