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The Gaming Playbook

Game Careers

· 66 min

Why Small Game Teams Are Starting To Beat AAA Studios | Alexandre Amancio

With Alexandre Amancio

About this episode

AAA games are getting too big, and it’s breaking the industry.

In this episode, game director Alexandre Amancio (Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry) breaks down why massive teams, bloated scope, and risk-averse design are hurting modern game development, and why smaller, focused teams may be the future.

We dive into building high-performance game teams, creating new IPs, community-first development, the hidden cost of AAA production, remote vs in-person culture, and how Alexandre is applying these lessons to his new horror game, Nightholme.

If you care about game design, indie studios, AAA development, leadership, AI in gaming, or the future of the industry, this episode is packed with hard-earned insights from 20+ years in games.

Connect with Alexandre Amancio

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