Video game development has become more and more complicatedas the years have passed by. The need to push a game’s technical achievements time and time again has led to titles taking years to develop, with many developers putting their hearts and souls into the products they form from the ground up. This makes it a massive achievement for any prolific video game developer to show what they’re all about by developing a suite of amazing titles that are a joy to play through.
Developing a ton of games requires a sound organizational structure, numerous talented staff members, and clear timelines to ensure that a game doesn’t spend too long in development. The rich history of some video game developers includes some of the greatest video games ever made by companies that have dominated the gaming mainstream with their offerings for decades.
5Nintendo EPD
Notable Games: Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Nintendo is one of the most beloved video game developers of all time. After Atari single-handedly caused a video game crash that compelled many companies to stray as far away from the industry as possible, Nintendo decided to branch out into the West with its hardware and software offerings. What followed was a gaming resurgence all over the world that cemented this company as one of the greatest Publishers/Developers that has continued to wow fans in the modern era.
Ever since 2015, Nintendo’s first-party offerings were handled by a new division called Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development, known asNintendo EPDby fans. The developer may have been active for less than a decade at the time of writing, but it already prides itself on creating polished games while introducing players to innovative gameplay mechanics that attempt to push things in a bold new direction. Even when the company developedwhat seemed like a traditional open-world gamewithBreath of the Wild, the many innovations this game brought to the table made it clear that Nintendo wasn’t going to rest on its laurels with tried-and-tested gameplay loops. Every Nintendo game is a joy to play through, and it’s astounding to see that this company has been operating for more than a century.
4Ubisoft Montreal
Notable Games: Far Cry 3, For Honor, Watch Dogs 2
There was a time when Ubisoft games were hailed asthe pinnacle of video game design, but a string of poor decisions and resting on its laurels has led to the company personifying a lot of things people hate about the industry. Open-world games may have mass appeal, but Ubisoft’s attempts to appeal to the masses have led to games that don’t innovate at all or feature a ton of bloat that just serves as an excuse for players to sink a ton of hours into these games.
This publisher has several notable developers under its belt, withUbisoft Montrealbeing a name that many fans are familiar with. Ever since 1997, this developer has made a name for itself with some of the greatest open-world games ever made.Far Cry 3blew the minds of many fans when it came out in 2012, while titles likeWatch Dogs 2andFor Honorfeature several highlights that make them some of Ubisoft’s best offerings.
3Sega CS Research And Development No. 1
Notable Games: F-Zero GX, Yakuza: Like A Dragon, Super Monkey Ball
Sega is one of the biggest names in the video game industry. There was a time when this company was successfully battling against Nintendo with its hardware offerings, giving rise to a rivalry where Mario and Sonic’s creators fought against each other to establish their dominance. Sega eventually failed to keep up with the competition and decided to stick to making and developing games instead. While morale in the company was quite low at that point, it didn’t take long for Sega to turn things around.
In no time at all,Sega accumulated a library of some of the most celebrated gamesfans could get their hands on. The company’s structure was overhauled, withCS1being one of its most prolific divisions that houses RGG studio, a developer that was formed solely to focus on theLike a Dragonseries (with a fewSuper Monkey Balltitles in between). The series formerly known asYakuzahas established a foothold in the West as some of the best action-packed experiences. These games are just a drop in the ocean of Sega’s amazing video game library, which has established this company as one of the biggest publishers in the industry.
2Capcom Production Studio 4/Division 1
Notable Games: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Devil May Cry
Capcom wasted no time in establishing itself as one of the biggest video game developers from the very moment home consoles regained steam in the Western market. The company was mainly known for its excellent fighting games before the company shifted its focus to other imaginative titles that encompassed numerous genres, with franchises likeAce AttorneyandResident Evilbeing a great example of the same. As one would expect, these games were handled by a different division that was more proficient when it came to narrative-driven games with action-packed gameplay loops.
The vast majority of Capcom’s iconic franchises were handled by Production Studio 4 before a recent restructuring led to the creation of Games Development Division 1. Barring the rocky launch of the ambitiousDragon’s Dogma 2, the track record of Division 1 has been stellar, offering some of the most iconic modern Capcom games likeResident Evil 7: BiohazardandDevil May Cry 5.
1Naughty Dog
Notable Games: Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, The Last Of Us
One of Sony’s biggest first-party publishers that continues to make waves to this day,the legacy of Naughty Dogis something fans are quite familiar with. The developer broke into the gaming mainstream withCrash BandicootandJak & Daxterbefore moving on to more mature experiences as the console generations evolved.
Uncharted’s amazing writing helped it stand out as one of the best video game series of all time, butThe Last of Usshowed the power of emotional, cinematic storytelling. The strong reactions toThe Last of Us Part 2prove just how iconic Naughty Dog’s games are, and fans can’t wait to see the new projects this developer has in store for them.
