The Final of Us sport director Bruce Straley has apologized to the God of Struggle Laufey staff after his feedback about trendy AAA video games introduced “uninvited and pointless detrimental consideration.”
The feedback in query surfaced as a part of a lately printed piece by Edge journal and noticed the previous Naughty Canine developer tackling the state of AAA gaming and sport growth. Straley initially stated 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 have a look at that sport, and each pixel is mindblowing,” he stated 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 really have a look at what you are doing within the sport? I am not excited. And that is nothing in opposition to 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 definitely had its affect on the state of big-budget video games, so it was no shock to see social media mild 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 detrimental consideration,” he stated. “I used to be attempting as an instance an business concern and my mistake of naming your sport is getting used out of context and for clickbait. You don’t want this. I’m sorry.
“A journo requested me concerning the state of our business. I discussed a couple of issues. 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 taking part in the identical verbs for the final 20 years.
I wish to apologize to the Laufey staff for dragging you all into this uninvited & pointless detrimental consideration. I used to be attempting as an instance an business concern & my mistake of naming your sport 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 chance 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 ‘trendy AAA’ mould,” 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 aspect of my issues.”
“Sadly the platforms that have to convey stability have eroded the flexibility to innovate,” he continued. “The hunt for [games as a service] and eager to recreate the subsequent Overwatch, Fortnite, Roblox, and many others. isn’t a viable technique and albeit exhibits these ‘business leaders’ do not know their very own model.
“Sizzling take: There is a lack of fine management, clear route, and conviction from the individuals on the high, in command of the cash. (Cash = stability) I imagine in the event that they perceive their model, they might have sincere, 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 sport studio Wildflower Interactive in 2022 and is presently engaged on a brand new sport referred to as Coven of the Hen Foot.
“ANYWAY… blah blah blah. I’ve ideas about what’s mistaken and the potential severe hurt performed to our business and the way we’d have the ability to repair it. However in attempting 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 subsequent chapter in Santa Monica Studio’s mythology-hopping action-game saga throughout a PlayStation State of Play presentation in June of this yr. Though it is set to supply a special perspective on the universe with a narrative instructed by 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 taking part in any character apart 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’ll be able to learn why one IGN author felt that what we have seen thus far appears to be like too much like Kratos’ Norse saga.
Michael Cripe
Freelance Author
Michael Cripe is a contract author with IGN. He is finest recognized for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Make sure you give him a observe on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).