Konami
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As too much of the industry embrace their own death through genAI, Konami say it's real people that are most important for making good games
Konami Digital Entertainment president Hideki Hayakawa stated that human creators are the most important factor in producing entertaining and innovative video games, rather than generative AI. While acknowledging AI's potential for production efficiency, he believes the "chemical reaction" from diverse developers working together cannot be easily replaced. This stance contrasts with the widespread adoption of AI in the industry.
"Thank you, Hades" - Evil Empire on indie game discovery, how Steam early access has changed, and the rise of AI tools
Evil Empire's CEO Thomas Pfeiffer and Head of Business Ben Laulan discuss the studio's growth from supporting Dead Cells to developing Castlevania: Belmont's Curse and The Rogue Prince of Persia. They highlight the success of their Triple-i Initiative for indie game discovery and share insights on collaborations with larger publishers. The pair also express concerns about the impact of AI on the creative process and the meaning of game development.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse devs are "proud" of the game's hot characters: "There should be a…
Developers at Evil Empire are proud of the character designs in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, acknowledging the fan art and the 'hot' nature of characters like Trevor Belmont. They express happiness with the fan reception and even suggest a 'hot dad' award for game characters. The game itself is described as a compelling Metroidvania with a strong return for the franchise.
Silver Pines Is A 2D Silent Hill Meets Alan Wake, And It Even Scares Me At Its Lowest Price
Silver Pines is a new Metroidvania game that blends atmospheric tension reminiscent of Silent Hill and Alan Wake with challenging combat and puzzles. Players control private investigator Red Walker searching for a missing musician in a mysterious town. The game is currently available at a 25% launch discount.
Tutankham - Konami's 1982 arcade game arrives on the Amiga via LC-Games
LC-Games has released a new Commodore Amiga version of Konami's 1982 arcade game, Tutankham. This tribute version is compatible with various Amiga systems and requires 512 KB of Chip RAM. The game challenges players to explore Tutankhamun's tomb, collect treasures, and overcome guardians.
Bloober Team's Switch 2-exclusive heralds "amazing times of GameCube" horror, thanks to "Japanese…
Bloober Team's publishing division, Broken Mirror Games, has secured a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive horror title, Onyx: The Dark Grip. This marks a significant achievement, as Nintendo rarely partners with third-party developers for exclusive horror games. The developers express excitement about bringing back the 'amazing times of GameCube' horror era and highlight Bloober Team's growing reputation, particularly after the success of Silent Hill 2 Remake.
What are we all playing this weekend?
Several members of the team share their weekend gaming plans, including finishing Assassin's Creed 3, trying DayZ Badlands, and exploring horror titles like Haunted Paws. Others are diving into Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, introducing friends to Factorio, or developing a text adventure.
Konami president says AI won't have a "significant" effect on game dev, and if it does, "people and creators" will always be more important
Konami president Hideki Hayakawa stated that artificial intelligence is unlikely to significantly change the game market or lower entry barriers for developers. He emphasized that human creators will remain the most crucial element in producing entertaining and innovative video games, despite potential production efficiency gains from AI.
‘There Should be a Game Award for Hot Dads’ — Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Devs Are Fully Aware and Loving the ‘Horny’ Fanart for Their Game
The developers behind Castlevania: Belmont's Curse are embracing the 'horny' fan art of their characters, stating they intentionally designed them to be attractive. They are enthusiastic about the fan reception and the creative interpretations of their work.
Games Inbox: Was the GTA 6 launch trailer the last one?
Readers discuss the Grand Theft Auto 6 launch trailer, with some feeling it revealed little new information and expressing concern over Rockstar's marketing strategy. Other topics include the generic nature of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's advertising, the challenges of adapting video games into movies, and frustration with Sony's refund policy compared to Steam's.
Resident Evil at 30 – ranking every mainline game from 1996 to 2026
This article ranks all mainline Resident Evil games from worst to best, offering a guide for players looking to catch up with the series. It highlights the evolution of survival horror, the impact of modern remakes, and provides brief reviews and platform availability for each title.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Went Through a Slower Dark Souls-Style Iteration During Development
Evil Empire's Ben Laulan revealed that Castlevania: Belmont's Curse underwent several development iterations, including a slower, Dark Souls-inspired version and one too similar to Dead Cells. The final game strikes a balance between respecting the Castlevania IP and modern gameplay. The title is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Castlevania Belmont's Curse once had a Dark Souls "vibe," but it was "too slow, too intense, and…
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse initially experimented with a slower, more intense 'Dark Souls' combat style, but developer Evil Empire found it didn't fit the Castlevania identity. The game was then sped up, leading to comparisons with Dead Cells, before settling on its current fast-paced action. The article praises Evil Empire's commitment to a distinct Castlevania feel, noting the game has received critical acclaim.
Konami takes emergency action as Yu-Gi-Oh hits a rare low – new ban list sees "34 newly Forbidden cards and 8…
Konami has implemented an emergency ban list for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, adding 34 newly Forbidden cards and 8 Limited cards to address a meta described as "tiresome" and "homogenous." This drastic measure aims to combat issues like turn-zero wins and lengthy combo turns that have led to declining player attendance. The changes are intended to prepare for the upcoming "Magnificent Maestros" set, though some players are skeptical about its effectiveness.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse review - inspired by great ideas, but doomed by questionable execution
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse offers ambitious Metroidvania gameplay inspired by the series' highs, but is hampered by awkward controls and technical issues. While the game features clever level design and engaging combat moments, frustrating execution, particularly in platforming and boss fights, detracts from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game is not considered bad, but its ambition may have outpaced its development.
Castlevania Belmont's Curse swung between Dark Souls and Dead Cells to find the form that "feels good in your hands"
Evil Empire's Castlevania: Belmont's Curse aims to blend the exploration of Castlevania with the modern feel of games like Dead Cells and Dark Souls. Developers Thomas Pfeiffeir and Ben Laulan discussed the iterative process of finding the right gameplay balance, emphasizing creative control and player expectations. The game has launched on PC with strong initial player counts.
Crack The Whip In Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse has been released for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, featuring Rose Belmont as the new protagonist. The 2D action-adventure game, set in 1499 Paris, introduces new combat mechanics with the Vampire Killer whip and collectible Arcana derived from defeated bosses. The game is available in Standard and Midnight Editions.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse review - the origin of Metroidvania
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse marks a competent, albeit low-budget, return for the series, offering enjoyable platforming and combat reminiscent of its Metroidvania roots. While it doesn't innovate significantly and suffers from obscure progression, its sensible price point and solid gameplay make it a worthwhile, if not groundbreaking, revival.
I want to love the new Castlevania, but it just feels a little off
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse offers a fun experience with clever platforming and a gorgeous tarot card presentation, but suffers from a lack of polish and some frustrating control quirks. Developer Evil Empire, known for Dead Cells, seems to have struggled to imbue this new Castlevania with the expected 'juice,' leading to controls that don't quite gel and a less satisfying feel than anticipated.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Is a Worthy Heir to its Legacy
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse marks a triumphant return for the series, blending the best of modern Metroidvania design with the franchise's iconic gothic atmosphere. Developed by KONAMI in partnership with Evil Empire and Motion Twin, the game features satisfying combat, a deep spell system, and a compelling narrative centered on Rose Belmont. It is available on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
