Romero Games founders and foremost video game power couple John and Brenda Romero recently shared their thoughts on the state of the game industry. The studio has also struggled with funding difficulties that have led to significant job cuts.
John and Brenda Romero
The couple recently spoke with GamesIndustry.biz, ahead of the Dark and Doomy event in Wakefield by Game Republic. Speaking in the interview, the couple highlighted the challenges they have faced over the past year.
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“I feel like the industry’s in a really horrible place,” said Brenda Romero, “I mean, we were there in the 80s for the crash, and this is definitely crashier. There are so few people that have not been affected, or their partner’s affected, or they’re worried about being affected. It’s a really difficult time right now.”
Describing how unpredictable the industry has become, John Romero pointed out that although Battlefield 6 was a commercial success, it didn’t stop EA from announcing layoffs in the studios. “I don’t understand what that’s all about”.
Brenda is unsure of how the problem in the game industry will be resolved, highlighting that many studios are pivoting to generative AI, notwithstanding the pushback from developers and gamers. However, Brenda stressed that she can’t comment on this issue because Romero Games doesn’t use generative AI.
“This is really one of those times where I don’t know. And you hear behind the scenes, there’s tremendous push toward teams using generative AI, there’s tremendous pushback from teams and from gamers about using generative AI… And before you ask, we’re not using generative AI. So I don’t know.
I know that we’re going to be OK for the next little bit. And if something falls over sideways, and 2027 is another ‘exciting’ year, we’ve both had a good run.”
Romero Games faced an existential threat in 2025. It was once rumored that the studio had been completely shuttered after a round of layoffs following a funding loss from Xbox. The studio eventually debunked that statement.
What do you think is the biggest problem with the gaming industry: the use of generative AI or a declining audience? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
