Game Design
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Final trailer now live for Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle — a "reading-style" fantasy adventure from a 30-year industry veteran formerly of Vanillaware.
The final trailer for Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle has been released ahead of its July 8th launch on PC via Steam. Developed by Yoshio Nishimura, a 30-year industry veteran formerly of Vanillaware, the "reading-style" fantasy adventure features over 300 hand-drawn illustrations and offers branching narrative paths. A demo is also available on Steam and has received a "Very Positive" rating.
Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad – Everything You Need to Kno
Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad is a new ARPG that allows players to create their own character and experience a story parallel to the original Aincrad arc. The game features real-time combat with party synergy, deep character progression, and six distinct weapon types. A demo is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with progression carrying over to the full game.
Ontos Delayed to 2027 to Deliver Frictional’s “Most Ambitious Game to Date”
Frictional Games has delayed its upcoming title, Ontos, to 2027, citing the need to deliver on its most ambitious game to date in terms of size, scale, and narrative depth. Originally slated for release this year on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, the game is set on a former moon hotel where players control Aditi searching for her father. The delay aims to allow the studio to fully realize its vision for the ambitious project.
Upcoming fantasy MMO Scars of Honor thanked alpha testers for breaking the game
The developers of the upcoming fantasy MMORPG Scars of Honor expressed gratitude to tens of thousands of players who participated in its technical alpha. During the test, players killed over 2.4 million mobs, with Humans being the most popular race and Mages the most played class. The team is continuing development based on the feedback received.
"Is this gonna be a Sonic game?": Even Takashi Iizuka wasn't sure about Sonic Pico Park at first, but Sega's learned a lot from its indie collaborators
Sega is collaborating with indie developer Tecopark on Sonic Pico Park, a co-op puzzle platformer that integrates Sonic the Hedgehog elements into the existing Pico Park gameplay. Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka initially questioned the concept but gained confidence from previous indie collaborations like Sonic Mania. The partnership highlights Sega's evolving strategy of working with indie studios to leverage their rapid development cycles and creative ideas.
World of Warcraft patch 12.1 tackles bug fixes and housing decor costs, as Blizzard focuses on delivering a "polished experience"
Blizzard Entertainment is addressing numerous bugs and quality-of-life issues in World of Warcraft with upcoming patch 12.1, following a rocky launch for its latest expansion. Game Director Ion Hazzikostas discussed the challenges of maintaining a 20-year-old game and detailed improvements to player housing decor costs and profession resets. The patch aims to provide a more polished experience for players.
Cyberpunk 2077 lead proves the RPG's "biggest scene" is so much more complex than The Witcher 3's that you can barely compare them
Igor Sarzyński, cinematic director for Cyberpunk 2077, argues that its real-time, non-linear scenes are significantly more complex and expensive to create than the traditional cutscenes in The Witcher 3. He shared a visual comparison highlighting the intricate layers of effects and footage involved in Cyberpunk 2077's largest scene, emphasizing the difficulty of implementing such interactive elements without cuts.
Perfect Ten: The 10 worst problems in the MMORPG community that we could probably fix
This opinion piece identifies ten fixable problems within the MMORPG community, ranging from nostalgic revisionism about past game experiences to issues with player entitlement and antisocial behavior. It argues for greater honesty, acceptance of change, and a focus on constructive community engagement to improve the overall player experience.
"Limitation sparks creativity": Cyberpunk 2077 quest lead turned one character's appearance into "part of the story" because CD Projekt Red couldn't afford the alternative
CD Projekt Red's quest lead Paweł Sasko revealed that a design choice for Meredith Stout's appearance in Cyberpunk 2077, specifically her shaved head and concrete-encased feet, was a creative solution to budget limitations. The studio could not afford to animate hair underwater, leading Sasko to incorporate the shaved head into the narrative as a symbol of lost honor and shame, demonstrating how limitations can spark creativity in game development.
"I get very excited about trying to invent something new" – Assassin's Creed composer Jesper Kyd reflects on his three-decade career
Composer Jesper Kyd reflects on his three-decade career, highlighting his work on franchises like Assassin's Creed and Hitman. He expresses excitement for creating new themes and innovating in game music, while also acknowledging the practical need for sequels and tested concepts in the industry.
Doom: The Dark Ages – Revelations makes the Slayer into a flying tank
Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations is a significant expansion that transforms the Doom Slayer into a "flying tank" with the new Chain Spear grappling mechanic. The expansion adds a 10-12 hour story campaign with maze-like levels and a Metroidvania-inspired hub, alongside a robust endgame featuring Master levels, reimagined classic levels, and challenging arena battles.
Hugo Martin on Doom: The Dark Ages DLC: 'We Wanted to Make This Content Since Doom 2016'
Doom: The Dark Ages | Revelations, an upcoming DLC for Doom: The Dark Ages, will launch on July 7 and features a new Chain Spear weapon with Metroidvania-inspired progression. The DLC is larger than Doom Eternal's combined DLCs and includes six new levels, new enemies, an "Uber Boss," and Master Arenas. Developers Hugo Martin and Marty Stratton highlighted the Chain Spear's depth and the inclusion of retro-style levels that explore the Doom Slayer's memories.
Rhythm Paradise Groove is wonderful, and has a challenge that was so funny I thought we had lost my daughter for good and she'd never stop laughing
Rhythm Paradise Groove is a joyful celebration of beat-matching gameplay, offering a series of oddball scenarios that require players to time their inputs with the rhythm. The game excels at teaching players to understand the music and visual cues, making it a deep dive into perception and learning. It features dozens of mini-games, remixes, and multiplayer challenges, providing a generous and surprising experience.
Pragmata's initial internal feedback called devs "incompetent at level design" and "unable to make compelling puzzles" during the difficult development of Capcom's sci-fi shooter
Internal feedback during Pragmata's development revealed significant challenges, with developers being called "incompetent at level design" and "unable to make compelling puzzles." Despite a troubled production, the game was eventually a success, selling two million copies in its first month and leading Capcom to consider it as a series.
Fragmentary Order: How the Creator of Escape From Tarkov Plans to Make the Most Realistic Sci-Fi Game Ever
The creator of Escape From Tarkov is planning to develop a new sci-fi game called Fragmentary Order, aiming for extreme realism. The project will focus on detailed world-building and immersive gameplay mechanics.
My Two Weeks Back in Dead by Daylight in 2026 — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
A returning player details their two-week experience with Dead by Daylight in 2026, noting the game's continued growth and familiar yet exciting content. Despite overwhelming additions and a steep learning curve for both new and returning players due to intense matchmaking, the game remains a thriving 4v1 horror experience with a healthy community and well-maintained by Behaviour Interactive.
The Cerebral Bore makes its brain-drilling return in Turok: Origins
Saber Interactive has confirmed that the iconic Cerebral Bore weapon from Turok 2: Seeds of Evil will return in the upcoming game, Turok: Origins. Game Designer Carlos Castillo revealed in an interview that players will also be able to upgrade weapons in Turok: Origins, though specific upgrades for the Cerebral Bore are yet to be detailed.
More Expensive Consoles Don’t Result in Better Games, Says Former Naughty Dog Artist
Former Naughty Dog artist Del Walker argues that more expensive next-generation consoles will not lead to better games, citing ballooning development costs and complexity. He suggests that limitations foster creativity and that rising budgets contribute to layoffs. Sony Interactive Entertainment president Hideaki Nishino acknowledged that absorbing component cost increases is unrealistic, hinting at potential price hikes.
Pragmata Developers Reveal Harsh Internal Criticism During Early Stages of Development
Capcom developers revealed harsh internal criticism during the early stages of Pragmata's development, with feedback noting incompetence in puzzle and action design. Despite initial setbacks and a broken hacking system, the project was greenlit by upper management. Originally slated for 2022, the game was delayed and eventually released on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, selling over 2 million copies in 16 days, leading Capcom to consider a sequel.
Expedition 33 creative director says Zelda: Breath of the Wild is “truly exceptional”
Guillaume Broche, the creative director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has praised The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, calling it "truly exceptional." Broche, whose game won multiple awards including Game of the Year, discussed the iconic Nintendo franchise in a recent interview.