Game Design
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MMO Week in Review: Gorgon’s drama, TurtleWoW’s demise, Ashes’ docs
This week in the MMORPG genre saw significant drama and updates across various titles. Ashes of Creation's former boss released legal documents, Project Gorgon faced community backlash over bans, and TurtleWoW announced its closure following a lawsuit. Additionally, Book of Travels is transitioning to a solo offline game, while new content and updates arrived for games like Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XIV, and Elder Scrolls Online.
Pragmata Is Exactly Why AAA Games Don’t Need To Drag On
The game Pragmata, developed by Capcom, demonstrates that AAA titles do not need excessive length to be enjoyable, with some reviewers completing it in as little as eight hours. Despite its shorter runtime, the game focuses on quality gameplay, story, and presentation, offering an innovative third-person shooter experience at a $60 price point, even on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Left-handed PC Gamers Still Fighting for Basic Arrow Key Support in 2026
Despite advancements in gaming accessibility, left-handed PC gamers who prefer arrow keys over WASD still face issues with basic control rebinding in 2026. While visual and motor accessibility have improved, control customization remains inconsistent, with arrow key support often overlooked in game design and development.
Dark Souls 2’s Lost Sewers Map Reveals The Ambitious World
A content creator has discovered a large, fully realized sewers map from Dark Souls 2 that was cut from the final game. This discovery offers insight into the game's development and potential for a more interconnected world. The find highlights the ambition of FromSoftware's titles and the stories that remain untold within game files.
I never want to play a Cleric in D&D, but 2026's best RPG stars one for a simple reason: 'I'm sorry…
Developer Christoffer Bodegård explains why the Cleric class is the protagonist of his upcoming RPG, Esoteric Ebb. He highlights the class's versatility, ability to do a little bit of everything, and its narrative potential due to its connection with a god. Bodegård also touches on the thematic relevance of religion and masculinity in the game's design.
Dave Oshry, CEO of New Blood Interactive, will never uninstall Doom from his PC, and has over 488 hours in Fallout 76:…
New Blood Interactive CEO Dave Oshry discusses his PC gaming habits, highlighting Doom as a game he'll never uninstall and Fallout 76 as the game he has the most hours in. He shares his passion for CRPGs and FPS games, and details upcoming updates for titles like Fallen Aces and Gloomwood.
Immerse Yourself in the world of Hela: Of Mice & Magic
Knights Peak and Windup Games have renamed their upcoming adventure game from "Hela" to "Hela: Of Mice & Magic" to better reflect its core themes of friendship, discovery, and nature. The game, which received two gamescom 2025 awards, will feature a vibrant world inspired by Northern Sweden, with a focus on music and environmental interaction. Hela: Of Mice & Magic is scheduled for a 2026 release on Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
A new Project Zomboid update could make multiplayer servers much more deadly
The Indie Stone is preparing to release a new update for Project Zomboid, focusing on increased realism and multiplayer options. Build 42.17 will introduce balance tweaks, new VHS Tapes for skill training, more plentiful loot, and the option to enable sprinters in multiplayer servers. The update also refines starting town selection and adjusts trait point costs.
30 years on, Metal Slug's arcade action and stylish visuals owe Studio Ghibli a debt: "We were very much inspired by Hayao Miyazaki's book, Daydream Note"
This article delves into the development and inspirations behind the classic arcade game Metal Slug, originally created by Nazca Corporation for SNK's Neo Geo. Kazuma Kujo, a key figure from Irem who helped form Nazca, reveals that the game's design was influenced by Hayao Miyazaki's book 'Daydream Note' and evolved from earlier Irem titles like 'In The Hunt'. Despite being developed during the rise of 3D gaming, Metal Slug's distinctive 2D visuals and gameplay mechanics were a result of the Neo Geo hardware and specific design choices, not necessarily an artistic preference for 2D.
Neil Druckmann Hints at The Last of Us Part III Immune Colony Storyline
Neil Druckmann has hinted that The Last of Us Part III could explore a community of immune individuals, shifting the focus from Joel and Ellie to multiple characters. This potential direction raises questions about societal structures and the implications for the established lore. While Naughty Dog has not officially confirmed any details, these concepts suggest a serious consideration for the franchise's future.
Mailbox: The Wii U's Legacy, Mii Singing, Hippos - Nintendo Life Letters
This month's Nintendo Life Mailbox features discussions on favorite Nintendo hippos, the legacy of the Wii U in light of Switch ports, and creative ways players customize their experiences in games like Tomodachi Life and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The segment also touches on the creative use of puns in Nintendo Life articles and briefly mentions Shigeru Miyamoto.
Marathon's most popular shotgun is getting nerfed a second time, as Bungie worries it is 'eclipsing a lot of the other short range options that exist in the game'
Bungie is implementing a second nerf to the WSTR shotgun in Marathon, aiming to prevent it from overshadowing other short-range weapon options. The upcoming update will prevent the shotgun from downing enemies with blue shields or higher in two shots, forcing a reload and allowing for more counterplay. The WSTR will still be effective against green-shielded enemies, maintaining its utility for newer players.
Gamer Kept Majora’s Mask Strategy Guide for Decades Without Owning Game
A Reddit user shared their decades-long experience of keeping a strategy guide for The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask without owning the game, sparking a discussion about the value of physical guides. The article reflects on the unique challenges and charm of the Nintendo 64 era, where strategy guides were essential companions for complex games.
The Sunday Papers
This article discusses various gaming-related topics and broader cultural commentary. It touches on the graffiti in Left 4 Dead, the design of single-player extraction shooters like Witchfire, and the ambitious AI in Black & White. The piece also explores the evolution of AI from video games to companies like Google DeepMind, and touches on music industry issues related to Spotify and AI investments.
Dosa Divas Review — Spicy, tasty RPG goodness
Dosa Divas is a narrative-focused RPG from Outerloop Games that explores themes of family, food, and culture. Players step into the shoes of siblings Samara and Amani as they fight against a corporation that has streamlined cooking and bridge familial divides. While the combat and cooking minigames are simplistic and lack challenge, the game's strong narrative, voice acting, and unique South Asian-inspired presentation make it a memorable experience.
Point-and-Click Adventures Rise From the Dead With 17 Modern Masterpieces
The point-and-click adventure genre is experiencing a significant renaissance, with 17 modern masterpieces revitalizing the format. These new titles learn from the mistakes of the past, offering engaging puzzles and atmospheric storytelling without the frustrations of older games. Despite this resurgence, mainstream gaming media has largely overlooked this trend, leaving many fans unaware of the genre's vibrant comeback on platforms like Steam.
Bayonetta creator explains what actually happened in Bayonetta 3’s ending
Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya clarified the multiverse elements and ending of Bayonetta 3, stating that the concept was present since the first game. He explained that the ending implies Bayonetta is still alive and discussed various in-game hints that supported this interpretation. Kamiya, who has since left PlatinumGames and founded his own studio, Clovers, felt it was appropriate to elaborate on these points.
Arc Raiders switches up Expeditions and now skill points are earned from damage dealt, not stash value
Embark Studios is changing the Expedition system for Arc Raiders, shifting from skill points earned via stash value to those earned by dealing damage. This change aims to provide more variety and freedom in how players engage with the 5-day windows, encouraging active gameplay over simple grinding. The new system will launch on April 28th, with catch-up mechanics still tied to stash value for returning players.
ChainStaff Review | TheXboxHub
ChainStaff is a brutal action platformer from Mommy's Best Games, featuring a unique art style inspired by 70s and 80s album covers. Players utilize the titular ChainStaff, a versatile weapon that functions as both a spear and grappling hook, to overcome challenging enemies and bosses. The game offers a difficult but rewarding experience with multiple difficulty levels and moral choices that impact gameplay.
After 23 years, CCP is about to do the unthinkable: add a non-PvP zone to EVE Online
CCP Games is introducing a new non-PvP zone called Exordium to EVE Online in an upcoming expansion. This systemic change aims to reduce player anxiety and better introduce new players to the game's mechanics and opportunities. The developer believes this will benefit the entire EVE Online community by increasing the player base.
