Greg Costikyan, a veteran in the role-playing game design industry, has addressed the increasing difficulty in developing clever, small games in the current market climate. He emphasizes that unless developers get lucky with standout titles such as Clair Obscur or Expedition 33, sustained success is elusive. These games have shown that while innovation is still possible, market forces and financial realities pose significant obstacles. Financial markets have not always responded positively to these indie projects, indicating a disconnect between critical innovation and investor expectations. Costikyan’s observations underscore the challenges small developers face in balancing creative ambitions with commercial viability in today’s gaming industry landscape.