Mon Dec 29 08:10:00 UTC 2025: Former PlayStation Boss Shawn Layden Advocates for Shorter Games, Defends Exclusives

[CITY, STATE] – Shawn Layden, former head of Sony PlayStation (2014-2019), has weighed in on the current state of the gaming industry, advocating for shorter game development cycles and defending the importance of platform-exclusive titles. In a recent interview with Character Select, Layden, now a strategic advisor after his time with Tencent Games, addressed key issues facing developers and players alike.

Layden stated that while he does not believe every game needs to be exclusive, they are important for brand identity. He cited Mario and Nathan Drake as examples, arguing they “make the platforms sing”. He highlighted the technical advantages of developing for a single platform, allowing developers to “push every lever to 11.” However, he acknowledged the necessity of multiplatform releases for massively multiplayer games to maximize player reach.

A core concern for Layden is the escalating cost and length of modern games. He believes the industry needs to shift back toward two- to three-year development cycles and budgets in the “double-digit millions” rather than “triple-digit millions.” He also advocated for shorter game runtimes, ideally around 20-25 hours. “We need to get back into the two- to three-year cycle for games,” Layden said. “I think we need to get to a place where games are double-digit millions to make, not triple-digit millions. I’d like to get games that are 20-25 hours of gameplay.”

Layden argued that the changing demographics of gamers, with the average age now in the 30s, necessitates shorter, more digestible experiences. Citing “Red Dead Redemption 2” as an example, he pointed out that not everyone has 88 hours to invest in a single game.

Layden’s comments come at a time when many AAA titles are boasting increasingly expansive worlds and lengthy playtimes. He noted recent Game of the Year winners like “Astro Bot” and “It Takes Two,” both around 12 hours long, as examples of successful, shorter experiences. In contrast, titles like “Elden Ring” and “Baldur’s Gate 3” can demand over 60 hours to complete the main story, and significantly more with side quests.

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