We all eagerly await the release of those big-budget video games every year, right? AAA (triple-A) titles, developed by major studios with massive teams and absurd budgets, consistently top the most anticipated game charts.
These games are released with cutting-edge graphics, interesting gameplay, and very deep narratives, setting higher standards for the industry every year. They’re the gaming equivalent of blockbuster movies, often featuring well-known franchises and beloved characters.
But what happens when you dare to venture beyond AAA? What if you take everything that defines a triple-A title and allegedly amplify it? That’s where the term “AAAA game” comes in – and today we will explore whatever it means.
For a deeper dive into the world of AAA games instead, check out this other article of ours.
How did the term “AAAA game” come to be?
The term “AAAA game” lacks a formal definition and isn’t officially recognized within the gaming industry. It’s more of an informal label used to describe exceptionally ambitious and high-quality video games that supposedly surpass even the most ambitious AAA titles.
Interestingly, one of the earliest known uses of the term dates back to 2012. Microsoft, seeking to attract top talent to its game development teams, used “AAAA game” in its recruitment materials. This suggests that the term was initially used internally within the gaming industry to describe exceptionally ambitious projects. It never really caught on widely, though.
Recently, the term saw a resurgence, primarily thanks to Ubisoft’s marketing campaign for Skull and Bones. The company used “AAAA” to position Skull and Bones as an unprecedented game, exceeding scope, graphics, and technology expectations. Their marketing highlighted the game’s massive open-world environment, its focus on player freedom, and its use of advanced AI and procedural generation.
However, the context surrounding Ubisoft’s use of the term is interesting. The company’s stock hasn’t been doing great (compared to a few years back) and several recent game releases have received harsh criticism from gamers.
Therefore, the use of “AAAA game” could be interpreted as a strategic move to generate excitement and attract players to a game that had faced significant delays and development challenges. Some even view it as a desperate attempt to salvage the game’s prospects.
However, as of now, just remember: there’s no clear definition of what constitutes an AAAA game, and the term is largely subjective.
Did Skull and Bones, the only AAAA game so far, live up to the hype?
Initially conceived as a multiplayer expansion for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Skull and Bones ended up as a massive multiplayer online (MMO) game. This shift wasn’t driven by player demand, but rather by the allure of the games-as-a-service (GaaS) model, a tempting revenue stream for publishers.
The game’s reception has been underwhelming, to say the least. It has scored poorly with critics and players alike, receiving a mixed reception from players on Steam and a low score on Metacritic, with critic and user scores in the high 50s and 3.4, respectively.
Player reviews express disappointment, with many criticizing its excessive reliance on crafting mechanics and battle passes, a common trend in online games. The lack of a compelling narrative and its failure to deliver on its initial promise of an immersive and impactful pirate adventure drew heavy criticism, causing considerable player dissatisfaction.
While Skull and Bones isn’t terrible and offers considerable gameplay, it didn’t deliver on its ambitious goals, failing to justify the high expectations associated with its self-proclaimed “AAAA” status. It simply doesn’t leave much of a mark, you know?
Whether the experience justifies its price point ultimately depends on each player’s preferences and expectations. Most gamers we’ve seen on Reddit believe the money is better spent elsewhere, though.
How would AAAA games differ from AAA games?
AAA games are already pretty amazing, right? They have awesome graphics, gameplay with depth and breadth, and gripping stories. But what if we took everything up a notch to make them AAAA? As mentioned before, there’s no official definition, but it suggests games that are even more ambitious and higher quality than even the best AAA titles.
So, what would make a game a true AAAA experience? Let’s get a bit speculative:
First, scale and scope. AAAA games would be incredibly huge and detailed. We’re talking massive open worlds that feel completely real, with dynamic weather, realistic physics, and a bajillion things to interact with. Players could spend hundreds of hours exploring these worlds without ever running out of things to do. Imagine a game world so vast and detailed it could take months to fully explore playing an hour or two a day.
Then, we’d also have unbelievable graphics. On the highest settings, AAAA games would have graphics so realistic they’d be almost indistinguishable from real life. Like incredibly detailed characters and environments with lighting and shadows so lifelike they’d blow your mind.
The level of detail would be so high that players would feel like they’re actually there with a VR headset.
It would also require immersive storytelling. Games with this superb denomination would go beyond just telling a story, though, instead creating deeply personal and engaging experiences. Your choices would dramatically change the story, leading to unexpected twists and turns.
For example, picture a narrative able to adapt to your playstyle, with the world reacting to your decisions in ways you couldn’t possibly think of.
AAAA games would also profoundly focus on their players, especially if they had MMO-like features. Imagine a game world that changes based on what the players do, except on a massive scale, making it a truly shared and dynamic experience. This continuous evolution would create a stronger sense of community and keep the gameplay fresh long after the initial release.
Finally, it would probably also use next-gen technology. In the field of AI, we’re seeing increasingly advanced models that can talk to us as if they were human. Can you imagine a game with important AI-driven characters you can interact with? Or perhaps procedurally generated questlines to spice up the gameplay?
We could also see huge advancements in graphics in the next few game generations. As end-user hardware improves significantly, we might see more games giving themselves to real-time ray-tracing for super realistic lighting and reflections.
There are even promises in AI-powered shaders, as seen in the Enhancing Photorealism Enhancement paper from 2021, which could give game graphics a lifelike coat of paint.
The challenges of building a AAAA game
Building a game this ambitious would be a monumental undertaking, requiring a truly massive budget, a huge team of developers, and an incredibly long development time. We’re talking about several years, perhaps even more than a decade!
Only a few companies would have the resources and experience to take on a project this ambitious. The risks would be immense, and the potential rewards would be huge, but success wouldn’t be guaranteed.
The development process would require flawless coordination across multiple teams for years, great game designers to ensure the user experience is impeccable, and advanced project management to ensure a polished and bug-free final product.
Also, there’s the issue that the average player may not be able to run the full game once it releases unless they can tune the graphics down.
Closing thoughts
So, what’s the deal with AAAA games? While there’s no strict definition, the concept represents a new level of ambition in game development, pushing boundaries of scale, technology, and graphics.
The incident around Skull and Bones may have left many players wondering if it’s feasible to create a truly AAAA game, but it’s only a matter of time until studios attempt to create complex and realistic gaming experiences ambitious enough to claim the AAAA denomination for themselves.
Are you ready to start your game development journey? Main Leaf Games is passionate about building unique and engaging experiences for our clients. We have the skills and expertise to help you realize your idea’s full potential, creating a fun and truly memorable game.
Let’s work together to bring your vision to life – contact us today!
