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This indie dev's dungeon crawling 'descent into madness' was inspired by motherly love
Indie developer Christopher Yabsley is creating Heathen, a dark fantasy dungeon crawler inspired by a cherished childhood memory of playing Diablo with his mother. The game will feature first-person combat, randomized loot, and online co-op, with an early access release planned for Steam.
Quantic Dream Shutting Down Title Spellcasters Chronicles
Quantic Dream is shutting down its live service MOBA, Spellcasters Chronicles, due to a lack of audience, with servers going offline on June 19th. The studio, acquired by NetEase in 2025, will refocus on other projects, including the narrative Star Wars game Star Wars Eclipse, though layoffs are anticipated. Players who made in-game purchases can request refunds.
Star Wars Eclipse Development "Continues" As Studio Cancels MOBA Months After Launch
Quantic Dream is shutting down its live-service game Spellcasters Chronicles on June 19, offering refunds to players. The studio confirmed that development on Star Wars Eclipse continues as planned, despite previous reports casting doubt on its status. The shutdown of Spellcasters Chronicles is attributed to a challenging market environment, and the company is undergoing an internal reorganization.
Casually Classic: Should Blizzard roll out WoW Classic’s Titan Reforged ruleset to the west?
This opinion piece discusses Blizzard Entertainment's China-only "Titan Reforged" World of Warcraft Classic server ruleset, which bundles the base game and first two expansions with Wrath of the Lich King class builds and scaled raid content. The author questions whether this "raid rush" MMO experience, which proved popular in China, should be brought to western audiences, ultimately concluding it would dilute the community and compete with the upcoming "Classic Plus" offering.
Marvel Rivals test players make historic discovery: Devil Dinosaur is too big to fit in the flarkin' maps
Players in the Marvel Rivals test server have discovered that the character Devil Dinosaur is too large to fit through certain areas of the game's maps. This has led to discussions among players about the character's hitbox and potential balance issues, while others find the situation humorous given the character's size.
Gang of Dragon Studio Website Goes Offline
The official website for Nagoshi Studio's Gang of Dragon has gone offline, following the removal of the studio's YouTube channel and reports that NetEase has ceased funding. This raises concerns about the game's potential cancellation or hiatus as the studio seeks new financial backing. NetEase reportedly cut funding due to increasing development costs and the studio's failure to ship a title, but has allowed development to continue while Nagoshi Studio looks for alternative funding.
Former NetEase exec Simon Zhu secures $100m to launch GreaterThan Group
Former NetEase executive Simon Zhu has launched GreaterThan Group (GTG), a new holding company that has secured $100 million in funding. GTG will support three newly formed studios: Arcanaut Studios, led by Casey Hudson; BulletFarm, led by David Vonderhaar; and MAGship, led by Masato Saki. The company aims to provide full funding and support to game development studios, allowing creators to focus on making games.
"If David Lynch made shooters" is Black Ops veteran David Vondehaar's catchphrase for his new game that isn't a "Call of Duty killer"
Former Call of Duty: Black Ops designer David Vondehaar is developing a new shooter with his studio BulletFarm, funded by GreaterThan Group. Vondehaar described the game as being in the vein of "if David Lynch made shooters," emphasizing it will not be a military simulation or a "Call of Duty killer." The project aims for a three-year development cycle with a team of around 50 people.
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic secures large investment as director Casey Hudson seems to reject the use of gen-AI
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, the spiritual successor to Knights of the Old Republic, has secured significant investment through GreaterThan Group, founded by former NetEase executive Simon Zhu. Director Casey Hudson expressed his aversion to using generative AI in development, citing it as creatively soulless. Hudson also indicated a preference for a more focused game length, aiming for completion before 2030.
Call of Duty legend returns after losing NetEase funding with plans for a new FPS game that isn't a CoD "killer," but more like "if David Lynch made shooters"
David Vonderhaar, a veteran developer known for the Call of Duty: Black Ops series, has confirmed his studio BulletFarm is developing a new first-person multiplayer/co-operative shooter. Despite previously losing funding from NetEase, the studio has secured new backing from GreaterThan Group. Vonderhaar described the project as a creative experience, likening it to 'if David Lynch made shooters,' and aims for a three-year development cycle.
Sega has canceled its live service 'Super Game' due to 'intensifying market competition,' and I really, really hope it's a sign that the industry is finally correcting itself
Sega has canceled its ambitious 'Super Game' project, which aimed to be a major live service title, citing intensifying market competition. The company is reallocating around 100 developers to traditional full-game development, signaling a potential shift away from free-to-play models. This decision is seen by the author as a positive sign for the industry, suggesting a move towards more sustainable and less risky game development practices.
Gang of Dragon Studio’s Website Has Been Taken Offline
Nagoshi Studio's official website has been taken offline, following the earlier disappearance of its YouTube page. This action, coupled with reports of NetEase ceasing funding for the project Gang of Dragon due to budget overruns, strongly suggests the game's cancellation or indefinite postponement. Director Toshihiro Nagoshi may be seeking alternative funding to revive the project.
Nagoshi Studio website appears to have gone offline
The official website for Nagoshi Studio, the developer behind Gang of Dragon, has gone offline. This follows reports from approximately one month ago indicating that NetEase would cease funding for the studio.
Gang of Dragon studio website disappears without notice as NetEase funding dries up
The official website for Nagoshi Studio, founded by Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, has disappeared following NetEase's withdrawal of funding for their debut game, Gang of Dragon. While the studio's YouTube channel remains, the website's disappearance suggests a worsening situation for the project, which was revealed at The Game Awards 2025.
Former NetEase exec's new investment group is funding Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic because 'everyone wins' if you 'give the best creator the opportunity to work on a dream project'
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, a successor to Knights of the Old Republic being developed by original director Casey Hudson, is being funded by GreaterThan Group, a new investment company founded by former NetEase executive Simon Zhu. Zhu aims to support developers impacted by industry turmoil, stating that giving creators the opportunity to work on their dream projects benefits everyone involved. GreaterThan Group has also invested in BulletFarm, a studio founded by David Vonderhaar.
New Star Wars RPG led by Mass Effect boss backed by $100 million fund "bringing common sense back to the games industry" as it "treats developers so badly"
GreaterThan Group, a new holding company founded by former NetEase president Simon Zhu, has secured $100 million to fund game development. Among its initial projects is Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, a spiritual successor to Knights of the Old Republic, led by Arcanaut Studios co-founder Casey Hudson. Zhu aims to create better conditions for developers, stating the industry currently treats them poorly.
Gang Of Dragon Developer's Website Gets Whacked
Nagoshi Studio, the developer behind the upcoming game Gang Of Dragon, is facing significant setbacks as its official website has gone completely offline. This follows reports of publisher NetEase pulling financial backing and the studio's YouTube channel briefly disappearing. The current status of the game and the studio is uncertain, with many fans expressing concern about its future.
CoD Veteran's New Shooter Is "Not A Call Of Duty Killer," Inspired By David Lynch
David Vonderhaar, a veteran Call of Duty developer, is creating a new shooter at his studio BulletFarm, funded by GreaterThan Group. He stated the game is not intended to compete with Call of Duty but is inspired by David Lynch's surreal style, featuring cooperative and player-vs-player elements. Vonderhaar aims for a three-year development cycle with a small team.
Former NetEase Exec’s New Company is Funding Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, BulletFarm
Former NetEase executive Simon Zhu has launched GreaterThan Group, a new holding company aiming to invest $40 million in global video game development. The company is funding Arcanaut Studios' Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic and BulletFarm, a shooter project led by industry veteran David Vonderhaar. Zhu expressed optimism about balancing artistic achievement with commercial success, noting a shift in investment focus from gaming to AI.
After fining Google more money than exists on Earth, Russia demands so little from EA it feels like a weird joke
Russia has fined Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Battlestate Games, and NetEase approximately $27,000 each for failing to localize Russian gamers' data on domestic servers. This follows significantly larger fines levied against Google for blocking pro-Kremlin channels. While Roskomnadzor denies plans for further restrictions, the move aligns with Russia's pursuit of digital sovereignty.
