Former God of War Director Issues Harsh Warning to Big Businesses
Meghan Morgan Juinio, former Santa Monica Studios manager who played a key role in the God of War series, issued a stark warning to major gaming companies. Juinio stated that an overreliance on large-budget AAA titles is harming the industry and emphasized the need to create more creative, low-budget projects.
Meghan Juinio: “The Gaming Industry Must Be Powered by Diversity”
Juinio stated that since the pandemic, major publishers have been directing all their resources to high-budget projects. She believes this approach is a major reason for the increased layoffs, studio closures, and canceled games in the industry in recent years. Juinio said, “I believe in the power of creativity and innovation. Smaller, yet experimental projects can also achieve great success.”
Juinio’s statements also confirm the sales disappointments of recent years. While EA’s mega-budget titles Dragon Age: The Veilguard and EA Sports FC 2025 fell short of expectations, the low-budget indie title Split Fiction sold four million copies in just a few months, attracting attention. According to Juinio, this example clearly demonstrates that big budgets don’t always translate to success.
Nevertheless, Juinio stated that he didn’t completely dismiss AAA games. He believes that such projects still hold enormous potential when managed properly. However, allocating all resources solely to these games hinders the development of innovative ideas. He emphasized the importance of a more balanced production model, saying, “Studios should also invest in double-A and single-A productions that foster creativity.”
The gaming world experienced many major changes throughout 2025. Microsoft’s thousands of layoffs, the closure of some established studios, and the cancellation of long-developed projects once again demonstrated the fragile nature of the industry. According to Juinio, breaking this cycle is only possible through diversity and creative risk. Even the past success of giant brands like God of War can’t save the industry from being pigeonholed into a single direction.
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