2013 can be accurately charted as a re-defining year in the industry with an impressive number of titles from big name developers waiting to arrive with the introduction of the next-generation of gaming already confirmed with the unveiling of the likes of Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
While the year is filled with big names such as Grand Theft Auto 5, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4 and Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, there is big risk involved for all the developing teams that their own titles may not see the kind of popularity (basically, decent financial numbers) they were expecting in the first place with so much overcrowding in the market.
However, it seems like the industry is already aware of the situation, and a few are willing to offer their thoughts on what should done for an optimal flow of every title set to release later this year.
Activision publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg was recently in an interview with CVG, where he explained that the current issue with so many titles arriving at one single time need not be such a big deal, and that the market is still big enough for franchises such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto to actually do very well...eventually.
"Obviously, [GTA] is a hugely successful franchise, and I get asked about our big competitors every year," he stated.
"We're always up against iconic titles, and I know people like to tell a clash-of-the-titans story, but I feel there's lots of evidence that there's room for more than one successful game, and indeed more than one successful blockbuster. And if people only have money for a few games, I like our chances that Call of Duty will be one of them."
On asked if he thinks that the Call of Duty franchise’s success will continue to grow and can be sustained beyond this year, with the end of the current console generation, Hirshberg stated: “I certainly hope so. The fact that it's a console transition year adds complexity, and if you look historically at what happens during console transitions is there are short-term challenges followed by long-term opportunities.”
"We've discussed that pretty openly, but that said I think the franchise has never been stronger. More people are playing Call of Duty now than ever before, and in terms of performance we're producing the best season of digital content we've ever had.
"These things point to key interest and momentum, but there are challenges and confusion in the marketplace with regards to whether people are going for current gen or next gen. I think the creative challenge we have with Call of Duty is to make a game the fans love and at the same time build a new game that's innovative," he added.
Both Call of Duty: Ghosts and Grand Theft Auto 5 are currently set for release later this year.
