teigaga on 13 October 2016
Similar to what you said but I think its strictly a cost thing, so a requirement for it to sell million(s) in order to profit versus just an expectation. The hype etc that follows is typical of AAA games but I don't see it as a part of the definition.
Even with all its hype, I don't consider No Mans Sky a AAA game, even though its marketing budget probably pushed it close to one.
