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GameMaker's GMRT runtime will soon be free for all developers
GameMaker, owned by Opera, will make its GMRT runtime free for all developers starting January 1, 2027, removing the need for professional licenses to ship games on PC, mobile, and browser platforms. This move aims to increase accessibility for indie game development. The announcement comes amidst industry-wide shifts in game engine business models, with competitors like Unity and Epic Games also exploring new features and pricing strategies.
RocketWerkz' C# framework 'BRUTAL' is now available to all developers
RocketWerkz has open-sourced its C#-based game development framework, BRUTAL, offering an alternative to engines like Unity and Unreal Engine. The framework, which combines C# with C++ libraries and low-level graphics access, is free for commercial use with attribution requirements. This release comes amid growing developer concerns over the stability of third-party engine policies.
"Our industry is rotting" and AI "pushed things over the edge," so the creator of DayZ wants to change how games are made with some of the smartest devs in the industry
DayZ creator Dean Hall believes the game industry is fundamentally flawed and that AI development has exacerbated these issues. To combat this, Hall and his studio RocketWerkz have released "Brutal," an open-source C# framework intended to offer an alternative to mainstream engines like Unity and Unreal Engine, empowering developers with more control and independence.
DayZ creator Dean Hall releases open-source game development framework Brutal
Industry veteran Dean Hall, known for DayZ, has launched Brutal, a free, open-source C# game development framework developed by his companies Ahwoo and RocketWerkz. Hall criticizes major engines like Unity and Unreal for failing to be accountable to developers and potentially exploiting them through restrictive licensing as agentic workflows emerge. Brutal aims to offer developers more control and options, with several projects already utilizing it.
DayZ creator Dean Hall says "our industry is rotting from its core" because of big-company "greed", aiming shots at Epic's Unreal and Unity
DayZ creator Dean Hall has strongly criticized the current state of the game industry, citing
No more hand-written code? Epic's Disney project reportedly shifts to 'AI-First' development
Epic Games has reportedly mandated a significant shift towards an "AI-first" development model for an upcoming Disney game, leading to a delay. Developers are instructed to heavily utilize AI for code and art generation, with the director stating "no more hand-written code." Epic CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed a company-wide pivot to "maximum AI acceleration" to enable teams to build more and better content.
Rimworld migrerar från Unity till en egenutvecklad spelmotor
Ludeon Studios is migrating its long-running colony simulation game Rimworld from the Unity engine to its proprietary Waylith Engine, starting with update 1.7. This move is expected to significantly improve game performance, with the developers citing examples of drastically reduced loading times and improved frame rates, especially in late-game scenarios with many mods. The studio also confirmed they are developing a new game using the Waylith Engine.
Former game-seller Zavvi enters administration again and "is unable to fulfil any outstanding orders or pre-orders"
Former game retailer Zavvi has entered administration for the second time, ceasing all trading and stating it cannot fulfill outstanding orders or pre-orders. Customers who have paid for undelivered goods are advised to contact their payment providers. Separately, Microsoft's Xbox division has launched Xbox Labs, a new initiative led by Scott Van Vliet to explore emerging trends in game development and player experiences, particularly in the context of rapid game decompilation and remixing, though it avoids explicit mention of AI.
Xbox announces what sounds like a generative AI-focused game-making department, Xbox Labs, while avoiding mentioning AI
Xbox has launched Xbox Labs, a new initiative led by CTO Scott Van Vliet, to explore emerging trends in game development, particularly those related to generative AI and code manipulation. CEO Asha Sharma announced the initiative, emphasizing its role in understanding how players and developers interact with new technologies, while notably avoiding direct mention of AI in the announcement.
State of Indie 2026 Part 4: Going International
The final installment of State of Indie 2026 examines the growing international landscape for game development and discovery. It highlights the significant, albeit insular, Chinese market and the challenges of piracy, while also noting the potential in emerging regions like India. The article also discusses the crucial role of content creators and evolving discovery methods for indie games.
RimWorld switches engine from Unity to the devs' own, faster Waylith Engine, all apparently without breaking mods somehow
Ludeon Studios is switching RimWorld from the Unity engine to their in-house Waylith Engine in update 1.7, promising significant performance improvements of 2-4x. Remarkably, community mods and saves will remain compatible, though some older PCs may not run the new version. This move is seen positively, especially in light of Unity's past controversial fee changes.
Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii releases game he says he made with AI in about 30 minutes
Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii has demonstrated a new text-based police interrogation game he created using AI in approximately 30 minutes. Horii stated that AI tools now enable individuals without drawing or programming skills to develop functional games, contrasting it with his solo development of The Portopia Serial Murder Case in 1983. He has previously incorporated AI into Dragon Quest X and is involved with future Dragon Quest titles.
Google and Unity unveil gen-AI game-making platforms, and demonstrate one of them with depressingly rubbish "dream game" Space Corridor
Google and Unity have announced new generative AI platforms, Playground and Unity Spark respectively, aimed at simplifying game creation through text prompts. While Playground is positioned as an entry-level tool, Unity Spark integrates with the existing Unity engine for more complex development. The announcement has been met with skepticism from some game developers who view these tools as potentially lowering the quality and creativity of game development.
"Asking the AI to reproduce a game that has already been made does not make you Kojima," says Unity CEO…
Unity CEO Matt Bromberg stated that using generative AI tools like Unity Spark to quickly reproduce existing games does not equate to creative development. He emphasized that the process of creation is what defines a developer, not the shortcut of AI generation. While Spark aims to assist in prototyping, Bromberg cautioned against using it for 'one-shotting games,' suggesting it's more suited for beginners but carries risks of not learning fundamental problem-solving skills.
Google Playground Wants Everyone To Make AI Games, And Maybe Everyone Shouldn’t
Google has launched Playground, an experimental, browser-based platform designed to democratize game creation using AI, requiring no coding experience. While it aims to lower barriers and compete with platforms like Roblox, the initial rollout is described as underwhelming, with misleading game art and rudimentary gameplay experiences in many titles, though some like Steampunk Match show promise.
Unity unveils Unity Spark, an prompt-based tool for Google's AI games platform
Unity has partnered with Google to introduce Unity Spark, a new AI-powered tool for Google's Playground platform that allows developers to create games using text prompts instead of traditional coding. Unity CEO Matthew Bromberg emphasized that Spark is designed to enable creative expression and build unique interactive experiences, connecting directly to the Unity Asset Store for high-quality assets. The announcement comes amidst ongoing debate and concern within the game industry regarding the use and impact of generative AI.
Unity unveils a web-based AI game creation platform
Unity has unveiled Unity Spark, a new browser-based platform leveraging generative AI to allow users to create 3D games using natural language prompts. This tool, developed in partnership with Google and running on the Unity engine, will launch in beta later this year. Unity Spark aims to democratize game creation by enabling individuals with creative ideas but limited coding experience to bring their visions to life.
Google debuts new 'experimental' AI game platform named Google Playground
Google has launched Google Playground, an experimental platform for creating, sharing, and playing games built with generative AI tools. The browser-based platform requires no coding experience and allows users to customize games through conversational prompts, with integration for Unity's new Spark tool.
Cozy multiplayer social game Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival is back online for its annual Halloween month romp
The cozy multiplayer game Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival is back online for its annual Halloween event. Players can carve pumpkins, share them online, and enjoy spooky attractions. Updates include an upgraded Unity version, a more robust server, and a motion sickness option.
State of Indie 2026 Part 2: Economics and Pricing
Indie games generated between $3 billion and $4 billion in revenue in 2025, a significant increase from previous years, though their growth rate lagged behind the overall industry. The article examines the evolving economics of indie development, highlighting the rise of mid-tier developers with games priced between $20 and $60, and the continued success of ultra-budget titles targeting younger audiences.