Sucker Punch Productions, the developer of Ghost of Tsushima, announced a new direction in the development approach of its upcoming projects, aiming to shorten development time and release games at a faster pace while maintaining the level of quality it is known for.

The studio explained that the idea is not to reduce effort or lower ambition, but rather to remove unnecessary elements and focus more on the fundamentals that form the core of the experience. The goal is to deliver focused games where every element has a clear role and meaningful impact on gameplay.

The team confirmed that this direction is not related in any way to the use of generative artificial intelligence. Instead, it is a production and organizational decision aimed at managing project scope more efficiently and avoiding lengthy development cycles and repeated delays that have become common in the industry.

In recent years, the gaming industry has seen significant inflation in development timelines, especially in AAA projects, prompting many studios to reconsider their workflows to achieve a better balance between ambition and production realism.

The key question remains: Will focusing on core elements lead to stronger and more refined games, or could accelerating release schedules impact the level of ambition and creativity in future projects?