Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Everything we've gleaned about Diablo 5 since its BlizzCon 2026 reveal - a game that appears to be much more than Diablo 4.5
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed details for Diablo 5, scheduled for a spring 2029 release, indicating it will be a significant departure from Diablo 4. Set a century after Diablo 4, the game features a world fully conquered by Diablo, a more compact, procedurally generated landscape, and a focus on story-driven RPG elements with companions serving as vendors. The game will reintroduce features like Runewords and gear sets inspired by Diablo 2, and aims to offer more classes at launch than previous titles.
Utmaning i ISK#6 - Hitta alla referenser i Justin Wack!
This article announces a challenge for players of the point-and-click adventure game 'Justin Wack' by Pontus Wittenmark. Participants are encouraged to find and submit as many pop culture references hidden within the game as possible, with the most creative entries winning a t-shirt. The challenge aims to engage players with the game's intricate design and cultural allusions.
Games Inbox: Are Jason and Lucia from GTA 6 good characters?
Readers express skepticism about the likability of Grand Theft Auto 6 protagonists Jason and Lucia, contrasting them with Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2. Concerns are raised about the characters' dry presentation in recent footage and a perceived lack of memorability. Other topics include dissatisfaction with Mario Kart World's Grand Prix modes, questions about Marvel's Wolverine's accessibility features, and commentary on long game development cycles and Sony's recent fan reception.
Fable Team “Relentlessly Pursued Quality” With the Ending, Says Game Director
Playground Games' Fable will feature a meaningful ending that challenges players with significant personal cost, a departure from previous installments. Game director Ralph Fulton emphasized the studio's commitment to quality for the finale, despite industry trends suggesting lower completion rates. The game is expected to be 15-20 hours long for the main story, with a focus on life systems for replayability.
Marvel’s Wolverine Team is “Actively” Gathering Feedback to “Further Refine” the Experience
Insomniac Games is actively gathering player feedback to refine the experience in Marvel's Wolverine, which has received mixed reviews despite praise for its presentation and characterization. While the PlayStation 5 exclusive is lauded for its narrative and performances, criticisms have been leveled at its linear structure and gameplay elements like scent trails.
Why Marvel’s Wolverine Has Split Critics
This article analyzes the divided critical reception of Insomniac Games' Marvel's Wolverine, contrasting viewpoints on its combat, character portrayal, and design choices. While some critics found the game to be an average take lacking soul, the author argues it successfully captures Wolverine's essence, offering a focused and exhilarating experience that earned a perfect score.
Marvel’s Wolverine Voice Actor is Proud of Having Voiced Logan Despite Criticisms
Liam McIntyre, the voice actor for Logan in Marvel's Wolverine, expressed pride in his performance despite the game's divisive reception. He drew parallels to his earlier career, noting his experience with beloved characters and criticism. Insomniac Games and Marvel Games thanked him for his work, and the developer is actively gathering player feedback to refine the experience.
After ending Expeditions until 2027, Arc Raiders may "scrap the whole system altogether" following Frozen…
Embark Studios has paused the Arc Raiders Expeditions mode until early 2027, with the possibility of completely overhauling or scrapping the system. Executive producer Aleksander Grøndal stated that the team is considering significant changes due to low player engagement with the current iteration. The focus will be on the upcoming 'Frozen Trail' update, with Expedition changes to follow.
The King Is Watching devs are making The Crab is Walking, this journalist is writing
Hypnohead, the developers behind The King Is Watching, have announced their new game, The Crab Is Walking. This title is a roguelite city-builder where players arrange city districts on the back of a giant crab and send out armies to fight insects. The developers stated that The Crab Is Walking allows them to attempt things not possible in their previous game, with improved pixel art, animations, and unit behavior. Playtests are scheduled to begin in 2027.
D&D head promises to fix "very loud, very public missteps" with "a new spirit and energy" for…
Head of Dungeons & Dragons, Dan Ayoub, acknowledges significant past missteps and outlines a plan to rebuild trust with the community. He emphasizes listening to fans and a new direction for the brand, aiming to include diverse voices and products.
Diablo 5 Isn’t Reinventing The Combat Wheel, It’s Making It Spin Even Faster
Blizzard Entertainment executive producer Matt Zitterman stated that Diablo 5 will not reinvent the combat wheel but will focus on enhancing the visceral, action-forward gameplay established in previous titles. The game aims to incorporate beloved elements from Diablo 2, Diablo 3, and Diablo 4, offering a familiar yet fresh experience for fans. Diablo 5 is slated for a 2029 release on PC and will feature new character classes.
"It's absolutely our goal to expand the market" - Valve's new Steam Frame VR headset has a nifty idea for broader appeal
Valve aims to expand the virtual reality market with its new Steam VR headset, emphasizing its lightweight, standalone design and the ability to seamlessly switch between VR and non-VR content. Despite a high base price of £889, Valve believes the device offers compelling value and a premium experience, with hardware engineer Joy Lyons stating the goal is to provide accessible, forward-moving gaming equipment.
BlizzCon 2026: World of Warcraft Forever encouraged Blizzard to ‘go again!’ with its hardcore mode
Blizzard Entertainment announced at BlizzCon 2026 that World of Warcraft Forever will receive its own hardcore mode, inspired by Diablo II's single-life challenge. This mode, which will launch several months after the game, will feature enhanced preparation mechanics, character protection against lag, and the ability to transfer fallen characters to other realms with earned legacy points. The developers aim to offer a more 'pure' and 'fair' way to play the game, drawing parallels to roguelike design.
I've learned to love Star Wars Zero Company's permadeath – by letting the new hires die
The author has learned to embrace the permadeath mechanic in Star Wars Zero Company by strategically using custom "redshirt" operators for risky missions. This approach, while seemingly cold, reduces stress and enhances the game's narrative connection to its Star Wars inspirations, making the core gameplay loop more manageable and enjoyable.
Wisdom of Nym: Reacting to the big job reveal and Beastmaster in Final Fantasy XIV’s patch 7.56
The author discusses the reveal of the new job and the Beastmaster limited job in Final Fantasy XIV's patch 7.56. While the new job's mechanics are still largely unknown, the Beastmaster job is analyzed, with its strengths in the Crucible mode noted, but drawbacks in content variety and companion leveling systems are also highlighted.
Casually Classic: Basking in the glow of World of Warcraft Forever
The author expresses immense excitement for Blizzard Entertainment's announcement of World of Warcraft Forever, a new iteration of World of Warcraft Classic. This new version is seen as a thoughtful evolution that retains the core Classic feel while incorporating modern features like transmog and account-wide perks, promising a long-term home for players weary of retail's endgame.
How AI Is Changing the Way Video Games Are Made - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
Artificial intelligence is transforming game development by assisting with artwork, dialogue, level design, testing, and coding, enabling smaller teams to achieve more. AI also holds the potential to create more responsive characters and larger, dynamically generated game worlds, though questions of authenticity and the need for human creativity remain.
Talent calculators have already been assembled for World of Warcraft: Forever, and there's some real interesting…
Online talent calculators for World of Warcraft: Forever are already available, compiled from streams and datamined information. These tools offer insights into potential class changes, such as Arms Warriors gaining Searing Strike and Retribution Paladins receiving Holy Twist, though the developers note that these are early designs and subject to change before the game's November release.
World of Warcraft Forever aims to combat dungeon boosting, says ‘no plans’ for WoW Tokens
Blizzard Entertainment has stated that its upcoming World of Warcraft Forever will not include the WoW Token or paid character boosts, at least for now. The developers have also significantly reduced XP gained from killing monsters in dungeons, while increasing XP from completing dungeon quests to combat instance spamming and paid boosting services.
Putty World announced for Nintendo Switch 2
System 3 has announced Putty World for the Nintendo Switch 2, slated for a Q2 2027 release. This reimagining combines the classic Putty, Super Putty, and Putty Squad games, aiming for 1080p handheld and 4K TV resolutions. The game explores a "What If?" scenario, imagining how the series would have looked with mid-1990s technology combined with modern hardware capabilities.
