Game Developer
Game Developer business and news from across the web.
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Inside Austin Wintory's Collaborative Composing Process
Composer Austin Wintory discusses his career in video game music and his role in curating the Developer's Concert at the GDC Festival of Gaming. The interview, hosted by Beth Elderkin for GDC Side Quest, explores Wintory's collaborative approach to composing and the intersection of art and business in game development.
What devs need to know about localization
This article discusses the importance and often undervalued role of localization in game development, particularly for reaching overseas markets. It highlights the challenges localizers face, including being excluded from credits and the pressure from AI translation, and aims to bridge the gap between developers and localizers.
Evening Interviews
Interviews with the creator of Human Fall Flat and Insomniac Games reveal details about Marvel's Wolverine, which is set in a timeline before the X-Men exist. The article touches on a decade of game development and studio insights.
Comings and Goings
Microsoft's Xbox division has undergone significant layoffs, impacting numerous studios and projects. Industry figures like Jason Schreier have reported on the scale of these cuts, with outlets like Game Developer and BBC analyzing the implications for the gaming giant's future.
NexusMods CEO digs into the dynamics of video game modding
NexusMods CEO Victor Folmann discusses the complexities of game modding and his vision for NexusMods as a user-generated content platform. He highlights the challenges of balancing mod accessibility with developer terms of service and fostering relationships between creators and players.
The Sunday Papers
This article discusses various gaming-related topics from recent publications. It touches on the struggles within the game development industry, the personal journey of Cliff Bleszinski after the closure of Boss Key Productions, and explorations of queerness in games like Elden Ring and Disco Elysium. It also briefly mentions themes of labor and slavery in relation to AI films.
Business and Finance
A union has established a hardship fund to support game developers affected by recent layoffs. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to industry professionals facing job loss.
Phantom inspiration and the ethical auteur
Strange Scaffold creative director Xalavier Nelson Jr. discusses his studio's latest game, El Paso, Elsewhere, and broader issues in game development, including career longevity and knowledge transfer. Nelson highlights the disparity in creative output between film directors and game directors within their first ten years, attributing it to industry practices.
Discussing unionization, layoffs, and monetization
A Game Developer podcast episode, featuring analysts from GDC and Omdia, discusses key findings from the GDC 2024 State of the Game Industry report. The conversation covers trends in monetization, industry layoffs, and conglomeration, as well as developer opinions on unionization, with younger developers showing significantly higher support.
Ten Questions and Answers About the Games Industry in 2024
Omdia's expert games analysts will discuss pressing industry questions for 2024 in a webinar preparing attendees for GDC. Key topics include the reasons behind industry layoffs, the impact of subscription services on player behavior, and developers' current and future spending plans, all supported by Omdia's data.
Road to the IGF 2024 with Joel Couture
Game Developer editor-in-chief Danielle Riendeau interviews indie journalist Joel Couture about his 'Road to the IGF' series, which highlights finalists of the Independent Games Festival. Couture discusses his preparation process for conducting numerous interviews and shares insights from developers, including those behind the game Tchia, about showcasing their culture and homeland.
Behind the GDC scenes with Beth Elderkin and Sam Warnke
Game Developer Conference content marketing manager Beth Elderkin and conference producer Sam Warnke discuss the extensive year-round planning required to organize the annual event. They highlight the challenges of curating hundreds of panel submissions and coordinating discrete events into a coherent program, emphasizing the importance of game preservation efforts like the Game History Gallery.
Photography Games | Game Developer Spotlight Series
Game Developer is hosting a "Photography Week" exploring the genre and its mechanics, featuring new interviews and essays. Topics include how photography games encourage players to notice their surroundings and document experiences. Discussions will cover game design choices, balancing artistic freedom with progression metrics, and applying basic photography tips to improve in-game photo modes.
Snapping Your Career into Place with Ben Brode
Ben Brode, chief development officer at Second Dinner, discusses the challenges of designing Marvel Snap to be both accessible and expandable for long-term live service. He highlights the iterative process of defining core game mechanics and the studio's use of the Godot engine for efficient over-the-air updates.
Digging into SAG-AFTRA’s Stellar Win With Sarah Elmaleh
Actor and SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Negotiating Committee chair Sarah Elmaleh discusses the recent Interactive Media Agreement that ended an 11-month strike. The deal includes improved actor pay, new safety standards, and terms for the use of generative AI, giving actors more control over their data. Elmaleh shares her experience navigating the three-year negotiation process.
Leadership lessons from Mark Darrah’s days at BioWare
Former BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah shares leadership and game development lessons on his YouTube channel, drawing from his experience, particularly with the troubled production of Anthem. He discusses communication breakdowns and the importance of a unified vision in game development.
Analyzing the game industry's woes with Owen Mahoney
Former Nexon CEO Owen Mahoney discusses the game industry's challenges and his views on emerging technologies. After 25 years in the industry, he criticizes trends like the metaverse, VR, and NFTs but expresses optimism about generative AI's potential to revolutionize game development.
Analyzing the 2026 GDC State Of The Industry Report
The 2026 GDC State of the Industry Report, compiled by GDC Festival of Gaming, offers new insights into game development by expanding its survey pool and modifying its format. This episode features content marketing manager Beth Elderkin discussing the changes, followed by a conversation with news editor Chris Kerr and columnist Nicole Carpenter on key data points regarding layoffs, unionization, generative AI, and tariffs.
The art of game writing in 'non-narrative' games
Veteran game writer Emma Kidwell and narrative designer Harrison Pink discuss the role of writing and narrative design in games that are not primarily story-driven, such as strategy or multiplayer titles. They explore how even simple narrative elements can complement complex gameplay systems and enhance player experience.
Shockingly, way fewer people are buying PlayStation 5 after Sony hiked its price
PlayStation 5 console sales have significantly decreased by nearly 50 percent in the last quarter of fiscal year 2025 following Sony's price hikes. Despite the dip in unit sales, Sony's hardware generation remains its most profitable to date. Future sales forecasts for fiscal year 2026 may be impacted by AI memory shortages and potential further price adjustments.