Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
Latest coverage
Marathon Season 2 Cinematic Teases the Assorted Horrors of Night Marsh
Bungie has released a cinematic trailer for Marathon's upcoming Season 2: NIGHTFALL, which begins on June 2nd. The trailer depicts Runners entering the Night Marsh, facing mutated creatures and brutal encounters, suggesting death may not be an escape. A full reveal later this week will detail new gameplay systems like the Cradle, new weapons, and experimental PvE modes.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Hangs on to Edward Kenway’s “Spirit and Flavor”, Says Director
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced game director Richard Knight stated the remake will preserve Edward Kenway's original character arc, focusing on his development from a money-driven pirate to a true assassin. The game is set for a July 9th release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, featuring modernized gameplay and enhanced visuals while remaining an action-adventure title.
Roadmaps and Plans
This article provides a deep dive into the naval gameplay mechanics of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. It analyzes the systems that made the ship combat and exploration a standout feature of the game.
Dosa Divas Review
Dosa Divas is a game that tells a touching story about the power of a good meal, though it suffers from a slow third act. The game features a cartoonishly evil UberEats clone as an antagonist.
Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi is playing the Elden Ring DLC as we speak, it appears, and he's using the…
Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi appears to be playing the Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, and has shared screenshots of his character. His character is noted for its stylish 'Fashion Souls' appearance, utilizing Blaidd's wolf helmet and the Gravebird mantle, and wielding the unique Visage Shield. Sakaguchi described the experience as 'Simply beautiful and fun.'
No, Seriously, Magic The Gathering Will Be Slowing Down This Ridiculous Stream Of New Releases
Wizards of the Coast lead designer Mark Rosewater has stated that the high volume of Magic: The Gathering releases in 2026 is an outlier, and future years will feature a more manageable three sets per year. This comes after the success of the Secrets of Strixhaven set, which became the most successful in-universe MTG set ever. Rosewater also indicated that in-universe sets may eventually outnumber 'Universes Beyond' sets again.
Petit Planet Area Load Limit, Blueprint Sharing, and Cooking Changes in the Works
HoYoVerse has announced plans to address player feedback for Petit Planet following its Stardrift Test beta. Key areas being looked into include the area load limit, blueprint sharing, and cooking mechanics. The MiniCorner leaderboard will be removed, and adjustments will be made to Starsea Voyage maps and Archiboo acquisition.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag's Edward Kenway is "a really bad assassin," says Resynced's game director, so Ubisoft had to recapture his "spirit" in the remake
Richard Knight, game director for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, stated that Edward Kenway was initially a "really bad assassin" in the original game, driven by money rather than Templar opposition. The remake aims to recapture Kenway's spirit and enhance his character arc with greater fidelity and modern gameplay, incorporating narrative ideas from the early 2010s.
Yerba Buena – Portal By Way Of 1970s San Francisco?
Yerba Buena is a new puzzle-platformer from Mad About Pandas and Focus Entertainment, available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Players control Barb, an NPC in a glitching 1970s San Francisco gameworld, using a device called the Oscillator to manipulate object properties and solve environmental puzzles. The game blends platforming, reality-bending mechanics, and a distinctive atmosphere with a playful tone.
Choose My Adventure: Wrapping up a month of Star Trek Online
The author concludes a month-long exploration of Star Trek Online, noting that playing with a partner improved the experience despite persistent UI issues. While the game's charm and the ability to team up were appreciated, the author ultimately decided not to continue playing due to interface challenges. The article reflects on the reasons for both engagement and disengagement with the MMO.
Deadlock new midlane objective turned games into such a mid-only fiasco that it only lasted one weekend, though…
Valve is experimenting with the midlane objective in Deadlock, which was temporarily changed to encourage teamfights but resulted in a "mid-only fiasco." The new urn mechanic required melee interaction, had a depositing phase, and was always placed in the midlane, leading to a shift in gameplay focus. Following player feedback, the urn now spawns in side-lanes, though some of its mechanics have been adjusted.
Realm of Ink: Step Into an Action Roguelite of Ancient Mythology and Relentless Combat
Realm of Ink, an action roguelite inspired by traditional Chinese ink art and mythology, is launching out of Early Access on May 26 for Xbox Series X|S. The game features deep build customization with over 50 ink gems and 200 artifacts, alongside unlockable characters and ink pets. A crossover with BlazBlue Entropy Effect introduces the character Oread with new abilities.
Miyamoto recruited Aonuma to Zelda team after he developed Zelda-like game Marvelous for SNES
In a 2005 interview, The Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma revealed that Shigeru Miyamoto recruited him to the Zelda team after seeing his SNES game Marvelous, which incorporated Zelda-like elements. Aonuma joined the franchise and was responsible for dungeon design in subsequent titles.
The Florist gets new “Gardens of Death” trailer
Unclear Games has released a new trailer for their upcoming survival horror title, The Florist, which features fixed camera angles and a unique artistic style. The game follows Jessica Park as she navigates a deadly floral overgrowth in the town of Joycliffe, solving puzzles and battling evolving enemies. The Florist is set to release in 2026 for PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5, with multiple difficulty and accessibility options.
MMOs don't need 'to be 200 hours of unique content' at launch, says industry vet
MMO design veteran Jack Emmert argues that new Massively Multiplayer Online games do not need to launch with an excessive amount of unique content. He suggests that focusing on a strong core experience and a committed live team allows for organic growth based on player desires, contrasting this with the current industry trend of over-scoping.
'People want MMOs', says veteran designer Jack Emmert, it's the publishers chasing WoW-level scope that…
Veteran designer Jack Emmert believes players still want MMOs, citing the sales of New World as proof, but argues that publishers' pursuit of WoW-level scope and budget leads to failure. He suggests that a more focused vision and reasonable expectations are key to creating successful new MMOs, rather than trying to replicate existing giants.
League of Legends "not open" to third-party skins: "The tone of your game completely changes"
Riot Games Lead Game Designer August Browning stated that League of Legends is "not open" to third-party skins, explaining that such collaborations fundamentally change the game's tone. While acknowledging past collaborations like Louis Vuitton on Senna and Porsche on Wild Rift, Browning emphasized that integrating characters from other IPs is a significant step the company is hesitant to take for League of Legends.
BAFTA Young Game Designers 2026 finalists revealed, including some genuinely impressive concepts and playable demos
BAFTA has announced the 51 finalists for the 2026 Young Game Designers competition, featuring impressive game concepts and playable demos from participants aged 10 to 18. The judging panels included representatives from studios like IO Interactive and TT Games. Winners will be celebrated at a ceremony on June 18 and showcased at the Young BAFTA Showcase weekend.
'I do think Blow misunderstood what the game is about': Derelict Star made Jonathan Blow rage quit, but it's the most fascinating indie platformer I've played for years
This article discusses the indie platformer Derelict Star, which creator Jonathan Blow famously criticized for its controls and introductory level. The author argues that Blow misunderstood the game's focus on intricate movement mechanics, which, after an initial adjustment period, offer a deeply rewarding experience akin to N++ and Super Mario World. Derelict Star is praised for its fine-tuned physics and momentum-based gameplay, making it a standout title for movement platformer enthusiasts.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on Nintendo Switch 2 Might Need 102 GB of Storage
The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is expected to require either 91.5 GB or 102 GB of storage, making it the largest game on the platform. Director Naoki Hamaguchi explained that the large file size necessitates a game-key card for physical releases due to storage and performance constraints, impacting game design choices. The game will also launch on Xbox Series X/S.
