Are games getting to expensive to ever recoup their costs?

[JRPGfan]

the2real4mafol said:

Why is budgeting adding 60% to the costs of developing this game in the first place? Not like Gears is unheard of! Just seems absurd.

Sooner or later they'll need to reign in these costs, advertise less, make smaller but more games. I'd actually prefer that. Games may look better now (not always, I hate how MW4 looks compared to classic COD for example) but they all seem shallower with physics, story and what made gaming fun in the first place and yet cost more to make and buy, require larger installs. Doesn't seem sustainable for us or them in the long run.

You mean marketing costs?  Yeah that is insane.
Like why would you need to spend that much on such, honestly these days with word of mouth, if you make a good game, people will notice regardless.

The 7+ years to develop is a big issue too I think.

PS3 / XB360 gen was great with games.
Like back then, Naughty dog did Uncharted 1, 2 years lateron, Uncharted 2, then 2 years lateron, Uncharted 3, and then another 2 years and Last of Us... ect.

Now games take forever to make.

Devs need to go back to the drawing board and figure out a way to push out games faster.