Hellraiser: Revival a Big Hit, Saber Plans More 'AA' Games

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is a runaway success, according to the studio behind it. Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch said in a LinkedIn post, reported by IGN, that the game has been performing "extremely well on PC and console" since its October 8 launch.

Karch used the game's performance to argue for a shift in industry focus. He suggested that big-budget AAA games may not be sustainable long-term, and that the future lies in more mid-budget, or "AA," titles based on established intellectual property.

The CEO called Hellraiser: Revival proof of this approach, stating it showed "an established IP and solid AA development with controlled costs can produce great results." He believes a focus on these types of games is "the future to maintaining growth and momentum in the game industry."

Karch also teased that this is just the beginning for Saber, calling Hellraiser: Revival "the first in a series of releases" that will prove out their methodology. He promised there is "more to come in just a few short weeks."

IGN notes that despite the game's content leading to some streamer bans, narrative director Antony De Fault told the outlet it was an "unofficial goal" for the team to be restricted somewhere as a sign they did their job right. Creator Clive Barker reportedly said he was "astonished" by how far the developers pushed the game's boundaries.