Thief designer says that the immersive sim audience is too small for AAA games: 'There's quite a few of us who think the way to do it is be III or AA'

Randy Smith Evergreen, a veteran designer known for his work on the immersive sim genre, has voiced concerns about the viability of AAA immersive sim games. He argues that the genre is not suited for the current market trends, where big budget blockbuster titles dominate. Smith Evergreen believes that the current approach to immersive sims is to create games that compete with blockbuster shooters and open-world games, which requires massive budgets and AAA status.

However, he points out that this approach may not necessarily lead to greater sales, especially considering the success of smaller budget games like Arkane's Deathloop. He suggests that the ideal solution is to create immersive sims on a smaller scale, with budgets ranging from $3-10 million, led by a passionate team of either experienced immersive sim developers or newcomers who deeply understand the genre.

This approach could make these games more affordable to produce and easier to market, potentially leading to greater profitability and longevity for the studio.