Game Design
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God of War Laufey star Deborah Ann Woll says "Kratos gameplay is so fantastic because he's such a heavy hitter," but new protagonist Faye is "just as strong and just as good a warrior"
Deborah Ann Woll, voice of Faye in the upcoming God of War Laufey, compares the new protagonist's agile combat style to Kratos's heavy-hitting approach. Director Ariel Lawrence explains that Faye's gameplay draws inspiration from both the Greek and Norse eras of the series, aiming for a unique yet familiar Santa Monica Studio feel. While not years away, a PC release for God of War Laufey is not expected.
Ubisoft says a remake of original Rayman game would be near on impossible
Ubisoft producer Loic Gounon stated that remaking the original Rayman game is a near-impossible mission due to its old-school game design. He suggested that Rayman Origins serves as a spiritual successor, capturing the essence of the original while modernizing it. Rayman Legends Retold is set to release on October 1st.
Ubisoft all but rules out a Rayman 1 remake, says it’s near impossible to do
Ubisoft has indicated that a remake of the original Rayman game is highly unlikely due to its difficult nature and the belief that Rayman Origins serves as a spiritual reboot. Brand producer Loic Gounon stated that remaking Rayman 1 would be 'near a mission impossible' if its core mechanics were to be preserved. The company is focusing on the franchise's 30th anniversary with releases like Rayman Legends Retold and enhanced editions of existing titles.
After 26 years of RPGs, Obsidian legend Josh Sawyer admits he's still trying to make a good armor system
Obsidian design director Josh Sawyer, an RPG veteran, admits he is still striving to create an ideal armor system, citing the 1992 RPG Darklands as a benchmark he has yet to surpass. Sawyer expressed dissatisfaction with Avowed's armor system, which he felt was designed as a progression gate that players disliked, and discussed his vision for a more simulative and historical approach inspired by Darklands.
After 4 years of silence, dinosaur survival horror game The Lost Wild emerges with a promise to make good on its…
The Lost Wild, a dinosaur survival horror game from Great Ape Games and Annapurna Interactive, has resurfaced with a new trailer and details. Game director Gary Napper, drawing on his experience with Alien: Isolation, emphasizes evasion and environmental interaction over combat. The game aims to portray dinosaurs as realistic animals rather than monsters, with a planned release for PlayStation 5 and PC in 2027.
I made treants awkwardly rub shoulders with ringwraiths in the Total War-style RTS roguelike Tabletop Tavern, and…
Tabletop Tavern is a roguelike real-time strategy game where players build armies from disparate units, including enemies they defeat. The game features a branching path of battles leading to a final boss, with unique army compositions arising from the roguelike elements. While charming, the game could improve its tutorialization to better explain its mechanics.
The Most Interesting Thing About God of War: Laufey Isn’t Faye
The upcoming game God of War: Laufey introduces the Everywhen, an afterlife realm where gods from all mythologies converge, potentially reshaping the franchise's future. This concept allows Santa Monica Studio to blend various mythologies and explore the consequences of Kratos' past actions through his wife, Faye, who is trapped in this realm. The Everywhen also presents an opportunity to revisit fallen deities from previous games, creating narrative possibilities for future installments.
Until Dawn 2 has sold me with its campy teen slasher vibes, and it proves there's nothing like old-school scares
Until Dawn 2, developed by Firesprite, is set to revive the campy teen slasher horror of the original. The game promises a return to old-school scares with a new cast and a mysterious island setting, contrasting with Supermassive Games' more serious sci-fi horror title, Directive 8020. The upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive features actors Neil Newbon and Dacre Montgomery, and is already generating excitement for its B-movie slasher vibes.
"Kefka is the ultimate troll": Final Fantasy 14's top raiders are being hoodwinked by a returning JRPG icon proving to be the most annoying Ultimate boss yet
The new Kefka-themed Ultimate raid in Final Fantasy XIV is proving to be an exceptionally challenging and troll-filled experience for top raiders. Players are amused by Kefka's deceptive mechanics, including a fake 'Complete' cutscene and a vanishing chest, which have led to the fight being humorously dubbed 'UMAD'. The raid's difficulty and unique trolling elements are generating significant community discussion and memes during the world's first race.
Not So Massively: The state-ium of Overwatch Stadium in 2026
The Overwatch Stadium game mode, despite its fun core gameplay and unique features like third-person camera and map variety, is suffering from a significant lack of developer support and a confused vision. Issues with build diversity, balance, and questionable content decisions have led to a decline in its popularity compared to the main Overwatch game, risking a self-fulfilling prophecy of reduced support.
CD Projekt Red veteran answers for the crime of The Witcher 3's Skellige, says they tried to add more question…
CD Projekt Red veteran Paweł Sasko, associate game director for Cyberpunk 2, humorously addressed fan criticism regarding the abundance of question marks in The Witcher 3's Skellige region. Sasko, who worked on The Witcher 3 as a quest designer, implied that the development team attempted to add even more of these map markers but were unable to. This discussion highlights a common point of contention for players seeking map completion in the game.
Edge of Memories Preview - An Action RPG Worth Seeking
Midgar Studios' upcoming action RPG, Edge of Memories, shows significant promise despite the studio's previous title. The demo features a captivating narrative with strong character writing and an impressive adaptive soundtrack. While some presentation quirks and a underwhelming boss battle exist, the core gameplay mechanics and party synergy systems are compelling, positioning Edge of Memories as a highly anticipated release.
"Nobody's making games for the retired people" – The growing yet underserved market for grey gamers
The video game industry is largely overlooking the growing market of older players, often referred to as 'grey gamers.' Despite an aging global population and increasing numbers of individuals over 40, 50, and 60 playing games, developers are slow to cater to this demographic, who possess disposable income and long-term gaming literacy. Experts suggest a shift in industry mindset is needed to capture this substantial and expanding market, which is currently underserved by game design and marketing efforts.
Wolverine Dev Changed Things To Avoid Logan Appearing To Be A “Sadist”
Insomniac Games has implemented changes in Marvel's Wolverine to ensure protagonist Logan does not appear to be a sadist, according to creative director Marcus Smith. While the game is a brutal and gory affair, an accessibility option will allow players to reduce the gore. Game director Mike Daly stated that the violence is necessary to do the character justice, emphasizing efficiency over enjoyment of inflicting pain.
God of War Laufey Is Taking the Sort of Risk More PlayStation Series Need To Take
The article argues that PlayStation Studios should take more risks, citing the decision to shift perspective away from a beloved protagonist in God of War Laufey as a bold move. This change in gameplay and narrative focus is presented as a model for other PlayStation titles.
Cyberpunk 2077 and Blue Prince among winners of 2026 Apple Design Awards
Apple has announced the winners of its 2026 Apple Design Awards, recognizing outstanding apps and games on its platforms. Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition for Mac OS won the Visuals and Graphics Award, while Blue Prince received the Interaction Award. Other notable winners included 'Is This Seat Taken?' for Delight and Fun and 'Consume Me' for Social Impact.
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II Review – The Omnissiah Provides, Eventually
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II is a turn-based tactical RPG that offers a deep narrative and engaging gameplay mechanics, including a unique melee combat system and customizable difficulty. While it captures the Warhammer 40,000 lore well and features strong presentation, the game suffers from glacial pacing, long load times, and some unbalanced faction mechanics, which may deter players not already invested in the franchise.
The X-Men don't exist in Marvel's Wolverine, and while Spider-Man does, he'll only appear fleetingly in an "Easter-eggy" kind of way
Insomniac Games has confirmed that the X-Men will not appear in Marvel's Wolverine, as the game focuses on a storyline where mutants are not widely known. While characters like Jean Grey, Mystique, and Sabretooth will feature and assist Wolverine in combat, Spider-Man will only have fleeting, 'Easter-eggy' appearances. The game is set to release exclusively on PlayStation 5 on September 15th.
"The difference is not just that you can’t fight back, it’s that you feel like you shouldn’t": Alien Isolation's lead designer wants you to "respect" the dinos in The Lost Wild
The Lost Wild's lead designer Gary Napper emphasizes a design philosophy of respecting dinosaurs as living creatures rather than monsters, drawing parallels to his work on Alien: Isolation. Unlike Alien: Isolation's focus on player power fantasy, The Lost Wild aims to make players feel vulnerable and encourage non-violent interaction with the prehistoric inhabitants of its island setting.
Recension – Mina the Hollower
Mina the Hollower is a challenging and visually stunning action RPG from Yacht Club Games, drawing inspiration from classics like The Legend of Zelda and Castlevania, with modern influences from Bloodborne. The game features deep gameplay mechanics, tough boss battles, and a rich atmosphere, but also includes accessibility options and unlockable "Feats" for players to customize their experience. It is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.