Game Design
Game Design business and news from across the web.- Massively Overthinking: What’s your first reaction to meeting someone in your main MMORPG?This article discusses players' first reactions to encountering others in MMORPGs, particularly focusing on the contrast between competitive PvP and cooperative PvE environments. Contributors share their experiences and preferences, with many highlighting games like Guild Wars 2 for their community-friendly mechanics that encourage positive interactions over competition.
- RPG Players Are Recreating Female Character Hairstyles IRL And The Results Are HilariousPlayers are humorously recreating the often unrealistic and physics-defying female character hairstyles found in RPGs through real-life videos. While many games struggle with hair animation, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is highlighted for its improved hair physics and diverse options. The article discusses the ongoing challenges and hopes for better hair animation in future RPGs.
A Metal Gear Solid mod finally lets us play as Grey Fox in the PS1 classic, and it's not just his disappointing VR…A new mod for the original PlayStation 1 Metal Gear Solid allows players to control Grey Fox, the Cyborg Ninja. This mod, developed by Perfect Pizza, goes beyond simply porting Grey Fox from Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, adding new abilities like an arm cannon, a buffed High Frequency Blade with ricochet capabilities, and custom animations and codec calls. The mod utilizes the PSX decompilation project to modify the game's C code, with the goal of eventually enabling a full campaign playthrough as Grey Fox.- Warframe of Mind: In praise of Warframe’s optimistic nihilismThis article discusses the concept of 'optimistic nihilism' as presented in the game Warframe. It argues that despite the game's bleak and broken universe, where true salvation is impossible, the narrative encourages players to find meaning and make positive impacts in smaller ways. This message of finding love and caring for others in a chaotic world is presented as a palliative response to real-world awfulness.
The 100-Yen Democracy: What Mario Gave UsThis article reflects on the legacy of Super Mario and Nintendo's philosophy, emphasizing the importance of sincerity towards players over mere efficiency. It argues that Nintendo's focus on mature technology and accessible design, championed by figures like Gunpei Yokoi and Hiroshi Yamauchi, fosters a unique form of democracy in gaming. The piece highlights how Shigeru Miyamoto's humanization of Mario encourages players to find courage within themselves, contrasting this with modern business models that risk diluting the value of entertainment.
Diskutera – Vad gör ett piratspel till ett piratspel?This article discusses what defines a pirate game, questioning whether it requires specific historical settings or elements like sailing and plundering. It explores whether the genre can be expanded beyond traditional maritime themes, asking readers for their personal definitions of a pirate game.
5 Live Service Games to Quit in 2026 | TAGThis article provides a framework for players to quit live service games they no longer enjoy, arguing that obligation and FOMO should not dictate continued play. It identifies five specific games—Destiny 2, Diablo 4 seasonal, Warframe, Lost Ark, and older MMOs—as candidates for quitting in 2026, and offers a step-by-step guide to breaking free from the cycle of retention-engineered gameplay.
Upcoming PS5 RPG Will Please The Witcher Fans, Potential GOTYThe upcoming PlayStation 5 RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker, developed by Rebel Wolves (featuring former CD Projekt RED veterans), is generating significant excitement with early previews. Comparisons to The Witcher series are frequent due to the development team's background. The game is slated for a September 2026 release and is being praised for its narrative execution, quest design, and combat system.
WoW's game director thinks its UI overhaul has been 'successful so far,' even if it's 'not…World of Warcraft Game Director Ion Hazzikostas stated that the game's UI overhaul has been largely successful, despite initial community controversy regarding addon restrictions. While acknowledging ongoing work and some exceptions, he believes the changes allow more players to engage with content without relying on external tools. Blizzard plans further improvements to the base UI and addon interface in upcoming patches.
YGG Unveils vibecode.game Platform For AI Game DevelopmentYield Guild Games has launched vibecode.game, a new platform designed to enhance discoverability and community engagement for AI-powered browser games. The platform's debut is marked by the VibeBlitz game jam, a collaboration with Minds by Animoca Brands, offering $5,000 in prizes and running from July 13 to August 10. Animoca Brands also introduced its Game Designer Mind AI tool, which simplifies game concept creation from simple prompts.
Riot believes League of Legends 'mage bot' strats are "healthy diversity" and "need to be viable"Riot Games has decided against planned Brand buffs for League of Legends patch 26.14 due to concerns about mage bot lane strategies, but maintains that this approach offers healthy diversity. Lead Gameplay Designer Matt 'Phroxzon' Leung-Harrison explained that while frustrating for traditional marksmen, mages in the bot lane provide a necessary strategic option and prevent the game from becoming too formulaic.
Doom's new Chain Spear weapon seems to be dividing The Dark Ages' audience - "I'm like an hour in and I can't wait to get the shield back"Players are divided on the new Chain Spear weapon in Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations, with some finding it too complex and others struggling with its controls. Despite this, the expansion is generally well-received, with many praising its resemblance to a full sequel and its tribute to the Doom series' history. The game's director, Hugo Martin, acknowledged that the weapon may take time to master.
Subnautica 2 studio isn't backing down on fish murder, but you can at least stun them now thanks to game's first major updateUnknown Worlds has released the first major update, 'Adaptive Measures,' for Subnautica 2's early access period. This update introduces the ability to stun certain creatures using the Sonic Resonator, offering players a defensive option without outright killing them, a design choice the studio strongly supports. The update also includes improvements to creature flinching, BioMods, wreck gameplay, PDA clarity, and audio prioritization, with multiplayer features and a significant content drop planned for later updates.
Dead by Daylight's Entity lives off emotions, and I can't stop feeding itThe Entity in Dead by Daylight is sustained not by death, but by the intense emotions experienced by both killers and survivors during trials. Developer Behaviour Interactive revealed that the thrill of the hunt, the highs of escape, and even the despair of defeat all feed this ultimate evil. The article argues that player emotions, mirroring those of the in-game characters, also contribute to keeping the game's core loop alive.
Good Fun Corp announces Open Beta for HUNGER, with sign-ups now openGood Fun Corp has announced an Open Beta for their multiplayer extraction RPG, HUNGER, with sign-ups now available on Steam. The game is set in plague-ravaged Napoleonic Europe and blends melee and ranged combat with RPG elements. Following a successful closed test, the Open Beta will launch later this year, with Early Access planned shortly after, and a console release targeted for the future.
Path of Exile 2 for Busy Adults | TAGThis guide offers strategies for busy adults to engage with Path of Exile 2, a demanding ARPG with frequent league resets. It recommends focusing on the campaign and standard league progression, skipping competitive elements like ladder climbing and complex trade optimization. The article suggests a minimum time commitment of 6-8 hours per week for a satisfying experience and outlines realistic paths for new and returning players, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing core skill gems and basic atlas progression.
Subnautica 2 update finally lets players fight the fish, but you won't be able to kill them as Unknown Worlds sticks to a key principle of the survival gameUnknown Worlds has detailed the Early Access 1.1 update for Subnautica 2, introducing 'creature mitigation' that allows players to interact with and stun aggressive fauna using the Survival Multi-Tool and Sonic Resonator, rather than kill them. This update addresses player feedback while adhering to the developers' principle of not making it a 'killing game'.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review - it'll all end in PrivateersAssassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a remake that rebuilds the original game on a new engine, but the integration of new elements feels awkward and detracts from the experience. While the core gameplay and Caribbean setting remain strong, the new quests and combat mechanics are inconsistent, leading to a "misshapen" final product that struggles to justify its existence.- War Legends Launches Worldwide: PC RTS Experience, Now on Your PhoneWar Legends has launched worldwide, bringing a PC real-time strategy experience to mobile platforms. The game emphasizes direct unit control, base building, and tactical combat without auto-battles. It features campaign modes for Light and Dark factions, various PvP and FFA multiplayer modes, tournaments, and limited-time events.
Palworld 1.0 – Everything You Need to KnowPalworld 1.0 marks the full release of the popular title, exiting Early Access with significant upgrades. The update introduces a reworked progression curve, a mission-driven story structure, an overhauled world map featuring the World Tree, and mechanically reworked bosses and raids. Players are advised to consider a new playthrough to fully experience the redesigned journey and new content.