Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
Stranger Than Heaven devs claim to have sought the approval of Tupac's family before including him
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama stated that the team sought and received approval from Tupac Shakur's family before depicting the late rapper in the upcoming game, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Yokoyama emphasized that the studio aimed to be respectful and honorable in their portrayal, envisioning what Tupac might have been like in the decades following his passing.
Sales of Spyro Reignited Trilogy helped bring about Spyro A Realm Beyond
Toys for Bob has announced a new Spyro the Dragon game titled Spyro: A Realm Beyond, revealed during the Xbox Game Showcase. Lou Studdert, associate creative director, and Paul Yan, studio head, are involved in its development. The success of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy is cited as a factor in the creation of this new title.
"I look at AI almost like a toddler": OG Halo artist says game devs relying on AI for direction are in for…
Veteran Halo artist Eddie Smith warns game developers against over-reliance on generative AI for creative direction, comparing it to an unmanageable toddler. He argues that AI tools require extensive human oversight and touch-ups, and that foundational creative vision must come from human artists, not AI. Smith's comments come amid ongoing debates about AI's role in game development, citing controversies in titles like Kingdom Hearts 4 and Baldur's Gate 3.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis devs use generative AI to ‘get to right answers faster’ because figuring things out yourself is so old-fashioned now
Developers of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis are utilizing generative AI tools to accelerate their problem-solving process. The article suggests this approach is favored over traditional methods of figuring things out independently.
Destiny 2’s new hidden cutscene teases massive plans that may never come
A newly discovered hidden cutscene in Destiny 2 hints at ambitious future plans for the game that may ultimately not be realized. The content suggests a potential disconnect between developer intentions and eventual game implementation.
Denshattack! Is Delayed Into July To Allow "A Little More Time To Cook"
The release of the game Denshattack! has been postponed from June 17, 2026, to July 15, 2026. Developer Undercoders stated the delay is to allow for additional development time to ensure the game runs smoothly. The announcement was made via social media on June 4th.
Phantom Blade: Zero devs couldn't care less about releasing near GTA 6: 'We don't even think of the competition, what matters is how polished the game is'
Phantom Blade: Zero game director Qiwei Liang stated that the game's October 29 release date was not influenced by Grand Theft Auto 6's upcoming launch, emphasizing product quality over competition. The team is focused on optimizing the game for a wide range of hardware, including the Steam Deck, and ensuring it runs well without ray tracing.
Uppgift: stora uppsägningar på Xbox inom kort
Xbox is reportedly planning significant layoffs next month due to declining revenues, according to sources speaking to Bloomberg. In an internal memo, Xbox leadership acknowledged that falling revenues despite substantial investments cannot continue. This potential wave of job cuts follows several previous rounds of layoffs at Microsoft and Xbox since 2023.
Famitsu: Masahiro Sakurai comes first in Favourite Game Creator category
Acclaimed game developer Masahiro Sakurai has been voted the Favourite Video Game Creator in a survey for Famitsu magazine's 40th anniversary. Sakurai expressed his gratitude, calling the honor beyond his worth.
Everyone, including Amazon, is being extremely weird about the Lord of the Rings MMO
Amazon continues to be ambiguous about the status of its Lord of the Rings MMO, leading to widespread confusion and reports of its cancellation. Despite multiple outlets and internal assumptions suggesting the project is dead, Amazon executives have repeatedly avoided confirming a cancellation, instead stating that the company is evaluating concepts and prototypes for new game experiences within the IP.
GTA 6 scared so many games into September launches that other games are now getting scared into October
The upcoming soulslike game Valor Mortis has been delayed by 19 days, moving its release from September 24th to October 13th. This shift is attributed to the crowded September 2026 release schedule, heavily influenced by the anticipation of Grand Theft Auto 6's November launch. Publisher Lyrical Games decided to move the date to give Valor Mortis more breathing room amidst numerous other game announcements.
'AI Can Help Our Team Get to the Right Answers Faster': Tomb Raider PS5's Controversy Explained
Crystal Dynamics has clarified its use of generative AI in the development of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, stating it's a tool to help visualize concepts faster, with all final content being human-crafted. The article discusses the broader implications of AI in gaming and the need for developer transparency regarding its implementation.
Stranger Than Heaven director says GTA 6 may force devs to use generative AI
Masayoshi Yokoyama, Executive Director at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, suggests that the immense scale of Grand Theft Auto 6 might compel developers to adopt generative AI for future game development to remain economically viable. While Stranger Than Heaven does not use AI, Yokoyama believes that if player expectations shift towards games of GTA 6's magnitude, generative AI could become a necessity for smaller teams to create comparable titles.
The Elder Scrolls 6 "Looks Amazing," According to XBOX CCO Matt Booty
Xbox CCO Matt Booty stated that The Elder Scrolls 6, currently in development at Bethesda, "looks amazing" and is progressing well. Booty, who has seen the game in action, emphasized that the team is waiting for the right moment to officially reveal it. Todd Howard also commented that the studio is returning to the classic Elder Scrolls style for the upcoming title.
Toys for Bob says independence has allowed the studio to rediscover what it loves
Toys for Bob, known for Skylanders and Crash Bandicoot 4, has become an independent studio following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This independence allows the team to focus on character-driven games, moving away from support roles on titles like Call of Duty. The studio is partnering with Activision to develop the newly announced Spyro: A Realm Beyond, set for release in spring 2027 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5.
Morning Multiplex
This article rounds up recent official trailers and developer diaries for several games. It features "The Boss Gangster: Criminal Empire - Rise of the Families," "Cosmo Tales," the horror game "Hakuei University: Building 0," and "Island Keeper."
Morning Interviews
The producer of Resident Evil Veronica explains the game's importance and why it deserves a remake, comparing its significance to the main numbered entries in the series. Additionally, the head of RGG Studio discusses the controversial inclusion of Tupac Shakur in their game, Stranger Than Heaven.
Delaying a planned wipe, Pantheon explains its new combat and progression update rollout pace
Visionary Realms CEO Chris Rowan announced that Pantheon's spring combat and progression update will be delayed, with the wipe also postponed. The update is now targeting a July 17th release on the Public Test Realm for most classes, with full production release and wipe to follow after extensive testing and tuning.
Fable Reboot Delay Was Disappointing To The Devs, But Avoiding GTA 6 Makes Sense
Playground Games' Fable reboot has been delayed to February 2027, a decision that initially disappointed developers aiming for a 2026 release. Studio GM Ralph Fulton stated that the delay allows the game to avoid competing with the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 and secure a less contested release window. The game will feature Hayley Atwell as the villain and will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis developer explains generative AI use
Crystal Dynamics has confirmed the use of generative AI in the development of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a title announced for the Nintendo Switch 2. Director of experience Jeff Adams explained that AI tools are being used to create placeholder and testing assets, assuring that all final game assets will be human-crafted. This follows similar scrutiny for another upcoming game, Crazy Taxi: World Tour, highlighting ongoing industry debate about AI's role in game development.
