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Doom‘s legend John Romero has recently said that games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 represent the future of the industry, while pointing out how this kind of title can “make the triple-A companies go.” The Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 release has gotten the gaming community talking, with many hoping that more companies would adopt the same approach to game development that Sandfall did—and John Romero seems to envision a great future for these kinds of indie studios.
The rise of indie games has been taking place for more than a decade, though these studios have been establishing themselves even more in recent years. There are countless examples of simple titles with low development budgets that become breakout hits overnight, standing far taller than many AAA titles with huge development teams and millions invested. Indie studios tend to bring new experiences to the table, as they can experiment with the medium to deliver risky proposals that sometimes help redefine the industry. These games are normally carried out by small teams, or even solo developers, such as Stardew Valley, Balatro, Undertale, and many more. The trend of indie or AA studios moving away from bigger companies is steadily growing, and Doom’s co-creator has shared his thoughts on the matter.
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Legendary game developer John Romero recently spoke on Nightdive Studios’ Deep Dive podcast, where he touched upon the present and the future of the gaming industry. He went on to explain how most of the greatest games from recent years are indies, listing some renowned names like Balatro, Baldur’s Gate 3, Helldivers 2, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. He then proceeded to point out that these studios could potentially put an end to AAA companies, humorously adding, “Wait a minute. We need to start doing this.”
Doom’s John Romero Says Indie Games Can ‘Make Triple-A Studios Go’
Romero also commented on the size of the industry, comparing it to 20 or 30 years ago, emphasizing how much easier it is for developers today to create a game and “put it out there for people to get.” Distribution for indie companies, according to Romero, is far easier than before—especially since the boom of digital games and platforms. Prior to this, “You’re never going to do that as an indie,” he stated, also noting how many indie games are released yearly on Steam.
Romero may have a good point, as there are more and more indie or AA studios gaining traction, while several AAA companies are struggling to launch games that truly cater to fans. As the video game industry continues to move in this direction, Doom’s veteran John Romero celebrates this slow industry shift and hopes it continues.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Kepler Interactive
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
