Game Design
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Jurassic Park Meets Alien In This Childhood Dream Turned Horror Game
The Lost Wild, a first-person horror game combining dinosaur encounters with survival horror elements, has been a 20-year passion project for Great Ape Games CEO Nick Gregory. Initially a mod for Crysis, the game evolved with a volunteer team before securing a partnership with Annapurna Interactive, allowing it to become the studio's full-time focus. Gregory emphasizes portraying dinosaurs as realistic animals rather than monsters, drawing inspiration from films like Jurassic Park and Alien: Isolation, and aims for a genuinely frightening experience that balances fear with awe and fascination.
Arc Raiders Frozen Trail update gets October release date
Embark Studios announced that the 'Frozen Trail' update for Arc Raiders will be released on October 8. This update is described as the game's largest yet, introducing a new icy map, new missions, new threats, and adjustments to character progression with the addition of Outposts.
.curator Is A New Cinematic RPG From The Author Of Altered Carbon
.curator is a new cinematic adventure RPG from STRTL Games and author Richard K. Morgan, coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players control a figure who can see and influence possible futures in a post-Victorian world. The game emphasizes player agency, investigation, and branching consequences, with its first season already written.
Necrons are "extremely arrogant aliens that feel like they cannot die," so their weakness in Dawn of War 4 is an obvious one: greed
Dawn of War 4's Necron faction is designed around greed, with their strength lying in expanding their 'Power Matrix' across the map for resources and defensive bonuses. This expansion mechanic, however, creates a vulnerability to aggressive counterattacks if players overextend without proper defenses. Senior game designer Elliott Verbiest explains this design choice aims to create more engaging multiplayer gameplay by introducing a clear weakness to the Necrons' otherwise near-immortal nature.
20 hours in, I cannot believe the scale, complexity, and ambition of Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, developed by Intelligent Systems, is shaping up to be the most ambitious entry in the series, offering unprecedented scale and complexity on the Nintendo Switch. The game features multiple playable protagonists with branching narrative paths and a deep combat system that expands upon the series' traditional turn-based strategy.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Feels Like Four Games’ Worth Of Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave presents a complex structure with four distinct, intertwining story campaigns, offering a vast narrative experience. The game aims to recapture the magic of Three Houses with a grander scope and a time-jump element, focusing on four protagonists whose stories can be explored in any order. Early gameplay showcases differentiated character arcs and combat roles, with systems for recruitment and unique protagonist abilities adding depth.
Genshin Impact’s New Update Appears To Mock The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Fiasco
A new Genshin Impact update includes an in-game document that appears to satirize the recent Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation fiasco. The document describes a fountain that was ruined by shoddy workmanship and vandals, mirroring the real-world issues of algae blooms and peeling paint after the pool's refurbishment.
Running the Loop: Sonic’s Secret to Defying Gravity
This article discusses the iconic looping mechanics in Sonic the Hedgehog games and how they defy gravity. It explores the game design principles that allow Sonic to maintain momentum and speed through these challenging level elements.
Monowave secures Nintendo Switch release date, new trailer
The puzzle adventure game Monowave will be released on Nintendo Switch on September 16, 2026. The game follows Mono, a Guardian tasked with reuniting four scattered Emotions after their Shards vanish from the Prism Tree. Players will use Mono's empathy-based powers, derived from Happiness, Sorrow, Anger, and Anxiety, to navigate four unique, emotion-warped worlds.
"The most offensive thing we see every time we boot up the game" Halo co-creator takes shots Campaign Evolved art direction
Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto has criticized the art direction of Halo: Campaign Evolved, specifically the main menu's depiction of the Halo ring. Lehto argues that the Forerunner technology should appear ancient and imposing, rather than shiny and new, stating it's the 'most offensive thing' upon booting the game. He also noted discrepancies with the lore regarding the ring's location in the galaxy.
Games Inbox: When will The Elder Scrolls 6: Sentinel be released?
Readers discuss the potential release window for The Elder Scrolls 6, with speculation pointing towards 2028 and a possible Hammerfell setting. Other topics include the design of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the use of AI in game development, and the potential for future Nintendo handhelds.
Big Walk devs talk the Australian bush and friendslop: 'I'd prefer the second word wasn't slop'
Developers at House House discuss the term 'friendslop' used to categorize co-op games, with Nico Disseldorp expressing a preference for more thoughtful descriptions. The team also revealed that Big Walk's environment is directly inspired by Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria, Australia, with Jake Strasser detailing the use of LIDAR data and on-site inspiration.
Marvel’s Wolverine Doesn’t Feature Any Other Playable Characters, Though There is A “Team Vibe”
Insomniac Games has confirmed that Marvel's Wolverine will feature only Wolverine as the sole playable character, addressing concerns from previous Spider-Man titles. While other characters like Jean Grey will assist in combat, the focus remains on delivering a singular playable experience for Logan. The game is set to launch on September 15th for PlayStation 5.
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune Designer Says a Remake Doesn’t Make Sense
Benson Russell, the original designer of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, believes a remake of the game doesn't make sense due to its still-relevant gameplay and visuals. He argues that resources would be better spent on a new title inspired by Uncharted 4, rather than a remake that might feel like a cash grab and alter the original's spirit.
Marvel’s Wolverine Features New Game Plus, Mission Replay and Optional Nightmare Door Trials
Insomniac Games has detailed several replayability features for Marvel's Wolverine, including New Game Plus, Mission Replay, and optional Nightmare Door Trials. The linear action-adventure title, launching exclusively for PlayStation 5 on September 15th, will feature a Performance Mode with ray tracing running at 60 FPS. Players can unlock new suits, collect items, and utilize 'Adaptations' to modify gameplay difficulty and character abilities.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered review for Nintendo Switch 2
This review examines The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on the Nintendo Switch 2, highlighting its strengths as a portable RPG experience despite some technical limitations. While the Unreal Engine 5 overhaul brings visual improvements, issues like frame rate drops and dark environments persist, making it less definitive than the PC version. However, its ability to fit into a busy lifestyle and retain the original's charm makes it a worthwhile option for gamers on the go.
Action adventure game Angeline Era to appear on Nintendo Switch
Analgesic Productions announced that the 3D action-adventure game Angeline Era will be released on Nintendo Switch on September 2, 2026, for $24.99. The game, which originally launched on PC, features a unique "Bumpslash Combat" system and offers a 15-20 hour playthrough with adjustable difficulty settings.
Immortality developer Sam Barlow reveals Precognition, a sci-fi horror collaboration with Brandon Cronenberg about "really terrible things that are just around the corner"
Sam Barlow, the developer behind Immortality and Her Story, has announced Precognition, a new sci-fi horror game developed by Half Mermaid Productions with writing by Brandon Cronenberg. The game features a protagonist with brain implants who can explore multiple dark future timelines, inspired by concepts like Memento and 90s sci-fi horror. Precognition is slated for a spring 2028 release and draws early inspiration from an FMV Metroid game concept.
Shellbound coming to Nintendo Switch 2
Shellbound, a Metroidvania game where players control enemies on a giant snail, is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in Summer 2028. Developed by Fake Lobster and published by Kinetic Publishing, the game features exploration, puzzle-solving, and a unique ecosystem evolution mechanic.
The One Piece: Escape from Egghead Board Game Is Runny and Undercooked
The One Piece: Escape from Egghead board game offers fun push-your-luck dice rolling with the right group, but suffers from ambiguous rules, questionable design choices, and mechanics that falter at different player counts. These issues detract from the overall experience, making it feel underdeveloped.