How video games got too good-looking for their own good

With a budget of almost $500 million, Sony’s “Spider-Man 2” PlayStation game exemplifies an industry whose obsession with realistic graphics has begun to cost it dearly.

Peter Parker and Miles Morales team up against Venom in Sony’s “Spider-Man 2” game.

Zachary Small

Jan 2, 2025 – 5.00am

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One way to understand the video game industry’s current crisis is by looking closely at Spider-Man’s spandex.

For decades, companies such as Sony and Microsoft have bet that realistic graphics were the key to attracting bigger audiences. By investing in technology, they have elevated flat pixelated worlds into experiences that often feel like stepping into a movie.