Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Mistfall Hunter Showcases Incredible Gameplay From Its Open Beta, Which is Now Live
Mistfall Hunter's open beta is now live, showcasing its Soulslike combat with versatile build potential and challenging enemies. The game, featuring parrying and dodge mechanics reminiscent of Sekiro, will launch fully on July 30th for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Director Acknowledges Community Not Resonating With Base Game’s Story
Ubisoft Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois acknowledged that the community did not resonate with the main story of Assassin's Creed Shadows as much as hoped. Feedback regarding story elements and a desire for more Templar involvement guided the development of the final 'Black Tides' update, which introduces a new ending and endgame activity called Domains. The update also aims to connect Shadows' narrative threads with past and future entries in the franchise, including nods to Edward Kenway.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation’s Title Was Picked Because it Answers Questions From Remake and Rebirth
Director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed that Final Fantasy 7 Revelation was chosen as the title for the third game in the trilogy because it will answer unresolved questions from Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth. The central theme of the game is 'Resolve,' focusing on the player characters' emotions and choices. The title itself, 'Revelation,' signifies the unveiling of all answers by the game's conclusion.
ARC Raiders Brings Changes to Free Kits After Player Feedback
Embark Studios is changing the Free Kit system in ARC Raiders following player feedback. The Night Raid and Close Scrutiny map conditions will temporarily block the use of Free Kits for the next three weeks while the studio evaluates further changes. This aims to encourage players to start runs from scratch, aligning with the game's intended Raider experience.
Guild Wars 3 Will Not Have Subscriptions, Pay-to-Win Features
ArenaNet has detailed its monetization and design plans for Guild Wars 3, confirming it will not feature subscription fees or pay-to-win mechanics, with all microtransactions being cosmetic or for convenience. Studio head Colin Johanson emphasized respecting players' time and maintaining a balance between the scale of Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2. The game is in development for PC and PlayStation 5, with beta tests planned for Fall 2027.
Saros Studio Wants to Continue Educating Players About The Kinds of Games it Makes
Housemarque's Ilari Kuittinen and Mikael Haveri discussed their approach to educating players about their unique games like Returnal and Saros, drawing inspiration from FromSoftware's long-term success with difficult RPGs. They aim to foster a community around their titles by highlighting engaging gameplay mechanics and continuously improving the player experience, even if sales start slow, as seen with Returnal's later traction.
EverQuest Legends launches July 28
EverQuest Legends is set to launch on PC on July 28 for $19.99, with a recurring monthly subscription of $9.99. Pre-orders are available now and include access to a pre-order beta, character name reservation, and an exclusive in-game title. This reimagined version of the classic 1999 MMORPG offers modern quality-of-life improvements while allowing for solo or casual play with features like multi-classing and gear upgrades.
Naoki Hamaguchi explains why Final Fantasy 7 Revelation has that subtitle even if the game's central theme is "Resolve"
Game director Naoki Hamaguchi explained that the subtitle for the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Revelation was chosen because it best depicts the game's goal of revealing unanswered questions, not because of the central theme of 'Resolve.' Hamaguchi also noted that only a small number of development team members knew the title prior to its official reveal at Summer Game Fest.
The most popular Soulslike in Steam Next Fest makes a very powerful argument for adding a shotgun to Dark Souls
Mortal Shell 2, the sequel to Cold Symmetry's debut Soulslike, is currently the most popular true-blue Soulslike in the Steam Next Fest open beta. The game introduces new mechanics like a gun and a petrify spell, while retaining the weighty combat and class system of the original. The developer promises over 60 dungeons for the full release.
Attention former 2000s youths: A second Beyblade-inspired roguelike has hit Steam Next Fest
Slayblade is a new top-battling roguelike inspired by Beyblade, currently available as a demo during Steam Next Fest. It leans heavily into Y2K nostalgia with its art style and soundtrack, featuring customizable battle tops and a story about a father's disappearance. Players compete in matches, upgrade their tops, and can engage in side activities like mowing lawns or illegal battles to become the Slayblade World Champion.
Thatgamecompany's 20-year journey from anti-Columbine school project to a celebration of Van Gogh
Thatgamecompany, co-founded by Jenova Chen, celebrates 20 years of creating emotionally resonant games like Flow, Flower, Journey, and Sky: Children of the Light. The studio's journey began as an anti-violence project and evolved into a platform for artistic expression, overcoming financial struggles and shifting industry trends. Their latest venture, 'Dear Van Gogh,' is an immersive experience within Sky: Children of the Light, exploring the life of Vincent Van Gogh.
Announcing: "CONNECTOME" Now Available on Apple Vision Pro
Indie developer Grant Hinkson's immersive art experience, CONNECTOME, is now available on Apple Vision Pro for $9.99. The experience, which first launched on Meta Quest in May 2025, utilizes eye-tracking for gaze-based interaction on Apple Vision Pro, a feature Hinkson developed through a custom Unity-to-Metal bridge. CONNECTOME offers a meditative, self-paced journey through minimalist rooms with evolving ambient scores and nature-inspired geometries.
You Are Everyone’s Intrusive Thoughts In Citizen Sleeper Dev’s Upcoming Fungal RPG
Signet City, the upcoming first-person fungalpunk RPG from Gareth Damian Martin, the developer behind Citizen Sleeper, will feature players as a sentient spore infecting individuals to influence their actions. The game mechanics revolve around emotions and a six-sided die system, similar to tabletop RPGs, allowing for diverse approaches to challenges. Martin aims to explore complex perspectives on control and revolution within the game's narrative.
Valor Mortis' first-person perspective opens up "new opportunities" within the soulslike genre
Valor Mortis is a unique soulslike that distinguishes itself with a first-person perspective, a departure from the genre's typical third-person view. Game Director Radosław Ratusznik explains this choice stems from developer One More Level's experience with the first-person action game Ghostrunner, aiming to create a complex and innovative first-person action experience. The game blends traditional soulslike mechanics like stamina management and checkpoints with elements such as parkour, dual-wielding, and superpowers, offering players significant freedom in combat approach.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 player figures out where the water in the game's most famous fountain comes from, and it's actually part of a "nightmare" for Warhorse
A player has investigated the water source for the main fountain in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, discovering it originates from St. Adelbert's Spring, south-west of the in-game fort. Developers at Warhorse Studios confirmed that an aqueduct was intended to connect the spring to the town, though they admit the exact details of such minute design choices are difficult to recall. The fountain's prominence in-game is also a result of a community meme stemming from a broken dialogue trigger.
How Player Feedback Shaped Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Journey After Launch
Ubisoft's Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois discusses how player feedback significantly shaped the post-launch content for Assassin's Creed Shadows, including the final narrative update 'Black Tides' and the challenging 'Domains' feature. Learnings from Shadows' parkour updates have also been incorporated into the upcoming Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.
Final Fantasy Resonance devs comment on why turn-based RPGs are resurging
Final Fantasy Resonance, a reimagining of Brave Exvius with HD-2D visuals and turn-based combat, is set to release on October 22 for Nintendo Switch. Producers Keisuke Nakashima and Hiroto Furuya discussed the resurgence of turn-based RPGs, attributing it to creators revisiting their roots and the genre's suitability for handheld gaming.
Enter A New Era – Building the Jurassic World Evolution 3: Rebirth Expansion
Jurassic World Evolution 3: Rebirth, the largest expansion to date, introduces a new campaign set before the events of the Jurassic World Rebirth film, featuring three secret locations on Île Saint-Hubert. Senior Game Writer Ian Bousher discusses the narrative design, inspirations from the film's lore, and the creation of new characters and environments. The expansion launches on Xbox Series X|S and PC on June 16.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond Wants to Make You Feel Like a Dragon
Toys for Bob has announced Spyro: A Realm Beyond, the first original Spyro game in nearly two decades, developed independently and in partnership with Xbox. Studio Head Paul Yan and Associate Creative Director Lou Studdert detailed their vision to capture the fantasy of being a dragon, emphasizing fluid movement and integrating flight as a core gameplay mechanic. The team aims to evolve the franchise while preserving the core elements that made Spyro beloved, drawing inspiration from community feedback and focusing on the feel and tone of the character.
New TIGA Board reinforces commitment to championing the UK games industry
TIGA, the UK video games industry's trade association, has appointed new members to its Board of Directors, including Gemma Brown, Ben Gunstone, Dan Hett, Greg Howson, Marco A. Minoli, Stuart Muckley, Tim Repa-Davies, Sitara Shefta, and John Tearle. These appointments aim to strengthen TIGA's advocacy for games businesses across the country, focusing on growth, skills development, and policy initiatives. The new board members bring diverse expertise from various studios and specialisms within the UK games sector.