Recent success of AAA video games like Onimusha: Way Of The Sword and The Blood Of Dawnwalker suggests that high-end games can be hits without requiring extremely high budgets. While some publishers might suggest that games must achieve the same financial success as Fortnite to be considered successful, new releases show that AAA titles with budgets over $100 million can thrive even if they are part of less well-known franchises. These games have demonstrated that high production values do not always equate to needing massive marketing budgets or established brand recognition. Onimusha: Way Of The Sword sold one million copies within days of its launch, marking a revival for the franchise, which had been dormant for 20 years (excluding remasters). The game's success came despite its distinctly Japanese aesthetic and story, which might have limited its appeal to a broader audience. Capcom, the publisher, expressed satisfaction with its performance and hinted at the possibility of more games in the series. Similarly, The Blood Of Dawnwalker, a wholly original property developed by Rebel Wolves, also sold one million copies after launch. The developers, who previously worked on The Witcher 3, have expressed interest in creating a sequel. Both games, launched just a day apart, did not negatively impact each other’s sales despite being third-person action role-playing games with different focuses. Their success indicates that games do not need to rely on popular intellectual properties to find a significant audience. Both Onimusha and The Blood Of Dawnwalker were made with confidence and targeted specific demographics, which were rewarded with commercial success. Similar results can be seen with other games released this year. The James Bond franchise, which has been in limbo for years due to a lack of movies, saw 007 First Light become a major hit without the involvement of any familiar Bond actors. Developer IO Interactive expressed confidence in its profitability, with sales exceeding three million copies within two weeks of launch. However, the game's success attracted the attention of Amazon MGM, the 007 license holder, who threatened to interfere with any potential sequel. This highlights the potential risks of high-profile licenses, as companies may prioritize profit over product quality. Another example is Star Wars Zero Company, a niche XCOM-style strategy game that has performed well critically and commercially, even though publisher EA has not shared specific sales figures. Developer Bit Reactor reportedly ran out of money before completing the game, raising concerns about the game's long-term viability. The attachment of major licenses to games can be a double-edged sword, as they come with higher expectations and costs, and the state of the franchise at the time of release can be uncertain. Marvel games have largely failed despite the popularity of the franchise, with the exception of Sony's Spider-Man games, which also reportedly struggled to recoup their budgets. While there is no hard and fast rule, there is a growing category of video games that sit between smaller-budget AA titles and high-budget AAA games. This upper-middle category appears to be thriving despite intense competition and the looming release of GTA 6. The success of these games suggests that there is a market for high-quality, well-targeted games that do not necessarily need to rely on massive budgets or popular franchises to achieve commercial success.