Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
Resident Evil Veronica Has Already Crossed 1 Million Wishlists
Resident Evil Veronica has surpassed one million wishlists in under a week, exceeding the previous record set by Resident Evil Requiem. The game will feature a third-person perspective similar to Resident Evil 2 Remake and is slated for a 2027 release on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
XBOX to Suffer Layoffs to Counter Falling Revenue in July – Rumor
A report from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier suggests that Xbox is planning significant layoffs in July as part of CEO Asha Sharma's strategy to address falling revenue. The company has reportedly seen a nearly half-billion dollar decline in annual revenue over the past five years, excluding Activision Blizzard King. Alongside layoffs, budgets for marketing and other areas are expected to be reduced.
XBOX Leadership Outlines Five “Realities” Faced by the Company Going Forward
Xbox leadership, including CEO Asha Sharma and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty, have outlined five key "realities" the company faces. These include fighting for player attention despite a large user base, a recent fiscal year decline due to investments, rising hardware component costs, the need to reassess investment priorities for game development, and an outdated platform infrastructure that requires rebuilding.
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.
Ubisoft Shutting Multiple Studios, as the News Just Keeps Getting Worse
Ubisoft is reportedly shutting down its studios in Winnipeg and Belgrade, and restructuring its Barcelona unit, potentially impacting around 380 jobs. These closures are part of a broader effort by the publisher to reduce fixed costs by €200 million over the next two years, following multiple game cancellations and layoffs earlier this year.
Roadmaps and Plans
Microsoft has commented on the development status of The Elder Scrolls 6, acknowledging its absence from recent roadmaps. While no new details were provided, the company reiterated its commitment to the highly anticipated title.
Deltarune Chapters 6 and 7 Updates Shared
Toby Fox provided updates on Deltarune Chapters 6 and 7, stating that Chapter 6 development is progressing quickly with most standard encounters complete. There's a possibility that work on Chapter 7 could begin before the end of 2027. Deltarune Chapter 5 is scheduled for release on June 24, 2026, with Chapters 5-7 being free updates.
Xbox posts new memo recapping CEO’s first 100 days, outlines “reset” for the company
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and CCO Mat Booty have outlined the company's strategic reset following Sharma's first 100 days. The memo addresses challenges including declining revenue, hardware component costs, and studio overextension, while highlighting recent successes in platform updates, Game Pass growth, and new exclusive game announcements like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond studio had to "buy back" its independence from Xbox "to get back to the games we were known for" instead of Call of Duty and Overwatch
Toys for Bob, the studio behind Skylanders and a co-developer for Call of Duty and Overwatch, has become independent from Microsoft. Studio head Paul Yan stated the decision was made to "buy back" creative control and return to developing games the studio is passionate about, rather than supporting larger IPs. The studio is now working on a new Spyro game, Spyro: A Realm Beyond, with a spring 2027 release window for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, and has an agreement with Xbox to publish it.
Major Xbox layoffs reportedly on the way as CEO Asha Sharma admits Microsoft's gaming division is "over…
Xbox is reportedly planning significant layoffs and budget cuts across its gaming division, according to an internal email from CEO Asha Sharma. Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty cited over-investment in content and studios, which has not yielded expected revenue growth, as the reason for this "Xbox reset."
Once again players are right to suspect AI was used in a game, once again a dev apologizes for using AI in their game
Developer Panache Digital Games has apologized for using generative AI in early assets for their upcoming game, 1666: Amsterdam. Following player concerns, the studio confirmed that AI-generated portraits and marketing materials made their way into the prologue. They have pledged to replace these assets with human-made versions and ensure no AI-generated content will be present in the Early Access or full release.
Next 100 Days: XBOX Reset
An internal message to Xbox employees outlines a 'reset' for the business, highlighting early successes in platform updates, Game Pass growth, and community engagement. The message also addresses significant challenges including declining revenue, a hardware component crisis impacting console production, an overextended studio system, and outdated platform infrastructure, emphasizing the need for strategic adjustments and innovation to become the number one gaming and entertainment company.
Strange Island devlog #7 news
The developers of Strange Island have completed the main island environment after 11 months of work, focusing on adding detailed objects and environmental elements. They have significantly modified the MapMagic2 tool for procedural world generation and are now preparing a playable version for Steam Next Fest in September 2026. The team plans to add water effects, fog, optimization, and quests before aiming for an Early Access launch.
1666 Amsterdam dev apologizes for AI in prologue demo, says "full game will not include any assets generated by…
Panache Digital Games has apologized for the inclusion of AI-generated assets in the prologue demo for its upcoming game, 1666: Amsterdam. Studio lead Patrice Desilets confirmed that early versions of assets, including in-game portraits and marketing materials, were mistakenly used. The studio vows that the full game and its Early Access version will not contain any AI-generated content.
Oxygen Levels, Shoe Types, Cigarette Butts: GTA 6's Most Unhinged Fan Is Investigating Rockstar
A dedicated fan is employing unconventional methods, including monitoring oxygen levels, car values, and cigarette butt counts outside Rockstar North's offices, in an attempt to predict the release of the next Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer. The fan's elaborate investigation aims to gauge employee activity and stress levels as indicators for new marketing material.
1666: Amsterdam dev addresses gen-AI accusations, claiming AI assets were an 'oversight'
Panache Digital Games has admitted that some assets and marketing materials for their upcoming game, 1666: Amsterdam, contained generative AI, calling it an 'oversight'. The developers have pledged to remove all AI-generated assets from the early access and final release of the game. This admission comes amidst broader industry concerns about the use of AI in game development, with Sega also addressing AI content disclosures this week.
The Godhead must have woken up: Eight years ago, Bethesda teased Elder Scrolls 6—and never mentioned it again
Eight years ago, Bethesda Softworks teased The Elder Scrolls 6, but has provided no further updates since. This lack of information has led to speculation and discussion within the gaming community regarding the game's development status.
Ubisoft reportedly shuts down Winnipeg and Belgrade studios
Ubisoft has reportedly closed its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios, with additional layoffs occurring at its Barcelona studio, potentially affecting up to 380 employees. The Winnipeg studio closure is particularly notable given Ubisoft's previous commitment to expand it. These actions follow a year of labor disputes, including employee strikes and previous studio closures, amidst a significant deal with Tencent.
Elder Scrolls 6 Was Announced 8 Years Ago Today, Here’s Why It Didn’t Show Up At Xbox Showcase
The Elder Scrolls 6, first announced eight years ago, was not featured in the recent Xbox Games Showcase. Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty explained that the team is waiting for the right moment to reveal more, stating the game looks amazing and is progressing well. Game director Todd Howard reflected on the early announcement, questioning if it was the best strategy.
Crushed In Time reist durch die Zeit und erscheint heute für den PC
Draw Me A Pixel has released their humorous puzzle adventure game, Crushed In Time, for PC via Steam. The game features Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigating a mystery that spans time and the game development process itself. It is described as a meta point-and-click adventure with a time-traveling narrative.
