Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
Destiny 2's dormancy will leave a power vacuum
With Destiny 2 entering its end-of-service lifecycle and no new content planned, a power vacuum is created in the looter shooter genre. While previous games failed to dethrone Destiny, its dormancy presents an opportunity for a new title to capture player attention, though the high development costs and the challenge of appealing to its dedicated player base remain significant hurdles.
EVOLVE, ADAPT AND EXPLORE A LIVING NIGHTMARE IN EVOLVANIA'S UPDATED STEAM NEXT FEST DEMO
Evolvania, a 2D metroidvania developed by Elan Manuguerra and published by IV Productions, has received an updated demo for Steam Next Fest, running from June 15-22. The demo features new enemies, visual improvements, and gameplay refinements, showcasing the game's unique exploration and evolution mechanics within a living creature. The developer will also host a live broadcast demonstrating the game and its Creator's Room level editor.
Stranger Than Heaven Interview: Director Says Tupac is a Good Idea and Confirms Yakuza Story Connections
RGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama discussed Stranger Than Heaven, confirming its story connections to previous Yakuza games and the decision to use Tupac Shakur's likeness. The interview also touched upon the incorporation of Japanese history into the game's narrative.
FFVII Revelation Might Get Post-Game DLC
Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, stated that Square Enix will consider post-game DLC if there is significant user demand after release. He also teased a new, original weapon for the remake series that will appear in this installment. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is set to launch simultaneously worldwide in Spring 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Tupac Casting In Stranger Than Heaven Came Directly From Snoop Dogg, RGG Boss Says
RGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama confirmed that Snoop Dogg suggested Tupac Shakur for a role in Stranger Than Heaven, with his estate's approval. The game, set to release on January 17, 2027, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles, also features the likeness of deceased actor Sugawara Bunta. Yokoyama emphasized that no AI was used in the creation of these characters, and that voice actors with prior relationships to the deceased individuals were chosen out of respect.
A playable version of The Elder Scrolls 6 exists, and apparently, it "looks amazing"
Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty confirmed that a playable version of The Elder Scrolls 6 exists and "looks amazing." While the game was not shown at the Xbox Games Showcase, Booty stated that Bethesda director Todd Howard has seen the game and is pleased with its progress. An official release date remains unknown, with Howard previously indicating it will still be a while before the game is ready.
Here’s How Generative AI Is Being Used In Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis
Crystal Dynamics confirmed that generative AI will be used in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis for concept art and placeholder assets, but not for the design of Lara Croft herself. Experience director Jeff Adams stated that Lara is "100% human-crafted" and that AI serves as a tool for rapid visualization during early development. The game is set to release in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Drums, cash grants, and bubbling capybaras: How Latin America's game dev creatives are outgrowing outsourcing
Latin American game developers are increasingly recognized for their creative output, with original titles like Family Reunion and Black Sailors emerging. While many studios engage in outsourcing to secure funding and gain experience, there's a growing movement to leverage the region's rich cultures and histories for unique game development. Government grants and international exposure are playing crucial roles in supporting these original projects, though challenges in securing direct funding and competing with established markets persist.
"My worry is that generative AI is poisoning the well" – Take-Two's former head of AI shares his concerns on the current hype cycle
Former Take-Two head of AI, Dr. Luke Dicken, expresses significant concerns about the current hype cycle surrounding generative AI in the gaming industry. He highlights ethical issues with data training, the potential for mediocrity in AI-generated content, and the lack of control over model behavior. Dicken worries that the current excesses of generative AI could poison the well for more traditional and beneficial AI applications in game development.
Soulframe Preludes 15: Gods & Ghosts Update Expands Loot, Crafting, and Social Features in Closed Alpha
Digital Extremes has released the Preludes 15: Gods & Ghosts update for Soulframe's closed alpha on PC. This update overhauls loot and crafting systems, introduces new social features like trading and in-game mail, and adds new enemies and encounters. The Totem system has also been reworked to offer more strategic gameplay combinations.
SEGA is heavily recruiting for Sonic Team
SEGA is actively recruiting for its Sonic Team, advertising for roles such as Producer and Lead Planner. This hiring surge suggests preparations for a new mainline Sonic game, indicating a significant expansion of the development team.
Star Trek: Shadow Frontier — Paramount Says 'The Goal Is for Bloober to Make the Best Star Trek Game of All Time'
Paramount has expressed its ambition for Star Trek: Shadow Frontier to become the definitive Star Trek video game. The company is working with developer Bloober Team to achieve this goal, aiming for the highest quality in the franchise's gaming history.
Report – Ubisoft closes two studios with up to 380 job losses
Ubisoft has closed its studios in Winnipeg and Belgrade and is restructuring its Barcelona studio, resulting in up to 380 job losses. The Winnipeg studio focused on game engines like Snowdrop and Anvil, while Belgrade supported titles such as Ghost Recon and The Crew. The remaining Ubisoft Barcelona team will now concentrate solely on the Rainbow Six franchise.
"We have found ourselves over extended", new Xbox CEO says amid reports of plans for major job cuts
New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty are reportedly planning significant job cuts across the gaming division. Sharma cited declining revenues despite substantial investments and rising component costs as reasons for a business 'reset'. The planned layoffs follow Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard King and come amid reports of internal questioning regarding the company's broad strategy and complex infrastructure.
Don't panic: Xbox is still releasing games on PC despite exclusivity push
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has clarified that despite "Gears of War: E-Day" being a console exclusive, it will still be available on PC and cloud streaming. Chief Content Officer Matt Booty confirmed that PC releases will continue as normal, alleviating concerns about a return to delayed PC ports. This comes amidst broader changes at Xbox, including the discontinuation of Microsoft's Copilot AI tool and a reduction in Xbox Game Pass costs, alongside reports of significant layoffs and budget cuts.
New Hades 2 hotfix prevents some boons from being more useful than they were supposed to be and stops Artemis from…
Supergiant Games has released a new hotfix for Hades 2 on PC, addressing several bugs that affected boon effectiveness and character behavior. The update corrects issues with Hermes' Tall Order and Medea's Suffering on Sight boons, and also fixes Artemis' misplaced singing location and problems with Dire Auto-Seekers. This hotfix follows a previous one that introduced unintended issues with command inputs.
Xbox CCO Matt Booty says he's seen The Elder Scrolls 6, 'it looks amazing, and it's coming along…
Xbox CCO Matt Booty has stated he has seen The Elder Scrolls 6 in development at Bethesda and described it as 'amazing' and 'coming along well'. While not shown at the recent Xbox Showcase, Booty explained the decision to wait for the right moment to reveal the game, emphasizing that when it is shown, it will be close to release. Bethesda previously announced the title in 2018, and both Todd Howard and Booty have reiterated the studio's focus on returning to the classic Elder Scrolls style after Starfield and Fallout 76.
Xbox's Matt Booty has seen Elder Scrolls 6 gameplay and says it "looks amazing" and is "coming along…
Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty has seen gameplay footage of the highly anticipated The Elder Scrolls 6, describing it as "amazing" and stating that the game is "coming along well." Booty acknowledged the challenges of announcing games too early, a sentiment echoed by Bethesda's Todd Howard, but assured that the project is progressing and will be revealed at the appropriate time.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is “Coming Along Well,” Says XBOX CCO Who Promises A Reveal “At The Right Time”
Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty stated that The Elder Scrolls 6 is progressing well and looks amazing, with Bethesda's development team working diligently on it. He emphasized that the game will be revealed at the appropriate time to ensure it is presented at its best and to indicate that it is nearing completion.
Valor Mortis Delayed to October 13th Due to “Absolutely Stacked” September
One More Level has delayed the release of Valor Mortis from September 24th to October 13th for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. The studio cited a crowded September release window and the desire to implement player feedback from the game's "Mixed" rated Steam demo. The delay will allow more time for development and give the game more breathing room in the market.
