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Sea of Thieves decouples feature sets from seasons to make sure new ideas are finished before release
Sea of Thieves is changing its development approach to decouple feature releases from seasonal schedules, aiming to ensure new ideas are fully realized before launch. Production Director Drew Stevens explained that future seasons will not be tied to specific feature sets, allowing them to roll out as they are completed. This shift follows a period where the game was described as being in a 'rough place,' with the team now focused on revitalizing the sandbox and giving new features adequate development time.
"Believable and consistent up close": What the dinosaurs of The Lost Wild share with Microsoft’s cancelled Everwild, according to the designer who worked on both
Gary Napper, who worked on both the cancelled Microsoft title Everwild and the upcoming dinosaur survival game The Lost Wild, discusses the design similarities between the two. He notes that both games aim to portray creatures realistically and with believable behaviors, a challenge he found more complex than designing the alien in Alien: Isolation. Napper emphasizes that The Lost Wild focuses on 'animals, not monsters,' encouraging players to respect and coexist with the dinosaurs rather than simply hunt them.
Video Game History Foundation releases major new E3 archive collections
The Video Game History Foundation has released new collections documenting the history of the E3 trade show, which ran from 1995 to 2021. These archives include extensive materials from Carolyn Rauch, who oversaw E3 for nearly its entire run, and nearly 12 hours of video footage from the first four E3 events filmed by Anthony Parisi. The additions also feature digitized E3 directory books, E3 Show Daily scans, and previously unreleased footage of the cancelled Rare game Conker's Quest.
New footage emerges of Conker 64/Twelve Tales before it became Conker’s Bad Fur Day, plus an early look at Banjo-Kazooie
New development footage has surfaced for Rare's Nintendo 64 titles, including early versions of Conker's Bad Fur Day (originally Conker 64/Twelve Tales) and Banjo-Kazooie. The Video Game History Foundation released the materials, showcasing significant differences in design, music, and gameplay compared to the final releases.
The Xbox Characters That Defined 25 Years of Gaming
This article examines the iconic characters that have defined Xbox's 25-year history, from Master Chief and Marcus Fenix to Minecraft Steve and Ori. These characters represent the evolution of Xbox from a console newcomer to a multi-platform gaming brand, highlighting shifts in game design, company acquisitions, and the importance of personality in brand identity.
Xbox After The Layoffs: Studios Left And What They’re Making
Xbox has undergone significant restructuring, including layoffs and the divestment of five studios, as it aims to increase profitability and focus on major intellectual properties. This shake-up impacts numerous development teams and projects across Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard, and Bethesda, with a renewed focus on core franchises and a shift in business strategies like the exclusion of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass day-one launches.
Ever since Black Flag Resynced's reveal 3 months ago, I've daydreamed about setting sail and these 6 games are letting me live out my best pirate life
This article highlights six pirate-themed games available now, with Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced serving as a major inspiration. The list includes classics like The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition and Sid Meier's Pirates!, alongside modern titles such as Sea of Thieves, Windrose, and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, catering to various platforms and playstyles.
Xbox retreats again – but to where? | Opinion
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees across various studios as part of a company 'reset' to focus on profitable franchises. This move raises questions about the future of Xbox's first-party strategy, its Game Pass subscription service, and the upcoming console generation, particularly given the high cost of components and the blurring lines between PC and console gaming.
Xbox has lost five studios – so who is left to make new video games?
Xbox has undergone significant layoffs, impacting approximately 3,200 staff members and leading to five studios divesting from the company. Xbox leadership aims to refocus on core franchises and expand its daily audience to over a billion people through its services. The article details the remaining studios, their current projects, and their future prospects under this new strategy.
The $69 Billion Hangover: Every Xbox Layoff Since The Activision Blizzard Merger
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion has been followed by significant layoffs and studio closures within its Xbox division. These cuts, described by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma as a "reset" due to an unhealthy business, have impacted thousands of employees and led to the cancellation of several game projects across various studios since January 2024.
Microsoft confirms 3200 layoffs and four studio departures
Microsoft has confirmed significant layoffs affecting approximately 3,200 employees across its Xbox business, including 1,600 on the day of the announcement. Four studios, Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs, will either become independent or find new ownership, while Arkane Studios faces strategic review. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma cited slower-than-expected growth in Game Pass, multi-platform strategies, and content portfolio as reasons for the restructuring, which will also involve reducing management layers.
What was the first videogame song that you ever heard?
This article explores the personal impact of videogame music, starting with the author's first memorable experience with Killer Instinct Gold on the Nintendo 64. It discusses how various game soundtracks have shaped musical tastes and invites readers to share their own formative VGM memories.
Get ready to set sail with these 6 games to play before Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
This article recommends six games to play before the release of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced on July 9. The list includes titles like Windrose, Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Sea of Thieves, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and Assassin's Creed 3 Remastered, all of which feature pirate themes, naval combat, or connections to the Assassin's Creed universe.
Rare added to the list of Xbox studios under threat
Rumors suggest that Microsoft is planning significant layoffs across several Xbox studios, including Rare, Bethesda, and Arkane, with some studios potentially facing closure or sale. This follows recent layoffs at Bungie and Microsoft pulling out of a partnership with IO Interactive. The reported motivation behind these potential cuts is a focus on profitability by new Microsoft management.
Sea of Thieves Developer Rare is “On the Block” Ahead of Xbox’s Mass Layoffs – Rumor
Reports suggest that Sea of Thieves developer Rare may be affected by upcoming mass layoffs at Xbox, potentially impacting over 1,000 staff. While the studio's closure is not confirmed, this follows previous restructuring after the cancellation of Everwild. Layoffs are reportedly expected around July 6th.
Donkey Kong 64 PC recompilation rejects "AI vibe coding" as devs try to build a port of "actually good quality before our competitor releases their poorly made one"
Developers working on a PC recompilation of Donkey Kong 64 have announced their project to preempt a potentially lower-quality version being developed by a competitor. The team emphasizes their commitment to high quality, rejecting the use of AI-generated code, and aims to release their version later this summer.
Banjo-Kazooie unreleased music tracks discovered
Rare's handheld version of Banjo-Kazooie for the HyperMegaTech Super Pocket Rare Edition includes over 20 previously unreleased beta music tracks. These unused compositions, some of which were later repurposed in Banjo-Tooie, can be unlocked and listened to using the original Nintendo 64 soundfont. The discovery offers a unique glimpse into the development of the classic Nintendo 64 title.
Turns out the Banjo-Kazooie Super Pocket handheld has a secret music player full of never-before-heard tracks
The Rare Super Pocket handheld, featuring Banjo-Kazooie, contains a secret music player with over 20 unreleased tracks from the original game and Banjo-Tooie. These beta tracks, including early level themes, can be unlocked after completing the game or by viewing them on YouTube. The handheld also offers a budget-friendly way to experience the classic 3D platformer.
Feature: 10 N64 Games We Played In A Wondrous Alternate Timeline
This article explores a hypothetical alternate timeline where the Nintendo 64 achieved greater market success, imagining 10 games that could have been released. It speculates on potential N64 entries for series like Fire Emblem, Tekken, Metroid, and Final Fantasy, and discusses what might have been if sequels to GoldenEye 007 and Super Mario 64 were prioritized.
Xbox has over a dozen film and TV adaptations in the works, including a Sea of Thieves movie from Spider-Man's…
Xbox is developing a live-action movie based on the pirate adventure game Sea of Thieves, in partnership with Destin Daniel Cretton's production company Hisako Films. This adaptation is part of Xbox's broader slate of video game-to-screen projects, which includes upcoming films for Gears of War and Death Stranding, and a TV show for Wolfenstein. No director or writer has been attached to the Sea of Thieves movie yet.
