Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave almost had 8 protagonists in a "bold" attempt to surpass Three Houses, and I'm so happy the devs talked themselves out of it
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave director Toshiyuki Kusakihara revealed the game was initially planned with eight protagonists, a bold attempt to surpass Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Developers ultimately decided to scale back to four protagonists to avoid overwhelming players, a decision the author agrees with, finding the prospect of eight too ambitious and potentially diluting the narrative.
Crimson Moon director says "life happens," as he explains ProbablyMonsters' time-friendly Soulslike
David Lesperance, director of Crimson Moon, discusses the game's design philosophy, aiming to balance deep soulslike gameplay with accessibility for players with limited time. He highlights the studio's responsiveness to player feedback, including implementing requested features like custom keybindings and addressing optimization issues.
WoW Factor: BlizzCon 2026 paints a bright future for retail World of Warcraft
Blizzard Entertainment revealed several updates for World of Warcraft at BlizzCon 2026, including details on the final patch for The War Within, 'Eclipse,' which will feature a confrontation with Xal'atath. The company also teased the next expansion, The Last Titan, and announced a Wrath of the Lich King expansion remix. New features like the Talebound roguelike mode and significant transmogrification updates, allowing armor type restrictions to be lifted, were also highlighted.
Fable lead promises "we stick the landing" with the RPG's ending, which hopefully means we won't…
Playground Games' co-founder and Fable director Ralph Fulton has assured that the upcoming RPG will feature a satisfying ending, contrasting with the widely criticized conclusion of Fable 2. Fulton emphasized the importance of the finale, stating that the team relentlessly pursued quality to ensure it resonates with players and aligns with the Fable series' core identity.
Diablo 5 doesn't have towns or safe zones because you're the safe zone now, buddy: "You and your band of…
Diablo 5 will feature a unique approach to safety zones, with players and their traveling caravan serving as the primary safe havens in a fallen world. Executive producer Matt Zitterman explained that this design choice aligns with the narrative and the game's return to randomized dungeons. The caravan will grow with survivors, becoming a hub for merchants, crafters, and companions, offering deeper storytelling opportunities.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave only has one save file, devs explain why
Intelligent Systems and Nintendo developers explained the decision to implement a single save file for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. They cited system complications and the difficulty of tracking progress across multiple saves as reasons, while also highlighting features like chapter saves and replays to mitigate the limitation.
Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons Doesn't Have Waypoints Because the Devs Want Players to 'Figure Things Out' for Themselves
The developers of Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons have intentionally omitted waypoints from the game. They aim to encourage players to explore the game world and discover its content organically.
WoW Forever discusses classes, addons, party forming, PvP progression, and how it effectively negates WoW 2
World of Warcraft Forever will feature increased gold costs for mount training and will not allow meeting stones to teleport players to dungeons, encouraging more player interaction. Addons will have similar restrictions to the retail version, and PvP will include its own progression system with honor ranks and cosmetic rewards. Principal designer Kris Zierhut stated that the game's efficient engine makes a "WoW 2" unnecessary.
Persona 4 Revival is an expected iteration on a well-worn formula, but the devil is in the details
Persona 4: Revival, a remake of Persona 4 Golden, is expected to modernize the classic JRPG with updated visuals, music, and combat mechanics similar to Persona 3 Reload. While the changes are welcome, the article expresses concern that the game may not address dated and problematic characterizations, particularly concerning the character Yosuke, and that the series formula is becoming overly familiar.
Hot Wheels Infinite Rush Review – Pedal to the Plastic
Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is an accessible arcade racer that prioritizes momentum and chaotic fun over precision. While its easiest difficulties are forgiving, the Very Hard setting offers exhilarating, barely controllable racing. The game excels at capturing a childlike sense of play, though aspects like vehicle customization and the track creator suffer from cumbersome interfaces.
Why switching main characters for your game's sequel might be a mistake
Consultant Christian Fonnesbech argues that switching main characters in game sequels is a significant business risk, as characters are a primary emotional connection for players and a valuable IP asset. While artistic choices like introducing female protagonists in Hades 2 can be successful, Fonnesbech questions their long-term business impact and suggests maintaining character continuity is crucial for franchise success, citing examples like Tomb Raider and James Bond.
Rogue Eclipse Review: A Disappointing Space Shooter | Invision Game Community
Rogue Eclipse, a roguelike arcade spaceflight shooter from HUSKCRAFTS, fails to deliver on its premise, suffering from repetitive enemies, weak progression, poor sound mixing, and a basic story. The game feels like it is still in Early Access and is difficult to recommend, even for short bursts of gameplay. The review suggests significant improvements are needed in multiple areas.
Clover Legends codes (September 2026)
This guide provides working codes for Clover Legends, a Roblox game inspired by the Black Clover universe. These codes offer in-game rewards such as Yul, gems, boss keys, and race rerolls, which can help players progress faster, especially towards unlocking PvP at level 250. The article also details how to redeem codes and where to find future updates via the official Discord server.
Rockstar boss says GTA 6's police "can be harder" to shake off than before, "but it's fun"…
Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson revealed that Grand Theft Auto 6's police system will feature a more persistent 'heat' mechanic, making it harder for players to evade law enforcement. The new system aims to move past instantaneous escapes, requiring players to actively manage their detection by the police, even after a chase ends.
Everything we've gleaned about Diablo 5 since its BlizzCon 2026 reveal - a game that appears to be much more than Diablo 4.5
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed details for Diablo 5, scheduled for a spring 2029 release, indicating it will be a significant departure from Diablo 4. Set a century after Diablo 4, the game features a world fully conquered by Diablo, a more compact, procedurally generated landscape, and a focus on story-driven RPG elements with companions serving as vendors. The game will reintroduce features like Runewords and gear sets inspired by Diablo 2, and aims to offer more classes at launch than previous titles.
Utmaning i ISK#6 - Hitta alla referenser i Justin Wack!
This article announces a challenge for players of the point-and-click adventure game 'Justin Wack' by Pontus Wittenmark. Participants are encouraged to find and submit as many pop culture references hidden within the game as possible, with the most creative entries winning a t-shirt. The challenge aims to engage players with the game's intricate design and cultural allusions.
Games Inbox: Are Jason and Lucia from GTA 6 good characters?
Readers express skepticism about the likability of Grand Theft Auto 6 protagonists Jason and Lucia, contrasting them with Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2. Concerns are raised about the characters' dry presentation in recent footage and a perceived lack of memorability. Other topics include dissatisfaction with Mario Kart World's Grand Prix modes, questions about Marvel's Wolverine's accessibility features, and commentary on long game development cycles and Sony's recent fan reception.
Fable Team “Relentlessly Pursued Quality” With the Ending, Says Game Director
Playground Games' Fable will feature a meaningful ending that challenges players with significant personal cost, a departure from previous installments. Game director Ralph Fulton emphasized the studio's commitment to quality for the finale, despite industry trends suggesting lower completion rates. The game is expected to be 15-20 hours long for the main story, with a focus on life systems for replayability.
Marvel’s Wolverine Voice Actor is Proud of Having Voiced Logan Despite Criticisms
Liam McIntyre, the voice actor for Logan in Marvel's Wolverine, expressed pride in his performance despite the game's divisive reception. He drew parallels to his earlier career, noting his experience with beloved characters and criticism. Insomniac Games and Marvel Games thanked him for his work, and the developer is actively gathering player feedback to refine the experience.
Marvel’s Wolverine Team is “Actively” Gathering Feedback to “Further Refine” the Experience
Insomniac Games is actively gathering player feedback to refine the experience in Marvel's Wolverine, which has received mixed reviews despite praise for its presentation and characterization. While the PlayStation 5 exclusive is lauded for its narrative and performances, criticisms have been leveled at its linear structure and gameplay elements like scent trails.
