The Final of Us recreation director Bruce Straley has apologized to the God of Struggle Laufey staff after his feedback about fashionable AAA video games introduced “uninvited and pointless unfavorable consideration.”
The feedback in query surfaced as a part of a just lately revealed piece by Edge journal and noticed the previous Naughty Canine developer tackling the state of AAA gaming and recreation growth. Straley initially mentioned with fun that he thinks “the verbs and experiences we’re delivering within the triple-An area are… I wanna say boring,” earlier than bringing God of Struggle Laufey into the equation.
“God of Struggle Laufey, I take a look at that recreation, and each pixel is mindblowing,” he mentioned to Edge. “The quantity of labor and talent that is gone into each single body… I’ve made these sorts of video games, and I am nonetheless blown away. However after I truly take a look at what you are doing within the recreation? I am not excited. And that is nothing towards the God of Struggle staff. Simply, throughout the board in triple-A, it looks like there’s no alternative to inject contemporary, progressive concepts.”
The Final of Us has actually had its affect on the state of big-budget video games, so it was no shock to see social media gentle up with reactions to Straley’s ideas. The previous Naughty Canine lead then adopted up the commotion with a thread of posts on X/Twitter, taking the chance to elaborate on his perspective on the place the business is at and the place it is heading.
“I wish to apologize to the Laufey staff for dragging you all into this uninvited and pointless unfavorable consideration,” he mentioned. “I used to be making an attempt as an example an business concern and my mistake of naming your recreation is getting used out of context and for clickbait. You don’t want this. I’m sorry.
“A journo requested me in regards to the state of our business. I discussed a number of considerations. One being the shortage of innovation & dangers taken within the AAA house. Although this isn’t the staff’s fault! My concern is that our participant base is getting bored with enjoying the identical verbs for the final 20 years.
I wish to apologize to the Laufey staff for dragging you all into this uninvited & pointless unfavorable consideration. I used to be making an attempt as an example an business concern & my mistake of naming your recreation is getting used out of context & for clickbait. You don’t want this. I’m sorry. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/Ri2KgfJ4yY
— Bruce Straley (@bruce_straley) September 18, 2026
“My speculation: Our medium is exclusive as a result of gamers are DOING a factor. There’s a special physiological response than viewers who simply WATCH a film. This requires us creators to proceed to push and create new experiences, or we run the danger of diminishing gamers’ dopamine.”
Straley then pointed to Half-Life 2, Gears of Struggle, BioShock, Uncharted 2, and The Final of Us as a string of video games that helped “set the ‘fashionable AAA’ mildew,” saying that every title felt prefer it wished to convey new experiences to the house. He then clarified that this a part of the dialog “is just one facet of my considerations.”
“Sadly the platforms that must convey stability have eroded the flexibility to innovate,” he continued. “The search for [games as a service] and eager to recreate the following Overwatch, Fortnite, Roblox, and many others. will not be a viable technique and admittedly exhibits these ‘business leaders’ do not know their very own model.
“Scorching take: There is a lack of excellent management, clear course, and conviction from the folks on the prime, answerable for the cash. (Cash = stability) I consider in the event that they perceive their model, they might have trustworthy, inspiring conversations with creators to steer our medium to innovate.”
Straley left The Final of Us studio after 18 years in September 2017. He went on to assist begin new recreation studio Wildflower Interactive in 2022 and is presently engaged on a brand new recreation known as Coven of the Rooster Foot.
“ANYWAY… blah blah blah. I’ve ideas about what’s mistaken and the doable severe hurt finished to our business and the way we would be capable to repair it. However in making an attempt to have a considerate dialog I caught my foot in my mouth and talked about Laufey, and that was my mistake. FIN (for now).”
God of Struggle Laufey was introduced as the following chapter in Santa Monica Studio’s mythology-hopping action-game saga throughout a PlayStation State of Play presentation in June of this 12 months. Though it is set to supply a special perspective on the universe with a narrative informed by means of the eyes of Deborah Ann Woll’s omnipotent Faye, it is already confronted its justifiable share of pushback on-line. Whereas some have expressed concern about enjoying any character aside from Kratos, the studio has promised time and time once more that the Ghost of Sparta will return.
God of Struggle Laufey director Ariel Lawrence has requested skeptical followers to give Faye’s story an opportunity forward of its February 16, 2027 launch. Whereas we wait to see extra about the way it connects to Santa Monica’s gaming universe, you may learn why one IGN author felt that what we have seen thus far appears too just like Kratos’ Norse saga.
Michael Cripe
Freelance Author
Michael Cripe is a contract author with IGN. He is greatest identified for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. You should definitely give him a observe on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
