Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Whoops! Xbox Accidentally Uploads Gears of War PS5 Trailer
Xbox accidentally uploaded a trailer for Gears of War: E-Day that included a PlayStation 5 logo, suggesting a PS5 version was planned before its cancellation. Xbox marketing head Aaron Greenberg stated the cancellation was not a last-minute decision, though other executives offered no comment on the company's exclusivity strategy.
"There is a limit to progress based on price": In today's AI hardware disaster, Stellar Blade Blood Rain devs prioritize "making the game playable" for as many people as possible
Shift Up CEO Hyung-Tae Kim emphasized the importance of making games playable on current-generation hardware, citing price limitations for PCs and consoles. The studio is prioritizing optimization for its upcoming action game, Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, rather than relying on future hardware advancements. This approach aims to ensure broader accessibility for players, similar to the successful PC port of the original Stellar Blade.
Famous game director Fumito Ueda says his studio does not use AI for 'game development'
Fumito Ueda, director of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, stated in an interview that his studio GenDesign is not using generative AI for core game development of their upcoming sci-fi adventure Gen Atlas. While AI is used for project management tasks like scheduling and summarizing notes, all game development work is performed by humans. The game will be available on PC and published by Epic Games.
Amazon All But Confirms 007 First Light Sequel, But It’s Unclear Who Will Publish It
Amazon's Head of Gaming, Jeff Gattis, clarified statements regarding the publisher of a potential 007 First Light sequel, aiming to correct confusion. While initial comments suggested Amazon Game Studios might publish, Gattis emphasized that IO Interactive remains a strong partner and that the game's development is progressing well.
One of the biggest VR developers in the business closes a studio: 'The VR market remains a challenging space'
VR development studio Vertigo Games has announced the closure of its Amsterdam studio, citing the challenging nature of the VR market. CEO Richard Stitselaar stated the decision was difficult and acknowledged the impact on employees. This follows similar struggles in the VR space, including Meta's closure of multiple VR studios and layoffs.
Pantheon continues to chronicle final polish and prep for the Badia de Cara zone
Visionary Realms' latest progress report for Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen details the final polish and preparation for the upcoming Badia de Cara zone. Development efforts include populating areas, final lighting passes, updating interiors, adding NPC dialogue, and introducing variant enemies. General work also covers finalization of tank class mastery systems, prop work for existing locations, and tuning for early levels.
Rumour: Halo PS5 Trailer Was Planned for State of Play, Sony Allegedly Angered by Removal
A rumor suggests that a Halo trailer captured on PS5 Pro hardware was originally intended for Sony's State of Play showcase but was removed at the last minute by Microsoft. This decision reportedly angered Sony, potentially requiring them to re-edit their presentation.
Aion 2 welcomes ‘friendly competition’ with Guild Wars 3 as NCsoft talks up both MMOs
NCsoft producers Merv Lee Kwai for Aion 2 and Seung-Uk Baek discuss the upcoming releases of Aion 2 and Guild Wars 3, framing their simultaneous announcements as 'friendly competition.' Baek highlights that Aion 2 will focus on large-scale RvR with massive player counts, while Guild Wars 3 will cater to smaller group-based gameplay. Both producers express pride in bringing new titles to the MMORPG genre during a challenging period.
Go Behind the Scenes of Prove You’re Human at Day of the Devs, Southeast Asian Games Showcase
Day of the Devs at Summer Game Fest and the Southeast Asian Games Showcase provided behind-the-scenes looks at the development of Prove You're Human, a narrative adventure game from sunset visitor 斜陽過客 and Black Tabby Games. Developers discussed inspirations, animation techniques, and the Southeast Asian influences on the game's themes of identity and environmental effects.
After seeing Thief Remastered, I'm calling it: That doomed Deux Ex remaster should get rebooted with Nightdive in…
The upcoming remasters of Thief: The Dark Project by Nightdive Studios and Deus Ex by Aspyr present a stark contrast in approach and reception. While Nightdive's Thief remaster is praised for its faithful yet enhanced visuals, Aspyr's Deus Ex remaster has drawn criticism for a perceived dated graphical overhaul. The article suggests that Aspyr's project should be rebooted, ideally with Nightdive's involvement, given the positive reception to their work on System Shock 2 and Thief.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond dev wants Spyro to live on for a long time, hopes this is the start of “many new games”
Toys for Bob studio head Paul Yan expressed a desire for the Spyro franchise to continue with many new games, starting with the upcoming Spyro: A Realm Beyond. He stated that the studio aims to take risks and evolve the series while remaining true to its core foundation. Spyro: A Realm Beyond is slated for release on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.
Ninja Theory Horror Game Project Mara Canceled
Ninja Theory has canceled its experimental horror game, Project Mara. Studio Head Dom Matthews stated the decision was made to consolidate the studio's talent onto the new Senua game, which follows Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. Project Mara was first announced in January 2020 and described as a "mental terror" game.
Toys For Bob Discusses Flying Free In Spyro: A Realm Beyond
Toys for Bob, now an independent studio formerly part of Activision Blizzard and briefly Microsoft, has revealed Spyro: A Realm Beyond. Studio Head Paul Yan and Associate Creative Director Lou Studdert discussed the studio's independence and the game's emphasis on true player-controlled flight. The spark for the new game came during the development of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy.
Gears of War: E-Day trailer quickly removed after PS5 logo accidentally appeared
A PlayStation 5 logo briefly appeared in an Xbox Podcast video for Gears of War: E-Day, reigniting rumors of a multiplatform release. Microsoft has since clarified that the game will be exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC, launching on October 6, 2026. The prequel is built in Unreal Engine 5 and promises a darker, horror-focused experience.
Reaction: Mealy-Mouthed Microsoft Takes Us Back to 2023 with Mixed Messaging on Xbox Exclusivity
Microsoft's recent Xbox Showcase and subsequent statements from executives like Matt Booty have reintroduced ambiguity regarding game exclusivity. Despite promises of multiplatform releases for big multiplayer and live service titles, games like Gears of War: E-Day are now confirmed as Xbox console exclusives, leading to confusion and criticism about inconsistent messaging.
SEGA says Crazy Taxi: World Tour only uses genAI-produced assets as reference
SEGA has clarified that generative AI in Crazy Taxi: World Tour is used solely as a reference for human artists, not for direct asset creation. Original series creator Kenji Kanno stated that all programming and assets are made by humans, with AI-generated images serving only as inspiration for the development team.
Stellar Blade boss admits he "struggled" with its boring main character, but going into Blood Rain "realized that players can fully immerse themselves even in a character with a strong, distinct personality"
Hyung-Tae Kim, head of Stellar Blade developer Shift Up, admits struggling with the main character Eve's personality in the first game and plans to give the protagonist in the upcoming Stellar Blade: Blood Rain a more defined character. He realized players can immerse themselves in characters with strong personalities, a lesson learned from player reactions to the first game.
Gears of War: E-Day's PS5 port is reportedly mostly complete as Xbox only recently decided to U-turn on its console…
A report suggests that a PlayStation 5 port of Gears of War: E-Day is nearly complete, despite Xbox recently deciding to keep the game as an Xbox exclusive. This change in strategy reportedly occurred after Phil Spencer's retirement, with current leadership re-evaluating which single-player games will be ported to other platforms on a case-by-case basis.
Crushed In Time interview with director Pascal Cammisotto
Pascal Cammisotto, director at Draw Me a Pixel, discusses the upcoming adventure game Crushed In Time, which stars Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson trapped within a failed video game. The game features a unique stretch-and-pull mechanic and meta-narrative elements inspired by the developers' previous title, There Is No Game. Crushed In Time is set to release on PC in June, with Nintendo Switch and mobile versions planned for later in the year.
Crazy Taxi creator explains use of ‘generative AI support tools’ in response to criticism
The creator of Crazy Taxi has explained the use of generative AI support tools in response to criticism. The article discusses the implications of using AI in game development.