Summerfall Studios
Summerfall Studios business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
'No other studio in the world did it better' than BioWare at its peak, says former Dragon Age lead writer…
Former BioWare lead writer David Gaider expressed sadness over the studio's closure, reflecting on its peak as an unparalleled institution in game development. He shared fond memories of the positive fan reception to Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, which solidified his career choice. The article notes that while the closure was predictable given industry trends, it represents a significant loss for RPG development.
Mixtape wins three awards at Australian Game Developer Awards 2026, including GOTY
Beethoven & Dinosaur's Mixtape won Game of the Year, Excellence in Art, and Excellence in Sound Design at the Australian Game Developer Awards 2026. Judges lauded the title as a "triumph in virtual storytelling." Other notable wins included Tempo Lab Games' Bits & Bops for Excellence in Gameplay and Accessibility, and Uppercut Games taking home Studio of the Year.
Mixtape and Bits & Bops dominate the AGDAs 2026 nominated finalists
The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) has announced the finalists for the 2026 Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs), celebrating Australian games released between July 2025 and October 2026. Mixtape and Bits & Bops lead the nominations across multiple categories, including Game of the Year, Excellence in Visual Art, and Excellence in Sound Design.
David Gaider will never play Dragon Age: The Veilguard because he'd be 'wincing' the whole time: 'EA really did a number on them in terms of setting them up to fail'
Former BioWare lead writer David Gaider expressed that he would never play Dragon Age: The Veilguard, feeling that publisher Electronic Arts set the studio up for failure. Gaider, who considers the Dragon Age series his 'baby,' cited behind-the-scenes issues and EA's business practices as reasons for the game's struggles. He also touched upon his own studio's challenges with its game Stray Gods launching near Baldur's Gate 3.
Dragon Age writer David Gaider's next game is a light-hearted heist RPG, if he can get the funding for it
Dragon Age writer David Gaider and his studio Summerfall Studios are working on a light-hearted heist RPG, but are struggling to secure funding due to the current contraction in the games industry. Gaider expressed concerns about the difficulty of getting new projects funded, as publishers are hesitant to invest in original intellectual property. Despite the challenges, Gaider remains optimistic about the game's reception but acknowledges the precarious state of smaller studios.
Dragon Age setting creator David Gaider is pitching a heist RPG that's 'make or break' for his studio
Dragon Age creator David Gaider is pitching a new heist RPG, but faces industry-wide funding challenges for new IPs. He discusses the difficulties smaller studios face in securing publisher investment in the current market. Gaider also reflects on his time at BioWare, criticizing the shift away from player-impacting choices in recent Dragon Age titles.
Generative AI is a "plague," says Dragon Age vet David Gaider: "It's not ready for prime time. There's just a lot of executives who really, really want it to be"
Longtime Dragon Age narrative lead David Gaider describes generative AI as a "virulent plague" in the games industry, citing concerns about legal issues, ethical implications, and the potential to hinder junior developer training. He argues that the technology is not yet ready for widespread use and that executives are pushing for it without fully understanding its limitations or impact on creative workflows.
Why so many game developers don't want to use generative AI
Many game developers express strong reservations about using generative AI, citing ethical concerns, environmental impact, copyright issues, and job security risks. Despite some executives championing AI as a tool for efficiency, a significant portion of the industry views it as unproven, potentially harmful to creativity, and undesirable by players.
