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Deus Ex director and immersive sim legend Warren Spector is retiring, despite having "three games in particular" he'd still like to make
Legendary Deus Ex director Warren Spector has announced his retirement from game development after a 44-year career. While he has "mixed feelings" and three specific games he'd still like to make, Spector feels the industry has changed and it's time for a new generation. He plans to write books, lecture, and possibly consult, but leaves the door open for a potential return.
Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 50
This 50th volume of the 'Hidden Gems' feature highlights overlooked games from the past. It discusses Addams Family Values, Wipeout 3: Special Edition, DoDonPachi, Carmageddon, and Disney's Chicken Little, exploring their unique design elements, commercial struggles, and lasting impact.
Disney’s Former CEO Seems To Have No Memory Of Approving Kingdom Hearts
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner appears to have no recollection of approving the creation of the Kingdom Hearts video game franchise. Despite being a pivotal figure in Disney's entertainment ventures from 1984 to 2005, Eisner stated he did not remember greenlighting the crossover title between Final Fantasy and Disney characters, which launched on PlayStation 2 in 2002.
Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios had a Crimson Desert-like game in the works but "every publisher just shut the door"
Avalanche Studios, known for the Just Cause series, had a fantasy open-world game called AionGuard in development that shared similarities with Crimson Desert. Co-founder Christofer Sundberg revealed that the project was canceled after a publisher withdrew support, and subsequent attempts to announce it independently led other publishers to refuse involvement. The studio eventually moved on to other projects like Mad Max and Rage 2, with their co-op sandbox game Contraband also being canceled.
Avalanche's cancelled AionGuard 'would have been Crimson Desert' but the publisher 'broke up with us…
Avalanche Studios co-founder Christofer Sundberg revealed details about the cancelled fantasy open-world game AionGuard, which he claims would have been similar to Crimson Desert. The project was reportedly cancelled by a major publisher, later identified as Disney Interactive Studios, due to a shift in business strategy. Sundberg also discussed another cancelled project, Arcadia Rising, which was affected by THQ's financial troubles.
Disney Should Buy Fortnite And Epic Games, Former Exec Says
A former Disney executive suggests that CEO Josh D'Amaro should consider acquiring a gaming company like Epic Games to drive growth. While Disney has invested in Epic's Fortnite project, a full buyout is seen as a potential bold step. Executives reportedly are interested in acquiring Epic, though founder Tim Sweeney retains control, and past acquisition talks with Electronic Arts did not materialize.
