Sony has famously raised the price of PS5 games this generation, and the former CEO of PlayStation Worldwide Studios knows exactly why

In an interview with Bloomberg, Sean Layden (an executive who oversaw six console launches before stepping down before the PS5's arrival) explained that the cost of game development "seems to be doubling with each platform"

In addition to driving up prices for consumers, there is also the undesirable side effect of a lack of originality as publishers play it safe so as not to waste their investments Leyden explains, "If we can't stop the cost curve from rising, all we can do is reduce the risk" 'By doing so, the incentive for a sequester will kick in'

To be fair to Sony's first-party studios, sequels have been well received by almost all of them Few would reasonably argue that fewer games like "God of War," "Uncharted," "The Last of Us," "Ratchet & Clank," "Gran Turismo," and "Little Big Planet" is a good thing [However, Rayden points out that going after suddenly high-profile game genres such as Fortnite, Candy Crush Saga, and Pokémon Go has broader consequences for the industry He said, "Whatever the game genre, be it Fortnite, Candy Crush Saga, or Pokémon GO, it suddenly gets a lot of attention [Triple-A games are what drive console sales, and ultimately their sales numbers have to justify the almost guaranteed cost of return on investment If a company has to sign on to a $200 million project, it makes sense to do everything in its power to make that gamble pay off And that means that "tried and true" gameplay, or to put it in a nasty way, "generic" gameplay, can often be the order of the day

The flip side, however, is that all platforms, including the PS5, have a thriving indie game scene where developers frequently take risks with new and fun gameplay and story mechanics Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo all hold spotlight events dedicated to indie games to promote these titles In addition, digital stores do not have to compete for physical shelf space with blockbuster AAA titles (even if they do not stand out in banner ads in their respective stores)

Some of these games eventually become huge games in their own right, and there are plenty of me-too games that try to emulate their mechanics (like "Minecraft"?) But for those who want something innovative without spending $70 a piece, there are still plenty of gems on the PlayStation Store

And if that's not for you, you might want to keep an eye out for Xbox Series X restocks and get a triple-A fix for cheap via Xbox Game Pass