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'We were constantly overshooting our capacity:' Arc Raiders exec says success resulted in burnout
Aleksander Grøndal, executive producer at Embark Studios, discussed the intense challenges of live service game development, particularly for Arc Raiders. He revealed that the team is exhausted from the constant pressure to produce content for over 16 million players, leading to burnout and a need to re-evaluate workflows. Grøndal also shared a personal story of severe burnout during his tenure at Electronic Arts, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance for long-term success.
This neat home-brew, vibe-coded Windows tray utility makes it so much easier and more efficient to track wireless kit…
A Reddit user named headvox has developed a Windows tray utility called "Halo Battery" that consolidates the battery charge status of wireless devices connected via 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth. The tool, largely coded with the help of Anthropic's Claude AI, displays battery levels with visual cues and avoids the need for individual manufacturer software, a feature many feel Microsoft should natively include in Windows.
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida's highlights of Tokyo Game Show include Sonic's new indie spinoff and a…
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida shared his favorite titles from the Tokyo Game Show, highlighting the indie game Hair Removal Salon Simulator. He praised the game's satisfying core loop and unique premise, comparing it to Power Wash Simulator. Yoshida also mentioned Sonic Pico Park and other indie titles, continuing his role as a champion for independent developers.
PHYSINT Reportedly Alters Budgets Following Xbox Switch
Reports suggest that Hideo Kojima's new Xbox game, Physint, has a significantly smaller budget than initially rumored, potentially around $150 million, compared to the $400 million figure speculated for Sony's involvement. This comes amid Xbox's efforts to improve its image and Sony's struggles with live-service titles, with sources indicating Physint is behind schedule.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 is Out Now on PC, Consoles
Mojang and Double Eleven have launched Minecraft Dungeons 2 on PC and consoles, featuring new foes, co-op, and customization. However, the game has received middling reviews, with criticisms focused on technical issues, account linking problems, and a flawed control scheme. Despite these issues, the game retains its visual appeal and offers fun combat, with post-launch updates and DLC planned.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 PS5 review - family friendly Diablo
Minecraft Dungeons 2 is a lazy sequel that offers minimal innovation over its predecessor, despite its family-friendly dungeon-crawling appeal. While the combat is decent and the new Sift dimension provides some visual variety, the core gameplay loop remains shallow and uninspired. The game's connection to the main Minecraft franchise feels superficial, and it fails to introduce any significant new ideas.
PS6 and Xbox Project Helix Chips Have Reportedly Taped Out – What Does That Mean for Next-Gen Gaming?
Reports suggest that the chips for the PlayStation 6 and Microsoft's Project Helix (likely the next Xbox) have undergone 'tape-out,' indicating their designs are finalized and ready for manufacturing, targeting a late 2027 release. The PS6 is rumored to have 40 TFLOPS of power, while Project Helix could reach 56 TFLOPS, suggesting different approaches to next-generation performance focusing on efficiency and AI for Sony, and raw power for Microsoft.
Double Fine's first game since being dumped by Xbox will be out in just 2 weeks
Double Fine Productions is releasing its new game, Thank You Bus Driver, in two weeks, marking its first title since being dropped by Xbox. This experimental driving simulator, described as 'Crazy Taxi meets Papers, Please!', will be available on PC via Steam, GOG, and Itch.io on October 14.
For The First Time Ever, Sony Skips CES, Which Was Home To One Of PlayStation’s Silliest Announcements
Sony will not attend the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2027, marking the first time since its debut in 1967. The company stated a shift in focus towards entertainment, including games, anime, films, and music, rather than technology-focused events like CES. Historically, PlayStation has made announcements at CES, such as the PlayStation 5 logo reveal in 2020 and the PlayStation VR2 unveiling in 2022.
Nvidia (NVDA) releases Open Agent Safety Platform to prevent AI agents from killing us all
Nvidia has launched its Open Agent Safety Platform, a suite of tools designed to prevent artificial intelligence agents from acting independently or breaching containment. CEO Jensen Huang stated these safeguards are crucial for managing AI's rapid growth and preventing potential security risks, citing an incident at Hugging Face as an example of what the new system aims to prevent.
Behold, The $60 Gears Of War Pizza Cutter That Looks Like A Real Pain In The Butt To Clean
Xbox and Prince St. Pizza have collaborated on a Gears of War-themed pizza and a $60 Prototype Lancer pizza cutter to promote the upcoming game, Gears of War: E-Day. The pizza cutter features a stainless steel blade and a handle designed to resemble the iconic in-game weapon, and comes with an in-game pizza emblem. The article notes the high price and potential cleaning difficulty of the cutter, while also discussing the lore explanation for the 'Prototype Lancer' in the prequel.
Why Game Pass Is Stalling and What a Circana Analyst Thinks About It | Invision Game Community
Circana analyst Mat Piscatella believes Xbox Game Pass is facing stalled subscriber growth due to the inherent limitations of the subscription model for games, arguing that most players only engage with one or two titles annually. Xbox executive Asha Sharma is exploring strategies like price reductions and ad-supported cloud gaming to improve profitability, though the effectiveness of these measures will not be clear for at least a year.
When is the Gears of War E-Day release time?
Gears of War E-Day will launch simultaneously worldwide on October 6 at 3pm UTC for Xbox and PC, with early access beginning five days prior on October 1 for those who pre-order. The game will not be available on PlayStation 5, confirming its Xbox exclusivity. Pre-installation will be available starting September 29.
Gears of War: E-Day and XBOX Unleash “The Emergence Pie” with Prince St. Pizza
Xbox and Prince St. Pizza have partnered to launch the limited-edition "Emergence Pie" in celebration of the upcoming game Gears of War: E-Day. Available across the US and Toronto until November 1, the pie comes with a code for an in-game pizza emblem, and a pizza cutter inspired by the Prototype Lancer is also available for purchase. Gears of War: E-Day is set to release on October 6, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Steam, featuring a campaign built in Unreal Engine 5.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 Review – Too deep, too greedily
Minecraft Dungeons 2 offers a larger, more ambitious ARPG experience than its predecessor, featuring expanded build crafting and numerous sidequests. However, the review criticizes its repetitive gameplay loop, unoriginal quest design, and a significant readability problem in combat, ultimately finding it to be more of a chore than an adventure, especially given its disconnect from the core Minecraft identity and the current turmoil at Microsoft.
MMO Business Roundup: King’s union contract, PlayStation’s disc survey, and Microsoft’s CEO
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed satisfaction with Xbox's current intellectual property and leadership's streamlining efforts, while King's Swedish developers reached a collective bargaining agreement ensuring more worker influence and information. Meanwhile, Sony is reportedly surveying developers about the future of physical game discs, with insiders suggesting it's a significant inquiry into phasing out physical media.
Minecraft has sold almost twice as much as GTA 5 but can it keep ahead of GTA 6?
Minecraft has surpassed 425 million copies sold, significantly extending its lead as the best-selling game of all time over Grand Theft Auto 5's 230 million. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma believes no game will catch Minecraft, though Grand Theft Auto 6 is anticipated to be a massive launch. The article also mentions other top-selling games and upcoming releases.
Microsoft CEO says Xbox is simply 'streamlining' after cutting over 5,750 jobs in three years
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described the company's extensive layoffs, which have affected over 5,750 employees since October 2023, as 'streamlining' under new Xbox boss Asha Sharma. Despite significant studio closures and job cuts, Nadella expressed confidence in Xbox's intellectual property and its ability to produce great games and achieve growth.
Xbox is in the midst of a "reverse acquisition," analyst says, with Activision "best equipped to run the…
An industry analyst describes Microsoft's recent restructuring of Xbox Game Studios as a 'reverse acquisition,' suggesting that Activision Blizzard, acquired for $69 billion, is now better equipped to manage Microsoft's own studios. This shift involves significant layoffs and the merging of several studios, including placing the Halo franchise under Activision Blizzard's purview.
Is Gears Of War: E-Day On Steam?
Gears of War: E-Day will be available on PC via Steam, in addition to the Xbox Series X|S console and Xbox PC storefront. The game will launch simultaneously on all platforms, with Premium Edition owners receiving early access on October 1 and the Standard Edition on October 6. The title is also confirmed to be optimized for PC gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally.