In the rapidly evolving games industry, one issue that may not be apparent to non-developers is the decline of generalists, according to Tim Cain, co-creator of Fallout. A generalist is someone skilled in multiple disciplines, such as writing and art, or coding and producing. However, Cain believes that the number of professionals with a broad skillset has significantly decreased in the past two decades. The industry has shifted towards specialists focused on specific areas like level design or gameplay programming. This shift is driven by the increasing complexity and scale of modern games, requiring dedicated experts to ensure high-quality elements. Generalists, who can bridge different areas and improve productivity, are sorely missed in game development.
https://gameworldobserver.com/2023/10/09/generalists-vs-specialists-gamedev-tool-quality-tim-cain