"We probably need a few more Expedition 33s to just prove them wrong" – the maker of Valor Mortis on why publishers should have faith in AA

GamesIndustry.biz reports that One More Level is making a case for AA games at Gamescom, with game director Radek Ratusznik arguing that publishers are still treating the segment as too risky despite hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. His view is blunt: one breakout success is not enough to reset the market, and the sector needs more proof that mid-budget games can deliver strong returns.

That argument is rooted in One More Level’s own experience. The studio built Ghostrunner into a 5.6 million-unit success, but Valor Mortis still had a rough funding path after its original Private Division deal fell apart amid Take-Two’s shift away from mid-tier publishing. The game eventually landed at Lyrical Games, a newer label focused on AA-sized projects, which gave the team a path forward without forcing a self-publishing gamble.

Ratusznik also says the studio resisted layoffs while funding was uncertain, leaning on savings to keep a 40–50 person team intact. The company has since grown past 70 staff, though not all are on Valor Mortis, and One More Level is still trying to keep most production in-house rather than relying heavily on external support.

For developers, the practical takeaway is familiar: the technology may make AA production faster and cheaper, but it does not erase the need for schedule, QA, and enough runway to finish at quality. Valor Mortis is also a useful example of how a strong hook matters in a crowded market, pairing first-person swordplay with a 19th-century Napoleonic setting and horror-leaning tone to stand out.