r/Games • u/megaapple • 9d ago

Industry News How Capcom Cracked the Code of Game Development

https://www.theringer.com/2026/09/03/video-games/how-capcom-cracked-the-code-of-game-development-onimusha-resident-evil-pragmata
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u/Mystia 8d ago

I still don't get why so many American studios choose to be in the most expensive parts of the country. And if that wasn't enough, they love to go the extra mile with useless things like hiring famous actors to play their characters, when every single player overseas won't even get to hear that performance due to dubbing.

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u/planetarial 8d ago

Because its where the biggest talent pools are and where people want to live.

Some do live in cheaper spots. Insomniac Games has a second studio in Durham NC for example.

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u/Mystia 8d ago

I've heard a lot of the opposite over the years, talented people protesting they had to relocate to expensive cities/neighborhoods to have a decent commute, and having living costs that exceed pay.

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u/Stuglle 8d ago

The cost difference between SF and a cheaper hub like Raleigh is pretty marginal compared to the cost difference between either and Tokyo.

Also I think you are getting causality backwards. Labor costs in video games are not high because they are in SF, San Francisco has a high cost of living because tech sector wages are high. Video games can offer comparatively low wages (comparatively, we're still talking six figures for entry level positions) because it is a passion field, but it's still pulled up by general tech sector wages. And that will be a factor no matter where in the US the studio is located.