GTA 6's Massive Scale Intimidates Former Naughty Dog Developer
A former Naughty Dog developer who worked on The Last of Us and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End has shared his concerns about the increasing size of modern blockbuster games, including GTA 6 and The Elder Scrolls 6.
Matt Redford, a former visual effects artist at Naughty Dog, recently discussed his gaming preferences during an interview with the Kiwi Talkz podcast. He explained that he increasingly prefers shorter, more focused experiences rather than games that require dozens of hours to complete.
According to GamesRadar, Redford believes that the enormous scale of upcoming titles can feel intimidating, particularly for players who have limited time to spend gaming.
Matt Redford explained: “I’m 38 years old and I think there’s something scary and overwhelming about GTA 6, or the next version of The Elder Scrolls. Personally, I’m looking for shorter, focused experiences where I can have a great time. Such works are probably more exciting.”
His comments reflect the growing contrast between large open-world games and shorter, more concentrated experiences.
While some modern blockbuster titles can require more than 50 hours to complete, games with campaigns lasting approximately six to eight hours can often be finished over one or two weekends.
Redford suggested that shorter games can provide satisfying experiences without requiring players to make a significant time commitment.
The increasing scale of AAA game development also presents financial challenges for studios.
Some major productions have reportedly reached development budgets of $200 million to $300 million, raising questions about whether smaller, more focused projects could offer a more manageable approach.
Redford also mentioned The Last of Us Part II, explaining that he found the game longer than he personally preferred.
The former Naughty Dog artist added: “I even thought The Last of Us Part II was very long. I really liked the early versions of Uncharted, which were about six to eight hours. I'm sure GTA 6 will be great. I think we all want its success in this industry collectively. No player will be happy to see it fail because that would not be a good sign for the business.”
Despite his preference for shorter games, Redford emphasized that he hopes GTA 6 will succeed, recognizing the importance of major releases to the gaming industry.
His comments highlight a broader discussion about game length and whether increasingly large worlds and lengthy campaigns always result in better experiences.
While some players enjoy spending dozens of hours exploring detailed open worlds, others prefer games that deliver a complete experience within a shorter period.
Do you prefer shorter, more focused games, or do you enjoy spending many hours exploring massive open worlds? Share your thoughts with us and stay with YoRoGaming for more gaming news and updates.