Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
Double Fine will finally make Brutal Legend 2, but only if its new Kickstarter campaign reaches an almost impossible $100m
Double Fine has announced plans to develop Brutal Legend 2, contingent on their new Kickstarter campaign for 'Amnesia Fortnight 2026, Indie Reboot' reaching an ambitious $100 million goal. The studio recently regained independence after being acquired by Xbox. The campaign aims to fund a two-week game jam and documentary, with Brutal Legend 2 serving as a highly improbable stretch goal.
Double Fine will finally make Brutal Legend 2, but only if its new Kickstarter campaign reaches an almost impossible $100m
Double Fine has announced a Kickstarter campaign for 'Amnesia Fortnight 2026, Indie Reboot,' which includes a stretch goal to develop Brutal Legend 2 if the campaign reaches an ambitious $100 million. The studio recently regained independence after being owned by Xbox.
No Rest for the Wicked, which was slated to hit 1.0 a month before Grand Theft Auto 6, is delayed into 2027
Moon Studios has announced that its action RPG, No Rest for the Wicked, will be delayed from its planned October release into March 2027. The studio cited the need for more time to improve performance and polish the game to their standards, with an open beta planned for December. The delay means the game will now launch well after Grand Theft Auto 6, which is slated for a November release.
The majority of Doom: The Dark Ages' DLC got made 'in three or four months'
Former Id Software producer Andrew Willis described the development of Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations DLC as extremely brutal, with significant crunch time required to complete the majority of the game in three to four months. Willis reported working at least 12 hours daily for two months, with some days reaching 17 hours, and noted that many team members considered it the worst crunch they had experienced. This news follows recent layoffs at Id Software, impacting many developers who had worked on previous titles.
Despite horrendous layoffs, obscene hardware prices, and everything else, Saber Interactive exec says 'this is a…
Despite industry-wide challenges like layoffs and high hardware prices, Saber Interactive's Tim Willits believes it's a good time for game development due to accessible platforms like mobile phones and Fortnite. He encourages developers to create games and suggests laid-off talent will be reabsorbed by the industry.
Double Fine are all in on making Brutal Legend 2, if you're willing to give them $100 million in their game jam Kickstarter, anyway
Double Fine has launched a Kickstarter campaign for their Amnesia Fortnight game jam, with a stretch goal to fund Brutal Legend 2 if $100 million is raised. While the funding goal is highly ambitious, the campaign allows backers to vote on prototypes developed during the jam, with winners potentially becoming full games. This initiative marks Double Fine's return to independence after being acquired by Microsoft.
"Consoles are here to stay": CD Projekt Red lead says The Witcher 3 studio isn't "worried" about next-gen consoles like the PS6 and Project Helix facing delays
CD Projekt Red CEO Michał Nowakowski believes consoles are essential for reaching a wider audience and is not concerned about potential delays for next-generation hardware like the PlayStation 6. He emphasizes that content is king and players will find ways to access games regardless of the platform's specific generation.
"You cannot make a game like The Witcher 4" by being "cost-driven," CD Projekt CEO says, and he's "100% sure" GTA 6 is being made the same way
CD Projekt Red CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that games like The Witcher 4 and Grand Theft Auto 6 cannot be made with a cost-driven approach, emphasizing quality and fan expectations over budget constraints. He believes that while cost-consciousness is important, it's not the primary driver for such ambitious titles. Nowakowski also touched upon Cyberpunk 2077's troubled launch, attributing it to psychological factors rather than investor pressure.
The Big Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest Interview: Release Date, Clan Roles, Combat, and More
An interview with a developer from Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest reveals insights into the team's creative process for bringing the Clans to life. The discussion touched upon aspects like release date, clan roles, and combat mechanics.
"We all benefit from great games": How the 4X devs behind Endless Legend and Humankind went from Early Access…
Amplitude Studios, developers of Humankind and Endless Legend, discuss the evolution of the Early Access model and its impact on game development. They note how player expectations have shifted, making risk-taking more challenging. The studio also comments on the competitive 4X landscape, including the mixed reception of Civilization 7, and expresses optimism for the genre's future.
CD Projekt Red never considered charging for The Witcher 3 remaster, and says expansion Songs of the Past came from a couple of "happy accidents"
CD Projekt Red will not charge for the upcoming remaster of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, viewing it as a free upgrade for existing owners. The expansion 'Songs of the Past' will be a paid DLC, a decision described as a 'happy accident' during development. The company also announced that the game's existing expansions will now be bundled with new purchases.
GTA 6 Studio On Massive Pressure: “We Are Nervous”
Rockstar North boss Rob Nelson admitted the studio is nervous about the immense pressure and 13 years of hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6. He stated the team prioritizes self-imposed pressure to innovate and perfect the game, which Take-Two Interactive's CEO Strauss Zelnick echoed, emphasizing a commitment to creative optimization over rushed releases.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 lead says Nvidia DLSS 5 backlash is "really funny," and that "most talented…
Daniel Vávra, director of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, has defended Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology amidst player backlash, calling the controversy "really funny." He argues that AI tools are widely used by developers, including the most talented ones, to improve efficiency and cut down development time.
Star Wars Zero Company Developers Were Furloughed Before The Game Even Released
A significant portion of the development team for Star Wars Zero Company at Bit Reactor was furloughed before the game's August 28 release, with sources indicating around 80% of the team was impacted. The studio operated on a tight $50 million budget, and co-founders are involved in a lawsuit alleging mismanagement and wrongful termination.
Everspace 2’s Final Technical Update Makes it Steam Deck Verified — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Rockfish Games has released the final technical update for Everspace 2, making it Steam Deck Verified and improving performance on Xbox Series S. This update includes optimizations and bug fixes, and the studio hinted at a future project within the Everspace series, having received a significant grant for their next endeavor.
Bit Reactor furloughed most of the Star Wars Zero Company devs weeks before launch
Developer Bit Reactor furloughed approximately 80 percent of its staff weeks before the launch of its debut title, Star Wars Zero Company. The studio stated the decision was independent of publisher EA and owner Disney, and that they hope to rehire the affected employees. Despite the internal turmoil, the game has received positive reviews and is performing well on Steam.
Grant Kirkhope knows of three studios that were possibly turned down for new Banjo-Kazooie
Composer Grant Kirkhope revealed that multiple studios have pitched new Banjo-Kazooie games to Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios, but none of the pitches were successful. He did not disclose the names of the studios involved.
Lego Skylines är inte en förenklad Skylines-upplevelse
Lego Skylines, a city-builder developed by Iceflake Studios, was announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live. While featuring a child-friendly Lego theme, the game is aimed at adults and requires strategic planning for traffic and leisure activities. Players will place pre-made buildings rather than constructing them brick-by-brick. It is set to release on an unconfirmed date for Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
30 years later, I finally got to play Quake on the PS1, but that's before I found a better version that doesn't rely on "substantial AI assistance"
The author explores playing Quake on the PlayStation 1, initially finding a promising homebrew demo that unfortunately relies on AI assistance. While the demo includes other impressive PS1 projects, the author expresses a preference for the older, non-AI QuakePSX port due to its mouse support and perceived better performance, despite the overall limitations of playing Quake on the original PlayStation.
I Am Begging One Cool Billionaire To Take Up Double Fine’s Offer To Fund Brutal Legend 2
Double Fine is seeking $100 million in pledges to fund Brutal Legend 2 through a Kickstarter campaign, following its split from Microsoft. The studio is also running a two-week game jam called Amnesia Fortnight to prototype other game ideas, with some chosen by supporters for further development. The article notes that Double Fine recently underwent layoffs affecting 23 employees.
