I wouldn't say she necessarily ''plays it safe'' but she knows what the GP likes and wants, and she delivers it. She found for herself a formula that works and is proven to be successful and she just continues to use it. Why change something that's already fine?
She definitely "plays it safe", but I think this isn't as bad as some people are trying to make it seem. Her and her team/label have made excellent calculations about how to manage her career, obviously. People generally enjoy her music and aren't turned off by her. In fact, I think her whole career since IKAG has been pretty smooth with fairly few bumps. IKAG was her first big single (you know, her first "Katy Perry" single) and was her most "controversial". After that, she had the attention of the public and as long as she keeps churning out music that's catchy, she's going to be liked.
