The gaming market will soon shift away from AAA titles and focus more on "systematic depth," said Splinter Cell Blacklist director Patrick Redding at a Gamercamp festival in Toronto, Canada.

Redding explained that this shift will be pushed by digital distribution channels, a rising cost of production and procedurally literate players, reports Games Industry International.

"This trend is going to trigger a reality check for developers like me who work on established franchises with a large succession of sequels, and it's also going to be a call-to-arms for smaller game creators," said Redding.

According to Redding, the future lies in a new era of games, "lower-case aaa" titles such as Minecraft. These titles, said Redding, should emphasize open-ending gaming, rather than focus on a single approach; they will have to allow players to reach for their own stories and goals.