Long-running video game series tend to abide by the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” It’s easy to see why. AAA games routinely cost hundreds of millions of dollars to develop, so if you’re in the habit of releasing a new Assassin’s Creed or Call of Duty game every year or so, it makes more sense to deliver something fans already like than invest too much in risky innovations. As reasonable as it is from a business perspective, sticking to the formula can also produce games that feel a bit like reheated leftovers. Final Fantasy developer
