Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Interview – New Protagonist, Worldbuilding, Potential Sequels, And More
Asobo Studio's Carol Ann Bañuls and David Dedeine discuss the new protagonist Sophia in Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, focusing on balancing her combat capabilities with her inherent vulnerability. The interview also delves into the distinct combat styles of Sophia and Theseus, the design challenges of portraying Minotaur's Island across different historical periods, and the technical features for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Massively Overthinking: What does your perfect MMORPG endgame look like?
The Massively OP staff discusses their ideal MMORPG endgame experiences, with differing views on the necessity and design of endgame content. While some prefer a midgame philosophy with varied activities, others find value in structured endgame pursuits like raids or PvP, provided there are multiple options catering to different playstyles and schedules.
Jagex cancels MMO reset RuneScape Reignited after player backlash: "The last time we didn't listen to player…
Jagex has canceled its controversial RuneScape Reignited project, a plan to soft-reset the MMO with forked servers and fresh economies, following significant player backlash. The developer acknowledged that the plan alienated its existing community by potentially forcing players to abandon their accounts and pay for new memberships. This decision comes after Jagex previously faced criticism for the Evolution of Combat update, which led to the creation of Old School RuneScape.
Early Previews Point to an Easier Ocarina of Time Return
Early previews of the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time suggest Nintendo is modernizing gameplay with features like on-demand jumping, sprinting, and quicker item selection. Adjustments to the opening hours and Navi's advice aim to reduce early friction and interruptions, making the game more accessible for newcomers while retaining the classic structure.
World of Warcraft: Forever devs say gear upgrades will stay relevant 'for a long, long time': 'It's very much our intention to try wherever we can to not invalidate old content'
Developers for World of Warcraft: Forever, a new 'Classic+' version, are emphasizing that gear upgrades will remain relevant for an extended period, unlike in the modern version of the game. This approach aims to prevent older content from becoming obsolete and to maintain the meaningfulness of gear acquisition throughout the leveling process.
Vague Patch Notes: The business models of MMO expansion bundling
This article analyzes the evolving business models of MMO expansion bundling, contrasting traditional retail expansions with newer, piecemeal approaches. It examines how separating content like new races or classes from core area updates can benefit players and developers, but also discusses potential drawbacks such as a focus on selling individual items over cohesive content.
Tenebris Somnia review: Horrors of the past
Tenebris Somnia offers a haunting horror story with a compelling narrative and unique full-motion video cutscenes, reminiscent of vintage Commodore 64 and MS-DOS games. However, the game is significantly hampered by clunky gameplay mechanics, including slow movement, cumbersome combat, and frustratingly illogical item puzzles, leading to a mixed experience.
The Blood Of Dawnwalker’s Time Limit Isn’t Restrictive: It’s Freeing
The Blood of Dawnwalker's 30-day time limit is not restrictive but freeing, according to the author, who struggles with chronic fatigue. The game's design, by former CD Projekt Red staffers at Rebel Wolves, encourages players to prioritize activities rather than attempt to complete everything, offering a more manageable and engaging experience compared to overwhelming open-world titles like Cyberpunk 2077.
How WoW: Forever Is “Pushing The Envelope,” And What Comes After Launch
Blizzard Entertainment is launching World of Warcraft: Forever on November 4, a new version of its MMORPG that aims to push boundaries by incorporating 22 years of hindsight and community feedback. The game will feature over 1,000 new quests, four new zones, substantial class changes, and a new playable race, Skyborne elves. Developers Clay Stone and Holly Longdale discussed the game's approach to endgame content, monetization strategies like charging for the Skyborne race, and plans for future content updates, emphasizing a commitment to long-term player engagement.
4X strategy sequel Humankind 2 gets its first extended in-game footage, rich in era-spanning, culture-shaping, history-rewriting action
Amplitude Studios has released the first extended in-game footage for Humankind 2, showcasing its history-spanning 4X strategy gameplay. The sequel introduces a greater focus on adapting cultures to environmental challenges through a new 'Adaptations' system, allowing for more dynamic civilization development across its over 70 cultures and six eras. While a release date is set for "2027," players can sign up for the Humankind 2 Insiders Program for early playtesting.
‘I Can Really Nitpick Things’ – Firearms Expert Jonathan Ferguson Explains the Most Common Gun Mistakes in Games
Firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson discusses common inaccuracies in how guns are depicted in video games. He also shares insights from his work on the game Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, highlighting the challenges of realistic firearm representation.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's Hyrule feels more alive than ever thanks to clever expansion and a dose of…
A hands-on preview of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's remake reveals a modernized Hyrule that feels more alive and detailed. The remake incorporates design elements from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, enhancing the user experience while retaining the classic game's essence.
What Gaming Genre Best Matches Your Personality
This article discusses the design principles that make casual games approachable and engaging. It emphasizes the importance of clear onboarding, intuitive interfaces, and understandable mechanics that allow players to learn by doing. The piece also touches on session length, progression, community features, and cross-platform access as key factors in player retention, using online bingo as a specific example.
Humankind 2 Rethinks One of Its Predecessor’s Most Divisive Ideas
Humankind 2 is set to introduce a new approach to its predecessor's culture system, potentially offering an elegant solution to the debate between monolithic cultures and culture-switching mechanics. This change aims to rethink a divisive aspect of the original game.
'There is no secret sauce' to a successful live service game according to Overwatch's associate game director, but knowing your audience is a good start
Overwatch's associate game director Alec Dawson and game director Aaron Keller discuss the challenges and strategies behind maintaining a successful live service game. They emphasize that there is no single 'secret sauce,' but rather a consistent focus on making good decisions daily, understanding player needs for novelty and variety within a competitive framework, and ensuring players feel in control of their actions.
"Some people like it, some people are annoyed by it": Substructure may look like Factorio, but it changes the automation game in some fundamental ways
Substructure, an upcoming automation game from Dubious Design, offers familiar factory-building mechanics reminiscent of Factorio but introduces unique elements like multi-layered subterranean exploration and a decentralized power system. These changes aim to create more engaging puzzles and a sense of accomplishment for players, differentiating it from its genre predecessors.
Castlevania Belmont's Curse swung between Dark Souls and Dead Cells to find the form that "feels good in your hands"
Evil Empire's Castlevania: Belmont's Curse aims to blend the exploration of Castlevania with the modern feel of games like Dead Cells and Dark Souls. Developers Thomas Pfeiffeir and Ben Laulan discussed the iterative process of finding the right gameplay balance, emphasizing creative control and player expectations. The game has launched on PC with strong initial player counts.
Nintendo’s biggest video game of 2026 is doubling in size next year
Nintendo has announced an expansion pass for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, which will add four new story routes featuring characters Bertrand, Talimun, Anatolia, and Orchel in 2027. The expansion pass will also include new allies, unit classes, and weapons, with smaller content updates releasing before the main story expansion. The base game and expansion pass are available for purchase, with a bundle option also offered.
Games Inbox: Is the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake changing too much?
Readers discuss changes in the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, with opinions divided on whether they are sufficient or too extensive. The conversation also touches on the massive file size and potential focus of Grand Theft Auto 6, the perceived decline in Xbox's gaming offerings, and disappointment over collector's editions not including the game itself.
ARC Raiders Team is Testing PvE Toggle to “Understand” The Needs of “Dad Gamers”
Embark Studios is testing a PvE toggle for its extraction shooter ARC Raiders to better understand the needs of players who prefer PvE content, particularly those they refer to as 'dad gamers'. Executive producer Aleksander Grøndal stated that the studio wants to gather learnings from this test before committing to a permanent PvE mode, aiming to remove player-induced frustrations without making promises.
