New Vegas director Josh Sawyer says games can and should pull on artistic inspirations from 'anywhere and everywhere': 'Greek plays, they knocked it out of the park thousands of years ago—why not look at them?'
PC Gamer
Last updated: June 30, 2026
Director Josh Sawyer advocates for game developers to draw artistic inspiration from a wide range of sources, emphasizing that historical art forms, like ancient Greek plays, offer valuable lessons. He suggests that when aiming to evoke emotions in players, developers should examine media that have successfully achieved this in the past.
- Sawyer believes games should freely incorporate influences from diverse origins, stating inspiration can come from "anywhere and everywhere." He specifically points to the enduring success of Greek plays as an example of rich artistic traditions worth exploring for modern game design. The core idea is to leverage established methods of emotional storytelling from various art forms to enhance player experience.
- Developers seeking to create meaningful player experiences should look beyond conventional game-related influences. Sawyer's approach encourages a broad artistic palette, drawing parallels between ancient theatrical techniques and contemporary interactive media. This perspective suggests that by studying past artistic triumphs, game creators can unlock new possibilities for player engagement and emotional depth.
