Hobbygaming
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Which Studios Broke Out or Joined The Upper Echelon This Gen? And Which ones Fell Off?
- Thread starter Kokoloko85
- Start date
EverydayBeast
thinks Halo Infinite is a new graphical benchmark
Grew up with BioWare many people consider ME2 the best thing ever and they nailed their coffins this generation
Hobbygaming
has been asked to post in 'Grounded' mode.
This thread is about who improved and who has dropped off in the quality of their games
Ghost of Tsushima is way better than Infamous Second Son even if it's metacritic doesn't show it
Thugnificient
Banned
I’ll take your word for it. Having played all of Sucker Punch’s inFAMOUS games and watching copious amounts of GoT gameplay vids, it seemed to me it suffered the same problems as their previous outings (and most open-worlds, really) and didn’t do much to improve upon their flaws. Hence their critic scores being the same.
I don’t put much values into critics most of the time but if a new series from a dev is the same genre of game and scores the same as a previous series, it’s generally an indication that it’s about as good because for all of their stupidity, critics can at least get that right.
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kraspkibble
Permabanned.
CD Projekt Red + FromSoftware have gone up to the top tier.
Rockstar have absolutely shit the bed. Naughty Dog too.
Rockstar have absolutely shit the bed. Naughty Dog too.
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Hobbygaming
has been asked to post in 'Grounded' mode.
I thought the open world was going to feel samey too but it honestly feels fresh and the combat is so satisfying
Amiga
Member
Upgrade:
Respawn - Apex legends and TF2 are 2 of the best games this generation.
Sucker Punch - GoT
GG - HorizonZD
CDPR - W3
Team Ninja - NiOh is one of the best new franchises.
Insomniac - rebounded with Spider-Man and R&C after a few misses.
Capcom - the RE engine could be the best combination of frame rate/graphics/versatility.
Squar Enix - steady good game releases over the last couple of years.
Atlus - Persona 5
Downgrade:
Platinum Games - not as prolific as PS3/360 generation, more miss than hit.
Bioware - murdered by EA.
Naughty Dog - most of the talent left, in denial about their regression.
Bungie - just coasting
DICE - murdered by EA.
Konami - seppuku
Irrational Games - disappeared after BI
Respawn - Apex legends and TF2 are 2 of the best games this generation.
Sucker Punch - GoT
GG - HorizonZD
CDPR - W3
Team Ninja - NiOh is one of the best new franchises.
Insomniac - rebounded with Spider-Man and R&C after a few misses.
Capcom - the RE engine could be the best combination of frame rate/graphics/versatility.
Squar Enix - steady good game releases over the last couple of years.
Atlus - Persona 5
Downgrade:
Platinum Games - not as prolific as PS3/360 generation, more miss than hit.
Bioware - murdered by EA.
Naughty Dog - most of the talent left, in denial about their regression.
Bungie - just coasting
DICE - murdered by EA.
Konami - seppuku
Irrational Games - disappeared after BI
idrago01
Banned
platinum made nier automata though, so I wouldn't put it at a downgrade at all
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Ten_Fold
Member
Upgrade:Capcom, did pretty well this gen
From software: they can’t miss right now, they make my favorite single player games right now.
Respawn- Apex Legends. Best BR game imo
Square enix- the showed Mana a lot of love this gen
downgrade:
Konami- they don’t really make games lol
Naughty dog-loved then last gen, I didn’t like U4-TLOUS2 also the talent left.
EA-sales are good but the games mostly are meh
Activision- Last gen COD was better, MW1/2, BO1 are the best COD games imo.
From software: they can’t miss right now, they make my favorite single player games right now.
Respawn- Apex Legends. Best BR game imo
Square enix- the showed Mana a lot of love this gen
downgrade:
Konami- they don’t really make games lol
Naughty dog-loved then last gen, I didn’t like U4-TLOUS2 also the talent left.
EA-sales are good but the games mostly are meh
Activision- Last gen COD was better, MW1/2, BO1 are the best COD games imo.
The Mad Draklor
Member
Went Up
Sucker Punch - Ghost of Tsushima is really fun. Really enjoying the gameplay, art direction, and story so far.
Atlus - Persona 5 became their best selling Persona game in the series by a long shot. Now about Shin Megami Tensei...
From Software - Sekiro winning GOTY was a pleasant shocker.
Square Enix - Much better output than last generation, even if some of their games were disappointments.
Respawn - For an FPS, Titanfall 2 had a really good singleplayer campaign. Shame that EA sent it out to die.
Went Down
Naughty Dog - Graphics and animation are no doubt top notch. Storytelling has regressed, however. Neil Druckmann needs to actually hire someone who won't hesitate to say no to his face.
Bioware - ME: Andromeda had some of the worst animations I've seen this generation. "Oh, but that wasn't made by Bioware's A team!" And then, Anthem happened...
DICE - Battlefront 2 basically jumpstarted the lootbox conversation and the identity politics behind Battlefield V... Yuck.
Bethesda - Fallout 76 was a complete mess and the way Bethesda handled it was even worse.
Blizzard - No Starcraft. They got a lot of backlash for how they handled Warcraft Reforged.
Game Freak - When modders are able to make Sword/Shield look better without incurring performance penalties, there's a major problem.
Sucker Punch - Ghost of Tsushima is really fun. Really enjoying the gameplay, art direction, and story so far.
Atlus - Persona 5 became their best selling Persona game in the series by a long shot. Now about Shin Megami Tensei...
From Software - Sekiro winning GOTY was a pleasant shocker.
Square Enix - Much better output than last generation, even if some of their games were disappointments.
Respawn - For an FPS, Titanfall 2 had a really good singleplayer campaign. Shame that EA sent it out to die.
Went Down
Naughty Dog - Graphics and animation are no doubt top notch. Storytelling has regressed, however. Neil Druckmann needs to actually hire someone who won't hesitate to say no to his face.
Bioware - ME: Andromeda had some of the worst animations I've seen this generation. "Oh, but that wasn't made by Bioware's A team!" And then, Anthem happened...
DICE - Battlefront 2 basically jumpstarted the lootbox conversation and the identity politics behind Battlefield V... Yuck.
Bethesda - Fallout 76 was a complete mess and the way Bethesda handled it was even worse.
Blizzard - No Starcraft. They got a lot of backlash for how they handled Warcraft Reforged.
Game Freak - When modders are able to make Sword/Shield look better without incurring performance penalties, there's a major problem.
Amiga
Member
Nier Automata was co-developed, and the other games this generation are bad to Average.
Torrent of Pork
Banned
Bethesda really shit the bed this gen.
Abear21
Banned
Guerrila has stepped up for sure-Decima Engine is amazing and Horizon 2 will be a megaton.
Okay so CDPR did create a story/graphics masterpiece, however, the gameplay left a bad taste in my mouth. Hey, opinions I guess, but add in the fact they pushed Cyberpunk twice now and the jury is still out as far as I’m concerned. I feel like Cyberpunk on base PS4/Xbox is like porting Mario64 to a burner flip phone. The decision to not go exclusively next gen could bite them.
Asobo Studio went from Fuel and a Disney Kinect game to Plague Tale and Flight Simulator-Woah!
343i is par for the course, MCC release was a mess, Halo 5 was underwhelming, how have they gotten worse?
Edit: I‘ll play another Bethesda game when they learn how to put a ladder in their games, aka, make a new engine
Okay so CDPR did create a story/graphics masterpiece, however, the gameplay left a bad taste in my mouth. Hey, opinions I guess, but add in the fact they pushed Cyberpunk twice now and the jury is still out as far as I’m concerned. I feel like Cyberpunk on base PS4/Xbox is like porting Mario64 to a burner flip phone. The decision to not go exclusively next gen could bite them.
Asobo Studio went from Fuel and a Disney Kinect game to Plague Tale and Flight Simulator-Woah!
343i is par for the course, MCC release was a mess, Halo 5 was underwhelming, how have they gotten worse?
Edit: I‘ll play another Bethesda game when they learn how to put a ladder in their games, aka, make a new engine
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Hobbygaming
has been asked to post in 'Grounded' mode.
Craig
Magic Carpet
Member
Blizzard is dead to me. It's burned, charred ashes I've thrown into the gutter for the rain to wash into the sewers. They won't see another dime from me. Done and Done.
Rick Dangerous
Member
You fucking spoiled me !!! Big fucking asshole. I was waiting to play tlou2 on ps5. This deserves a temp ban at least. Moron !!!
GeorgPrime
Banned
New and different?
They literally copy and pasted last of us 1 into the woke universe
Rikkori
Member
Bioware's fall is certainly the saddest to witness, and sadder still they're a husk still active but which can never recover to their former self.
CDPR certainly has ascended the highest and is without a doubt the #1 studio in the world. Let's see how long it lasts.
Personally I'm keeping an eye on Warhorse, Deck13, Spiders, Firaxis (XCOM), Blacksea Games, Supergiant, Stoic, AurumDust, The Astronauts, and StrategyLabs for the next round of games. They won't grow to be AAA(A) studios like Rockstar & CDPR but I like their games a lot and perhaps spend and enjoy more time with them than with the juggernauts.
CDPR certainly has ascended the highest and is without a doubt the #1 studio in the world. Let's see how long it lasts.
Personally I'm keeping an eye on Warhorse, Deck13, Spiders, Firaxis (XCOM), Blacksea Games, Supergiant, Stoic, AurumDust, The Astronauts, and StrategyLabs for the next round of games. They won't grow to be AAA(A) studios like Rockstar & CDPR but I like their games a lot and perhaps spend and enjoy more time with them than with the juggernauts.
element
Member
This thread is fascinating. Seeing Naughty Dog listed so often is just comical. Agree or disagree with TLOU2, ND is still at the top of their game in terms of technical merit and level design. If you ask level designers, they would largely consider the level design in TLOU2 is god tier with really only Valve in the same space.
As for studios that really stepped up their game:
Playground with continued improvements with Forza Horizon, getting to a point of being a more enjoyable game than its franchise father.
Asobo going from a work for hire studio to crafting incredible original content technically and artistically with Plague and Flight Sim
Capcom. RE7 was a huge gamble and it was incredible. As someone who worked on horror games for six years I was pretty numb to the standard formula, but RE7 flip the script and gave me a good scare as well as being technically impressive.
As for studios that really stepped up their game:
Playground with continued improvements with Forza Horizon, getting to a point of being a more enjoyable game than its franchise father.
Asobo going from a work for hire studio to crafting incredible original content technically and artistically with Plague and Flight Sim
Capcom. RE7 was a huge gamble and it was incredible. As someone who worked on horror games for six years I was pretty numb to the standard formula, but RE7 flip the script and gave me a good scare as well as being technically impressive.
D3SCHA1N
Member
Why because some people got overly irritated with excessive use of the batmobile? Arkham Knight was still an insanely well made, highly polished game, I'd say they stayed at the same level if not moved up a bit, but certainly didn't go down in status, unlike Bethesda and Bioware. Sheesh, for how high Bethesda was at the end of last gen with Skyrim being so well received, it's crazy how far they fell from grace. Starfield is really going to have to be impressive to woo everyone back, TES VI is too far away to even consider...
Redlancet
Banned
Thats must be one of the nonsense takes i have Read for this game, are you 14 or something?
GeorgPrime
Banned
No i played the whole game and iam happy that i was able to finish it without quitting before and never go back to it.
I rather play Last of Us a fifth time than touching LoU2 for a second time
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Camreezie
Member
I personally was more annoyed by the focus on cinematic at the cost of gameplay, lieing prerelease about the creation of a new character and persisting that it wasnt a character that was widely known beforehand and ridiculous amount of dlc
VAVA Mk2
Member
What you mean you didn't enjoy a futuristic/post-apocalyptic Amazon delivery simulator?!Biggest disappointment/ fell off - not even excited for next game
DunDunDunpachi
Banned
I think FROM is a good example. Yes, Demon's and Dark 1 & 2 were solid titles but Bloodborne and Sekiro are genre-topping efforts.
Another one would be Arkane. DMoMM and Dishonored were praised but were overshadowed by Bioshock and the return of Deus Ex. This gen they surpassed Dishonored with Dishonored 2 and brought SS2 back to life with Prey.
Another one would be Arkane. DMoMM and Dishonored were praised but were overshadowed by Bioshock and the return of Deus Ex. This gen they surpassed Dishonored with Dishonored 2 and brought SS2 back to life with Prey.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman
leads to fear. Fear leads to xbox.
I technically dont even say a name, also i would have edited the post if it would have let me but it wont so not sure what you want me to do about that
Kokoloko85
Member
I think its there lack of output this generation
GymWolf
Member
I can live with this.
Crystal dynamics are the guy behind tomb raider remakes? I don't know about them being on the rise list...
I'm not a huge fan of bungie but they made the most successful gaas of this gen, so maybe you wanna change that.
And you forgot capcom in the ryse column.
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ULTROS!
People seem to like me because I am polite and I am rarely late. I like to eat ice cream and I really enjoy a nice pair of slacks.
I don't see how Square Enix went below compared to last gen.
Their last gen showings were abysmal. What was their best game last gen? Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep?
This gen had at least DQXI, FFVII Remake, Nier Automata as acclaimed titles. Heck even SaGa: Scarlet Grace and Trials of Mana were liked by many.
Their last gen showings were abysmal. What was their best game last gen? Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep?
This gen had at least DQXI, FFVII Remake, Nier Automata as acclaimed titles. Heck even SaGa: Scarlet Grace and Trials of Mana were liked by many.
Guerilla Games - Killzones were not very good, Horizon was a huge step up
Sucker Punch - inFamous series were just ok, Ghost of Tsushima is top tier
Playground - Forza Horizon series quality in another level now, and game output is good too
Capcom - They have been on fire compared to last gen
Bethesda - Fell off hard with Fallout 4, Fallout 76 and no Elder Scrolls sequel
Rocksteady - Last Gen they made 2 great Batman games, this gen 1 average Batman game and yet to be released Suicide Squad. Their quality is down as well as game output.
BioWare - Don't think much needs to be said here we all know
I think people are listing studios that have always been great such as Santa Monica or studios that have always been bad like 343.
Sucker Punch - inFamous series were just ok, Ghost of Tsushima is top tier
Playground - Forza Horizon series quality in another level now, and game output is good too
Capcom - They have been on fire compared to last gen
Bethesda - Fell off hard with Fallout 4, Fallout 76 and no Elder Scrolls sequel
Rocksteady - Last Gen they made 2 great Batman games, this gen 1 average Batman game and yet to be released Suicide Squad. Their quality is down as well as game output.
BioWare - Don't think much needs to be said here we all know
I think people are listing studios that have always been great such as Santa Monica or studios that have always been bad like 343.
massivekettle
Member
Don't know about Guerrilla Games. The goodness of Horizon is offset by how terrible Killzone has (and has for the most part always been). And I speak as someone who has played all KZ games.
VFXVeteran
Banned
Asobo studios is my pick for break out. Amazing tech in FS2020.
ripeavocado
Banned
343i (and MGS as a whole) BioWare, Bethesda had a very poor generation.
Hudo
Member
Don't know which studio ascended to the upper echelon this gen but studios I'd consider taking a fucking hard nosedive are:
Rockstar Games,
All of EA except for Respawn Entertainment,
Blizzard Entertainment,
All of Ubisoft except for Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Blue Byte,
And Konami, obviously.
Rockstar Games,
All of EA except for Respawn Entertainment,
Blizzard Entertainment,
All of Ubisoft except for Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Blue Byte,
And Konami, obviously.
Geki-D
Banned
In hindsight, this sure is an interesting thread to read...
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DJT123
Member
*Owlcat became Black Isle level with its very first cRPG, Pathfinder:Kingmaker.
*InXile moved up a level to close to that with Wasteland 3.
*CDPR ascended to godhood with Witcher 3 (no matter w happens w CyperPunk.)
*Bethesda dissapointed w Fallout 4 & 76.
*Bioware SHAT THE BED w Andromeda & Anthem.
*InXile moved up a level to close to that with Wasteland 3.
*CDPR ascended to godhood with Witcher 3 (no matter w happens w CyperPunk.)
*Bethesda dissapointed w Fallout 4 & 76.
*Bioware SHAT THE BED w Andromeda & Anthem.
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GrayChild
Member
In hindsight, this sure is an interesting thread to read...
You forgot the part where none of these posts mention id Software, Machine Games, Tango and Arkane but simply the internal Bethesda game department. Nice try (for a coping Sony warrior at least).
Hotty Botty
Member
I know Bethesda had its struggles this past gen, but I don’t think any company fell off as much as Blizzard. HotS died, they have no interest in StarCraft, WarCraft 3 Reforged was a complete and utter disaster, and Overwatch has kinda just become another shooter in an saturated genre. Oh, and their big BlizzCon announcement a couple years ago was a mobile Diablo.
Torrent of Pork
Banned
I'll stand by my words, Bethesda went from damn-near the goodwill CDPR has to today. Tomorrow is always a new day, however, and I'm excited about the purchase.
Kokoloko85
Member
In hindsight, this sure is an interesting thread to read...
Quite interesting lol.
Gamepass day 1 is going to be interesting to see how they fund future projects
CAB_Life
Member
Honestly now, the OP’s ad hominem against Bethesda doesn’t hold weight. Let’s take a minute to remember that Skyrim still sells a billion copies and that they have Doom, which was one of last gen’s most successful IPs, as well as argueably the most successful MMORPG next to the WoW and FF juggernauts.
But yeah, bad studios mmkay.
Actual, measureably bad studios would have to be Bioware. Middling would be Kojima, who clearly needs an editorial team and some oversight or he makes bizarre and rambling games. 343 have spent 5 years or longer making nothing, too, apparently.
But yeah, bad studios mmkay.
Actual, measureably bad studios would have to be Bioware. Middling would be Kojima, who clearly needs an editorial team and some oversight or he makes bizarre and rambling games. 343 have spent 5 years or longer making nothing, too, apparently.
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Griffon
Member
I still maintain my position. If anything, the founders selling to MS proves that they knew their best days were behind them and they wanted to cash in and get out.In hindsight, this sure is an interesting thread to read...
Kind of similar to Rare.
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D3SCHA1N
Member
It's basically indesputable that Bethesda's reputation took a massive hit this gen, doesn't mean they'd be incapable of turning it around, and really the team that made Skyrim and Fallout 4 aren't the ones responsible for the bulk of it. From what I gather it was fallout 76 that really did the most harm and that was a different studio mostly.
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