Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In a big change for Blizzard, it sounds like the new StarCraft shooter won't be a live-service game
Blizzard has revealed that the new StarCraft game, slated for release in 2030, will be a narrative-driven, open-world shooter with a definitive beginning, middle, and end, departing from the company's recent focus on live-service titles. Project leader Dan Hay described it as a 'box product' that players can purchase and experience fully, with opportunities to explore the world and engage in activities at their own pace between story missions. While acknowledging StarCraft's legacy as an RTS, Blizzard is carefully considering future directions for the franchise.
Nintendo Direct breakdown! Pure Nintendo Podcast E180
This article expresses a deep, lifelong passion for Nintendo, tracing its origins back to the NES and iconic games like Mario and Zelda. The author details their ownership of various Nintendo consoles, including the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and both Nintendo Switch models, highlighting their appreciation for game design and specific titles like Super Mario World and Mario Kart.
Blizzard's new StarCraft shooter is "not a seasonal game," says lead: "The story has a beginning, a…
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed that its new StarCraft game will be a narrative-driven, open-world first-person shooter, not a seasonal live-service title. Lead Dan Hay stated the game will be a 'box product' with a definitive beginning, middle, and end, drawing comparisons to Far Cry and Borderlands.
Mer info om Diablo V – inklusive klasser, föremål och karavaner
Blizzard Entertainment provided more details on Diablo V during a BlizzCon panel, revealing it will feature more classes at launch than any previous Diablo title, including the new Plague Knight. The game is set in Westmarch, with players relying on a mobile caravan and facing a constantly present Diablo. The loot system will be inspired by Diablo II, featuring equipment sets, runes, and runewords.
Diablo 5 will fully support multiplayer, but Blizzard won't say how similar to Diablo 4 it'll be
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that Diablo 5 will feature full multiplayer support, allowing players to team up with friends for all content, similar to Diablo 4. While specific details on how multiplayer will be integrated, especially in the procedurally generated overworld and dungeons, remain undisclosed and will be revealed closer to its estimated 2029 release, the company plans to share regular development updates starting next year.
