Is Days Gone a AAA Game? A Data-Driven Investigation

Hey there fellow gamers! Terry Williams here, back at you with another deep dive into the data behind a hot topic in gaming. Today, we‘re tackling the debate around whether Days Gone qualifies as a true "AAA" video game. Strap in, because we‘ve got sales figures, review scores, industry perspectives, and more to break it all down.

Defining AAA

First, a quick primer on what makes a game "AAA" in the industry. As a category, it refers to games with:

• Sky-high budgets – think over $50 million or more
• Multi-year development cycles – 3-5 years is common
• Massive teams – usually 100+ developers
• Next-level production values – motion capture, top-tier graphics etc.

Marketing is also key. Big publishers promote AAA games heavily across TV spots, social media, branded events, influencers and more.

But AAA is an informal term, and its meaning has expanded over time as games get more ambitious and expensive. What counted as AAA a decade ago may seem modest by today‘s standards.

The Making of Days Gone

Days Gone comes from Sony Bend Studio, a first-party PlayStation developer owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Here‘s a quick profile:

• Founded in 2000, based in Bend, Oregon
• Staff of just over 100 as of 2019
• Previously worked on PS Vita titles
• Co-developed Syphon Filter with Sony

Compared to PlayStation‘s largest studios like Naughty Dog (600+ staff), Bend is one of Sony‘s smaller first-party teams.

Initial development on Days Gone kicked off in 2012, ultimately taking around 7 years to complete according to reports. This extended timeline matches AAA games, which commonly take 4+ years these days.

However, the road to launch was bumpy. There were clashes between staff and management during development that led many to leave the project.

Still, when you look at the scope and detail of the final product, there are clear AAA ambitions:

• Massive open world map bigger than titles like God of War
• Intricately detailed environments and character models
• Elaborate animations and cutscenes
• Full performance capture for main characters
• Licensed music tracks from artists like Jimi Hendrix

We don‘t have the exact budget, but these elements indicate it was likely upwards of $50-60 million. A hefty investment from Sony for a new IP.

Initial Critical and Commercial Response

So how was Days Gone received when it launched as a PlayStation 4 exclusive in April 2019? Let‘s look at some key data points:

Reviews:

Reviews praised the graphics and open world tech, but criticized the generic gameplay and story. Hype for another Sony narrative-driven zombie game like The Last of Us likely raised expectations.

There were also technical issues at launch, like frame rate drops and crashes that undermined polish. These fed the perception it failed to meet AAA standards.

Sales:

• 9+ million copies sold as of June 2021 according to Sony

This makes Days Gone a solid seller, but not a massive hitter compared to flagship PlayStation exclusives like God of War, Spider-Man and The Last of Us Part II which have sold 10+ million each.

Sony declining to greenlight a sequel indicates it didn‘t meet their commercial hopes for a major release either.

The AAA Debate

Given all this, does Days Gone deserve to be called a AAA game? There‘s evidence on both sides:

In Favor:

• Lengthy development time
• Detailed world and graphics
• Major marketing push from Sony
• Sold well compared to average game

Against:

• Smaller team than PlayStation elite
• Technical issues at launch
• Good but not amazing reviews
• Lack of breakout commercial success

Director Jeff Ross controversially blamed the lack of a sequel on "woke reviewers" disliking the grizzled biker protagonist. In reality, an overcrowded zombie genre was more likely the problem.

Putting it all together, Days Gone seems to occupy a middle ground. In the PS3/Xbox 360 era it likely would have been considered AAA based on scope alone. But these days, the bar is higher on all fronts.

For a new IP to be considered truly AAA in the modern industry, it has to review and sell on par with the very top franchises. Days Gone didn‘t quite get there, even if it exceeded average games on most fronts.

The Changing Meaning of AAA

Stepping back, we can debate whether AAA even means anything tangible today or is just a marketing term. The goalposts keep moving as budgets and expectations expand.

What do you think? Does Days Gone deserve to be called AAA, or is the classification meaningless hype? I‘d love to hear your perspectives in the comments! The world of AAA gaming keeps getting bigger and pricier. Understanding how new releases stack up can help us make informed decisions as gamers and industry observers.

Let me know what other topics you‘d like me to explore in the future too. Until next time, stay safe out there in the post-apocalypse!