Being someone who enjoys gaming as a hobby, I always wondered what are AAA games?
I see the term floating around on Reddit threads and in various online communities but never stopped to think what it meant. With that in mind, I decided to do some research to figure this out once and for all.
AAA games or Triple-A games as they are called, refer to video games that are created by a large studio, i.e. a massive team, using a huge budget. Some examples of AAA games include God Of War and The Last Of Us Part 2.
Now that we’ve established what AAA games are, let’s take a closer look at this term as well as look at some excellent examples of AAA games on PlayStation.
What Does AAA Stand For In Gaming?
Let’s look at the term Triple A in more detail to understand a bit more about what it means in video games.
1 Large Studios
As we mentioned AAA games are created by large studios.
Some of the main publishers of video games include Sony Interactive Entertainment, Bethesda Softworks, and Rockstar Studios to name but a few.
Let’s take Bethesda Softworks as an example.
They are the publishers behind The Elder Scrolls series. It is estimated that Bethesda Softworks employs about 400 people.
This more than meets the criteria of a large studio and therefore would class Elder Scrolls: Skyrim as a triple A game.
2 Large Budget
The next part of a Triple-A game is the budget for making the game. This includes the creation of the game as well as it’s marketing which can often double the overall cost of making a game.
Let’s take, God of War III as an example here.
According to an old article from EuroGamer, it is estimated that it cost $44 million to make all things considered.
This is more than enough to establish God Of War 3 as a triple A game.
How Much Do AAA Games Cost?
The cost of making a AAA game can be huge when you factor in employees, office space, equipment, marketing, and more. On average a Triple-A game can cost between 75-100 million dollars.
This is a pretty interesting discussion and something which I found myself looking into a lot more as I researched this article.
Take a look at this excellent and informative video from Extra Credits – Why Do Games Cost So Much To Make? – AAA Game Budgets
What Are Some Triple A Games?
PlayStation 4 AAA Games
| Game | Released | Publisher | Buy This Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit: Become Human | May 2018 | Sony Interactive Entertainment | Buy This Game |
| Doom | May 2016 | Bethesda Softworks | Buy This Game |
| God Of War | April 2018 | Sony Interactive Entertainment | Buy This Game |
| Marvel’s Spiderman | September 2018 | Sony Interactive Entertainment | Buy This Game |
| Monster Hunter: World | January 2018 | Capcom | Buy This Game |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | October 2018 | Rockstar Studios | Buy This Game |
| The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim | October 2016 | Bethesda Softworks | Buy This Game |
| The Last Of Us Part 2 | June 2020 | Sony Interactive Entertainment | Buy This Game |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | May 2015 | CD Projekt Red | Buy This Game |
| Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End | May 2016 | Sony Interactive Entertainment | Buy This Game |
PlayStation 3 AAA Games
| Game | Released | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Batman: Arkham City | October 2011 | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
| Bioshock Infinite | March 2013 | 2K Games |
| Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | November 2009 | Activision |
| God Of War 3 | March 2010 | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Grand Theft Auto V | September 2013 | Rockstar Games |
| Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | June 2008 | Konami |
| Red Dead Redemption | May 2010 | Rockstar Games |
| The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | March 2006 | Bethesda Softworks, 2K Games |
| The Last Of Us | June 2013 | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | October 2009 | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
What Are AAA Games – FAQ
Let’s look at some commonly asked questions when it comes to AAA games.
Is Fortnite A Triple A Game?
This question is a bone of contention for many gamers out there who consider Fortnite the game of the generation.
There’s no denying that Fortnite has become a hugely popular video game in recent years.
However, Fortnite is not considered to be a Triple A game. This is because it initially started as an indie game with a small team and a small budget. This is the opposite of the classification of a AAA game.
Is Skyrim A Triple A Game?
The Elder Scrolls series of video games to which Skyrim belongs have long been the favorite of many gamers.
It’s easy to see why as their games feature vast open worlds, incredible characters and endless stories to explore.
Skyrim is widely considered to be a Triple A game. This is because the game was developed by Bethesda, a huge video game publisher. Additionally, the estimated cost of developing Skyrim was around 100 million dollars.
Is Rainbow Six Siege A Triple A Game?
Rainbow Six Siege is a shooter video game that was released in 2015 and developed by Ubisoft.
Rainbow Six Siege is considered to be a Triple A game. This is because it was developed by the massive publisher, Ubisoft, and cost a substantial amount of money to create.
Is Death Stranding A Triple A Game?
Death Stranding is a difficult game to classify in terms of its triple-A status.
Technically, Death Stranding is classed as an Indie game and is therefore not considered to be a Triple-A Game. This is because it was developed by a small studio (Kojima Productions) with no ties to established triple-a publishers.
However, the game itself is priced like a Triple-A title and many consider it to be one due to the gameplay and its unique new genre.
Conclusion
We were able to cover a lot over the course of this article. Let’s summarize before we finish:
- First, we answered the question what are AAA games?
- Next, we looked at what AAA stands for in gaming.
- After that, we examined how much AAA games cost.
- Next, we looked at some of the best examples of AAA games on PlayStation 4, 3, and 2 consoles.
- Finally, we took a look at some AAA games FAQs.
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