Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Daigo Says 'Random' State of Street Fighter 6 is Good for Casuals, but Makes it Hard to Crown a GOAT
Professional fighting game player Daigo Umehara believes the "random" nature of Street Fighter 6, while beneficial for casual players, makes it challenging to definitively identify the greatest player in competitive settings. He expressed that the current state of the game makes crowning a GOAT difficult.
LOTRO Legendarium: Four positive outcomes from the Umbar expansion trilogy
This article analyzes the positive outcomes of the Lord of the Rings Online Umbar expansion trilogy, highlighting its diverse environments, the successful reimagining of the Midsummer Festival, generally excellent storytelling despite some pacing issues, and the engaging new Mariner class. Standing Stone Games is praised for its work in bringing these southern regions to life and for the quality of its writing team.
The Daily Grind: Which ability in an MMO do you find the most satisfying to use?
This article discusses the satisfying use of abilities in MMORPGs, using an example from Warframe's Oraxia. It explores how satisfying abilities don't necessarily equate to high damage or significant gameplay changes, but rather a feeling of power and enjoyment when activated. The piece invites readers to share their own most satisfying MMO ability experiences.
The Daily Grind: What concepts do MMORPGs keep trying to reinvent for a new generation?
This article discusses how MMORPG developers often reintroduce older game design concepts as if they are new innovations. A ZeniMax Online Studios developer's comment about a new dungeon type is used as an example, highlighting how open dungeons were common in early MMOs like Ultima Online and EverQuest before becoming less prevalent after World of Warcraft.
Final Fantasy XIV says Dawntrail’s Arcadion raids will be ‘a firm guideline’ for fights in Evercold
Final Fantasy XIV assistant director Tsuyoshi Yokozawa stated that the Arcadion raid series from Dawntrail will serve as a guideline for future battle content, including upcoming fights in Evercold. The team aims to create unique, engaging boss mechanics with a focus on novelty and player connection, while still incorporating challenging wipe mechanics.
Wisdom of Nym: Why do so many of Final Fantasy XIV’s base jobs struggle with identity?
This article discusses how many of Final Fantasy XIV's original jobs, such as Monk, Dragoon, Bard, and Summoner, have undergone significant revisions over time, leading to a struggle with maintaining a consistent identity. Unlike newer jobs like Red Mage and Samurai, these older jobs have been fundamentally redesigned multiple times by the same development team, prompting questions about the evolving design philosophy for core MMORPG roles.
Choose My Adventure: Steamrolling low-level bosses and storming roulettes in Final Fantasy XIV
The author discusses regaining confidence in Final Fantasy XIV by completing challenging "Extreme" boss fights unsynced, which helped overcome a feeling of apathy and self-doubt. This personal progress has also led to a decision to try Destiny 2, with readers being polled on whether to start anew or continue with an existing character.
"When Arc Raiders was at its peak," Embark was burning 30 terabytes of data per day tracking every single bullet fired: "We want to know who shot first"
Embark Studios, developer of Arc Raiders and The Finals, employs extensive data tracking to analyze player behavior, with up to 30 terabytes of data processed daily. This data is used for anti-cheat measures, bug detection, weapon balancing, and tuning the matchmaking system to differentiate player aggression levels. The studio can track events like bullet impacts and player positions with very low latency, providing granular insights into gameplay.
Rockstar, please drop GTA 6 trailer 3 soon, people are starting to analyze Jason's muscles for clues about the game
Fans are eagerly awaiting the third trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6, leading to detailed analyses of existing footage, including protagonist Jason's physique. Some speculate this could indicate fitness mechanics or body modification features within the game. Rockstar has previously suggested Grand Theft Auto 6 "plays best on PS5."
I attended a Tomb Raider and Horizon developer's boss design masterclass and came away both weary and enchanted
Principal gameplay designer Marcin Matuszczyk, formerly of Guerrilla Games and Nixxes Software, shared insights on boss battle design at Digital Dragons. He broke down boss encounters into stages: Introduction, Escalation, Midpoint Twist, Climax, and Resolution, emphasizing clear 'tells' for player attacks and learning opportunities. Matuszczyk also touched on the design challenges of multiplayer boss fights and the inspiration drawn from animals for Horizon Forbidden West's bots.
Before his death in 2025, Half-Life 2 art director Viktor Antonov worked on one last game: A Wild West FPS soulslike…
Guns of Eschaton, a Wild West soulslike first-person shooter, has been revealed as the final game worked on by the late art director Viktor Antonov. Developed by Eschatology Entertainment, the game features deep character customization, co-op multiplayer, and combat mechanics inspired by soulslike titles. Antonov, known for his work on Half-Life 2 and Dishonored, contributed his distinctive visual style to the project before his passing in 2025. The game is available for wishlisting on Steam.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game Has Me Excited to Get into the Lab | IGN Preview
The preview of Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game expresses excitement for the title after a 30-minute hands-on session. The author enjoyed experimenting with characters and is eager to spend more time in training mode, indicating a strong desire to master the game's mechanics.
Splatoon Raiders Takes A Page From Monster Hunter To Boost Your Co-Op Chances
Nintendo's Splatoon Raiders will feature an online co-op mechanic similar to Monster Hunter's SOS Flare system, allowing solo players to call for assistance during challenging raids. This feature aims to help players overcome difficult encounters, with rewards for helpers and scaled difficulty based on player count. The game is set to launch on July 23 for Nintendo Switch.
Reinventing Extraction: Inside Delta Force’s Most Ambitious Map Yet
Delta Force's new season, Meltdown, introduces the AZ3 map on Xbox Series X|S, aiming to reinvent the extraction shooter experience. Game Director Shadow Guo and Game Design Director Ricky discuss how the map's reactive environment, player-driven narrative, and escalating threats like radiation and the H1000 boss create a dynamic and immersive run. Player actions collectively determine the outcome, whether it's stabilizing the reactor or facing a full meltdown, offering a fresh sense of adventure with each playthrough.
Destiny 2 Is Finished – and Now More Appealing Than Ever
Destiny 2 is now considered finished as a live-service game, presenting a complete Bungie first-person shooter experience with a defined endpoint. Players can now enjoy the game without concerns about future content updates altering their established builds.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead says Zelda: Breath of the Wild was "the first open-world game that actually…
Guillaume Broche, creative director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, believes The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the first open-world game to truly deliver on its promise. He praises its sense of exploration and freedom, contrasting it with his general dislike for the open-world genre. Broche's views differ from many on his team who are Zelda fans, but he found Breath of the Wild to be an exceptional experience.
12 Games Like Baldur's Gate 3 (Organized by What You Actually Loved) | TAG
This guide recommends games similar to Baldur's Gate 3, organized by what players enjoyed most, such as companions, tactical combat, or co-op. It highlights titles like Disco Elysium for narrative fans, Divinity: Original Sin 2 for tactical depth and co-op, and It Takes Two for pure cooperative experiences. Larian Studios is confirmed to be working on a new Divinity game, with a Baldur's Gate 3 TV series also in development.
Guild Wars 3 may have cracked the MMO code for tired millennials
ArenaNet studio head Collin Johanson stated that Guild Wars 3 aims to respect players' time, allowing them to play as much or as little as they desire. This approach contrasts with many modern MMORPGs and live-service games that can feel like a second job due to mechanics like battle passes and repetitive tasks. The article suggests that if Guild Wars 3 can remain captivating without demanding excessive playtime, it could appeal to a growing audience of adult gamers.
'99% of the work was already done in a sense': Valve says it has less to fix with the Steam Machine because…
Valve engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Pierre-Loup Griffais suggest that the development of the Steam Deck has significantly streamlined the process for future Steam Machine hardware. They explain that much of the foundational work, such as input handling and general PC gaming optimization, was already completed with the Steam Deck, reducing the need for extensive rework on the Steam Machine. Despite facing challenges like supply chain issues and the desire for lower costs, Valve views hardware development as an iterative process with new models dependent on market viability.
Junkster Review | TheXboxHub
Junkster is a charming and unique 3D puzzle platformer developed by Stormcloud Games, where players control a construction robot named UM-13 who must build paths, tools, and vehicles from junk to reclaim lost cargo. While lacking challenging combat or a deep narrative, the game excels with its creative building mechanics and accessible gameplay, making it particularly suitable for younger players and enjoyable for those seeking a lighthearted experience. The game features a comic book art style and is available on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch, with an average playthrough lasting around five hours.
