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Phantom Blade Zero isn't using AI: "Human artistry is the value itself"
S-Game has confirmed that Phantom Blade Zero will not use generative AI in its development, emphasizing that all content is created by human artists. The studio highlighted the use of motion capture for characters and martial arts professionals for combat, with hand-drawn maps inspired by traditional Chinese art. This commitment to human artistry is presented as a core value of the game's development.
Another Don't Starve game is on the way
Klei Entertainment has announced Don't Starve Elsewhere, a new entry in the survival series that introduces three-dimensional terrain for the first time. The game will build upon mechanics and features from previous titles and DLC, including multiplayer support and dynamic weather. While no release date has been announced, it is expected to launch in early access on PC.
Despite good reviews, The First Berserker Khazan development team reportedly dissolved over disappointing sales just…
The development team behind the action RPG The First Berserker: Khazan has reportedly been dissolved and its members reassigned by parent company Nexon due to disappointing sales. Despite receiving good reviews at launch, the game failed to meet sales targets, with complications in its China release also cited as a factor. Nexon stated that personnel have been moved to other projects, though the future of The First Berserker: Khazan itself remains uncertain.
Dragonheir: Silent Gods Introduces New Season “Hymn of Chess and Blade”
SGRA Studio and Proxima Beta are launching the "Hymn of Chess and Blade" season for Dragonheir: Silent Gods on April 7, 2026. This update introduces synchronized server progression, a new "Magic Chess" auto-chess mode, and a crossover event with Ubisoft's Heroes of Might & Magic III, featuring exclusive rewards and content.
Clash Of Clans boss to receive Bafta Fellowship award, for some reason
Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen will be honored with the Bafta Fellowship for his contributions to the games industry. Paananen co-founded Supercell in 2010, known for popular mobile titles like Clash Of Clans, Clash Royale, and Brawl Stars. The article notes the choice is unusual given the focus on mobile games, contrasting it with other industry figures who have not yet received the award.
ASUS ZenBook A16 review: A surprisingly light and powerful 16-inch ultraportable
The ASUS Zenbook A16 is a surprisingly light and powerful 16-inch ultraportable laptop featuring a new Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip. It boasts a stunning 3K OLED display, a comfortable Ceraluminum chassis, and impressive battery life, making it a strong contender in its price range despite some compatibility concerns with older applications and certain anti-cheat software.
Nexon plans multiple Dungeon & Fighter titles and an AI tool to help devs ‘create with context’
Nexon announced plans to expand the Dungeon & Fighter intellectual property with multiple new titles, including an idle RPG and Dungeon & Fighter Classic. The company also revealed its new AI tool, Mono Lake, designed to provide development teams with player interaction data to guide game design and live service support.
DEMO OUT NOW: COMMAND YOUR STARSHIP FLEET IN NARRATIVE TURN-BASED STRATEGY RPG “STATION COMMAND”
Respite Games, an indie studio led by ex-Electronic Arts developer Daniel Baumann, has released a demo for their debut title, Station Command, on Steam. This narrative turn-based strategy RPG tasks players with commanding a starship fleet, customizing ships, and engaging in tactical combat within a corporate dystopian future.
"Fortnite's Cultural Moment Is Starting To Fade," Expert Says
Industry expert Joost van Dreunen suggests that Fortnite's cultural dominance is waning, citing Epic Games' recent layoffs and stagnant user growth as evidence. While Fortnite remains popular, its "forever game" status is questioned, contrasting with Roblox's growth driven by user-generated content. Despite challenges, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney is seen as a resilient leader.
The Division 3 Losing Top Boss Is No Big Deal, Ubisoft Says; Confirms Division 2 Won't Go Free
Ubisoft assures players that The Division 3 will proceed as planned despite the departure of executive producer Julian Gerighty, with senior producer Fredrik Brönjemark stating the roadmap is secure. The company also confirmed that The Division 2 will not transition to a free-to-play model, as it would require design changes Ubisoft is unwilling to make. Additionally, Ubisoft discussed the ongoing growth of The Division franchise, including the recent launch of The Division Resurgence and the cancellation of The Division Heartland.
PONCLE KEYNOTE LEADS EXPANDED B2B PROGRAMME AT LONDON GAMES FESTIVAL
The London Games Festival has expanded its B2B program, featuring a keynote from Poncle, the studio behind Vampire Survivors. The event includes a two-day Games Finance Market with £247 million in potential investment, a Self-Publishing Toolkit live session, and the first Games For Change London Summit focused on social impact through games. A 'Games meets film' convergence event, Screen Play, will also explore collaborations between creative industries.
Evening Interviews
The article discusses Tencent's high investment threshold for games, noting that Bulkhead's strategy did not align with this approach. It also briefly mentions Games Done Quick's journey.
"They wouldn't look at any game that was less than £50 million" Why Tencent's all-in strategy didn't suit Bulkhead
Bulkhead, a studio acquired by Tencent via Splash Damage, found the parent company's demand for games with budgets over £50 million unsuited to their development style. Despite initial success with Battalion 1944 and pitching the PC shooter Wardogs, Tencent's scale led to Bulkhead spinning out into a new holding company, Super Media Group, with Team17 and Hiro Capital. The studio is now focused on Wardogs, aiming for a sustainable player base rather than massive AAA success.
Tencent's genAI animation tools don't seem to make games more fun
Tencent's new generative AI animation tools, demonstrated at GDC, aim to create more realistic character movements by dynamically generating in-between frames. While the technology can reduce animation imperfections like clipping and sliding, the article questions whether these improvements fundamentally enhance gameplay fun or are primarily for investor appeal. Concerns are also raised about the ethical implications of training data and fair compensation for performers whose movements are used.
“Gaming gave me my life back”: why accessible video games are transforming disabled players’ lives
Dr. Mick Donegan, founder of SpecialEffect, discusses how accessible gaming technology is transforming the lives of disabled individuals by fostering social connection and independence. Companies like Xbox and PlayStation are increasingly adopting inclusive design, with SpecialEffect leading efforts in mobile accessibility and eye-tracking games.
Top 12 Most Expensive Video Game Buyouts Of All Time
This article lists the top 12 most expensive video game buyouts, with Microsoft's $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard topping the list. Other major deals include EA's $55 billion sale to an investor consortium and Take-Two's $12.7 billion purchase of Zynga. The analysis highlights trends of industry consolidation and significant investment from entities like Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 DLC Potentially Teased as New Celebratory Art Hints at New Region and Character
New celebratory artwork for Dragon's Dogma 2, released for its second anniversary, may be teasing upcoming DLC. The art features a new character and a note mentioning confirmed griffin sightings from the northern region of 'Organ,' a location not present in the base game. Series creator Hideaki Itsuno has moved on to Tencent, but this potential DLC could follow the pattern of previous Capcom teases.
GAME AND DEMO ANNOUNCEMENT: YOUR CREW AWAITS YOUR COMMAND! “STATION COMMAND,” COMING TO PC
Respite Games, an indie studio led by ex-EA developer Daniel Baumann, announced their debut sci-fi strategy RPG, Station Command, is coming soon to PC with a demo available on April 2nd. Players will build and command starship fleets, engage in tactical turn-based combat, and manage their crew and ship customization in a corporate dystopian future.
New Cyberpunk TCG becomes the most-funded TCG game in Kickstarter history | News-in-brief
A new Cyberpunk-themed trading card game has become the most-funded TCG in Kickstarter history, surpassing $8.6 million. Separately, Sony has begun automatically refunding microtransaction purchases for players of the free-to-play hero shooter Highguard, which was shut down earlier this month due to failing to meet player retention metrics.
Sony appears to be auto-refunding Highguard players their microtransaction payments
Sony has begun automatically refunding microtransaction purchases made by players of the free-to-play hero shooter Highguard on PlayStation 5. The game, developed by Wildlight Entertainment and reportedly financed by Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio Group, was shut down earlier this month due to failure to meet player retention metrics.
