Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Halo Co-Creator Calls Out Remake For Pandering To “New Era Of Players With 0% Attention Span”
Marcus Lehto, co-creator of Halo, has expressed mixed feelings about the new remake, Halo: Campaign Evolved. While praising upgrades to movement, cinematics, and lighting, he criticized the game's heavy-handed hint system as pandering to players with short attention spans. Lehto also commented on the game's release on PlayStation and the online negativity surrounding it.
Halo co-creator says the Campaign Evolved hate is overblown, even if some of its creative liberties "are absolutely…
Marcus Lehto, co-creator of Halo and designer of the original Campaign Evolved, believes the online criticism of the new remake is overblown. While acknowledging a few 'cringe' creative liberties in the overhauled cutscenes, he praises the upgrades to movement, cinematics, and visuals, finding the overall experience fun.
Vague Patch Notes: The challenge of staying in an MMO
This opinion piece discusses the challenges of consistently creating content for a single Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game over extended periods, using Final Fantasy XIV as a primary example. The author reflects on the personal toll and potential burnout associated with long-term game coverage, emphasizing the importance of taking breaks and pursuing other interests to maintain passion and content quality.
Big Walk has dethroned Forza Horizon 6 as top rated game of 2026
The indie game Big Walk has claimed the top spot as the highest-rated game of 2026 on Metacritic, surpassing titles like Forza Horizon 6 and Mina The Hollower. Launched on August 4 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, Big Walk's PC version currently holds a score of 94 based on 19 reviews. The article also notes other contenders and the lowest-rated games of the year so far.
Lord of the Rings Online promises its new neighbour system won’t use AI/LLMs to generate conversations
Standing Stone Games has clarified that the upcoming neighbour system for Lord of the Rings Online's housing will not utilize AI or LLMs for NPC conversations. The system is designed as NPC visitors with their own stories, intended to be accessible to a broad player base. The developer also addressed recent bugs making solo missions and delvings more difficult, promising a fix in the next update.
Danganronpa dev on killing off characters in Danganronpa 2×2, says “it doesn’t matter if a character is popular or not”
Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka stated that no character in Danganronpa 2x2 is safe from death, regardless of their popularity. The upcoming Nintendo Switch title, scheduled for 2027, will feature both original and new scenarios. Kodaka also requested that players refrain from sending hate mail regarding character eliminations.
Can You Play Palworld Solo in 1.0? Yes, and Here's the Setup | Two Average Gamers
Palworld's 1.0 update is designed to be highly playable solo, with all content, including tower bosses and the World Tree finale, accessible without other players. Key changes like the Negotiator NPC, permanent defense structures, and shorter tower fights benefit solo players, though raid difficulty scaling with worker Pals presents a unique challenge. The article provides setup advice and clarifies that while some optional content like Hard Mode towers and ranked arenas are geared towards multiplayer, the core game experience is fully achievable alone.
Monsters Are Coming! Launches on XBOX Series X|S on August 6 — With a New Update Built for Challenge Seekers
Monsters Are Coming! will launch on Xbox Series X|S on August 6, 2026, featuring a new update with a chaotic hero named The Joker and the strategic X-Fortress Townhall. The update also introduces Weekly Challenges, stackable difficulty modifiers, and a new Codex to improve clarity. The game is a tower-survivor roguelite where players defend a moving city.
Valve explains clever shortcut for the Steam Controller's Grip Sense, and I'm starting to think it's a…
Valve has detailed the functionality of the Steam Controller's Grip Sense feature, which uses capacitive sensors in the handles to detect touch. The company suggests using Grip Sense for shortcuts like activating weapon wheels or menus, and also explains a technique called 'ratcheting' which uses Grip Sense to toggle gyro controls on and off for easier re-centering.
Action RPG AereA announced for Nintendo Switch
SOEDESCO announced that the music-themed action RPG AereA, originally released in 2017, will be available on Nintendo Switch on September 3, 2026. This version includes improvements to character progression, enemy encounters, and boss battles. Players will explore floating islands, recover primordial instruments, and battle musical instrument-inspired bosses in both single-player and local co-op modes.
Quiz: Vad kan du om öppna spelvärldar?
This article presents a quiz challenging readers to identify open-world games based solely on images of their environments. It also includes a poll asking readers about their preference for open-world versus linear game experiences, with a majority favoring a mix of both.
Relax Gaming takes Money Train franchise into new arcade category with Money Plane
Relax Gaming has launched Money Plane, an arcade-style game that expands the popular Money Train franchise beyond its traditional slot format. The new title features adjustable volatility levels and achievement-based rewards to enhance player engagement. This release precedes the upcoming Money Train 5 slot game, scheduled for September.
Path of Exile devs are planning 'an extreme shakeup' in the next major update to address concerns over its stale endgame and lack of exciting loot drops
Grinding Gear Games is planning a significant overhaul of Path of Exile's endgame in update 3.30 to address player concerns about stale mechanics and unexciting loot. The developer aims to revitalize existing league mechanics, encourage their interaction, and make random loot drops more spontaneous, drawing inspiration from Path of Exile 2. This major shakeup is expected in approximately four months.
Sonic Team head talks Sonic remakes
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka discussed the considerations for creating game remakes, emphasizing the need to update controls and level design for modern platforms alongside visual style. The team pays close attention to these elements when deciding on remake projects.
Beast of Reincarnation devs aim to address criticism in patches starting next week
Game Freak has announced that the first patch for Beast of Reincarnation will be released next week, addressing player feedback on camera adjustments, text size, and story pacing. The developer plans ongoing adjustments and bug fixes based on player suggestions. This marks one of Game Freak's departures from its usual Pokemon franchise, with a mixed initial reception.
By defying MMO convention, FF14 has grown from total failure to a titan beyond its genre
Final Fantasy XIV has transformed from a critically panned launch into a highly successful MMORPG, driven by a complete rebuild under Naoki Yoshida and a focus on compelling storytelling and player-friendly design. The game is preparing for its next major overhaul with the upcoming 8.0 expansion, Evercold, which will introduce significant system changes and a new narrative arc, building on its 35 million registered accounts.
"Believable and consistent up close": What the dinosaurs of The Lost Wild share with Microsoft’s cancelled Everwild, according to the designer who worked on both
Gary Napper, who worked on both the cancelled Microsoft title Everwild and the upcoming dinosaur survival game The Lost Wild, discusses the design similarities between the two. He notes that both games aim to portray creatures realistically and with believable behaviors, a challenge he found more complex than designing the alien in Alien: Isolation. Napper emphasizes that The Lost Wild focuses on 'animals, not monsters,' encouraging players to respect and coexist with the dinosaurs rather than simply hunt them.
The next game in a huge Chinese action RPG series has plenty of action, but I hope it hasn't totally abandoned the…
Swords of Legends, the sequel to Gujian 3, is a lavish action RPG set in Chinese mythology, built with Unreal Engine 5. While showcasing impressive visuals and engaging combat mechanics with interchangeable skills, the preview expresses apprehension about the potential influence of Black Myth Wukong on the genre, hoping the game retains its RPG roots. The demo featured creative boss designs and combat variety, but a release date has yet to be announced.
Fields of Mistria is an immersive RPG disguised as a farming sim, and it's the best $14 I've spent all year
Fields of Mistria is a farming simulation game with deep RPG roots, offering players a relaxed experience on the Steam Deck. Unlike other games in the genre, it provides ample meaningful activities without strict deadlines, allowing players to engage at their own pace. The game is praised for its immersive world-building and the freedom it grants players to pursue various skills and activities, making it a worthwhile investment.
Even after 200 hours, Marathon's greatest secret is still deciphering the rhythms of rival players
This analysis delves into the strategic nuances of Bungie's extraction shooter, Marathon, after over 200 hours of gameplay. It highlights how understanding player rhythms, sound cues, and map flow is crucial for survival and success, even when direct combat is lost. The article emphasizes that victory in Marathon is defined by player objectives, such as completing contracts or exfiltrating safely, rather than solely by eliminating opponents.
