Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
GamesRadar+ and The MIX to Premiere Two New BitSummit Showcases
BitSummit, Japan's premier indie game festival, announced its 14th edition, "PUNCH," concluded with record attendance and will return in May 2027. In the interim, GamesRadar+, PC Gamer, and The MIX will broadcast two new showcases on May 26th, featuring world premiere trailers and developer spotlights. The BitSummit PUNCH Steam event, offering game demos and sales, remains live through May 28th.
Diablo 4 lead says small teams crunch "because the company is on the verge of collapsing," but even though it's not "necessary" for AAA studios, "you might still have a culture of crunch"
Marcin Undak, lead engine engineer for Diablo 4, discussed the prevalence of crunch in the game industry. He differentiated between smaller teams crunching out of necessity due to financial instability and larger companies that may have a culture of crunch despite having the resources to avoid it. Undak noted that while crunch is becoming less common, it still occurs in larger studios like Rockstar Games and Ubisoft.
Pantheon Rise of the Fallen marks work on zone building, lots of PTR bug fixing, and new robes
Visionary Realms has been actively developing Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, focusing on building the Badia de Cara zone with new NPCs, creature animations, and VFX. Significant effort was also dedicated to fixing bugs on the Public Test Realm for the combat and progression update, including combat tuning and the mastery system. Additionally, work was done on new player robes and updates for Ranger and Rogue classes.
Dying Light The Beast is "very strong proof" that slowing down and focusing on the core details works, former series lead says: "We learned that quality beats quantity"
Former Dying Light franchise director Tymon Smektala stated that focusing on core details and quality over quantity was key to the success of Dying Light: The Beast. He explained that the studio learned this lesson after the initial launch of Dying Light 2, which was overhyped and missed crucial details players expected. This shift in focus led to a more positive reception for The Beast, with over 90% positive Steam reviews.
Star Citizen Passes $1B Funding; Squadron 42 "Imminently Closer to Launch"
Star Citizen and Squadron 42 have collectively surpassed $1 billion in crowdfunding through Roberts Space Industries. The funding milestone was announced alongside a statement indicating that Squadron 42 is nearing its launch.
Release Dates/Windows
Ken Levine's upcoming game, Judas, may be delayed by up to three more years, potentially extending its development cycle to eleven years. This potential delay impacts the anticipated release of the BioShock successor.
AI Yi-Yi!
Pope Leo has issued a 42,300-word encyclical warning about the potential risks associated with Artificial Intelligence. Separately, an article from WIRED discusses how the AI era is fueling an 'arms race' in bug hunting within the tech industry.
Take-Two CEO balances AI optimism against industry layoffs and lies, GTA6 holds to November release
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed optimism about AI in game development, emphasizing it as a tool to enable human creativity rather than a replacement. He also criticized companies that attributed recent layoffs to AI, stating they were instead due to overhiring during the pandemic. The article confirms Grand Theft Auto VI is still on track for its November 19th release.
Aonuma says Zelda Wind Waker was more compact than intended due to deadlines
The Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma revealed in a 2005 interview that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was made more compact than originally intended due to development deadlines. Aonuma expressed regret for this decision, stating his determination to avoid similar issues in future Legend of Zelda titles.
Crimson Desert's Kliff actor would play the character "forever," and thinks his relationship with other key characters is "territory that can be even further developed"
Alec Newman, the voice actor for Crimson Desert's protagonist Kliff, expressed his willingness to continue playing the character indefinitely. He highlighted the rich potential for developing the relationships between Kliff and supporting characters like Oongka and Damiane, suggesting ample room for future narrative expansions or sequels.
Before Dishonored, Arkane was tapped to make Thief 4, and my heart weeps for what might have been: 'We had an…
Arkane Studios co-directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith revealed that Bethesda initially approached the studio to develop Thief 4 or a Blade Runner game before Dishonored. While both directors were passionate about the franchises, neither project materialized, leading Arkane to develop Dishonored instead. The studio was later acquired by ZeniMax Media.
Zelda boss Eiji Aonuma became part of the series because Miyamoto saw him making his own SNES game in the wake of A Link to the Past: "I really wanted to incorporate some essence of Zelda into it"
The Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma revealed that his directorial debut, Marvelous: Another Treasure Island, which was inspired by A Link to the Past, led to Shigeru Miyamoto recruiting him for the Zelda series. Aonuma has since been a pivotal figure in the franchise, directing Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and The Wind Waker.
Daniel Vávra criticizes Ubisoft: “They could have made 10 Kingdom Come-sized games by now”
Daniel Vávra, creator of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, criticized Ubisoft's large workforce and perceived inefficiency, suggesting they could develop multiple games the size of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II simultaneously. His comments sparked debate about AAA game development practices, bureaucracy, and the creative freedom of smaller studios compared to larger publishers.
Nier and Devil May Cry leads say "a lot of Korean developers are ahead of Japan," and I can't imagine Crimson Desert has helped their fear of "being left behind"
Nier creator Yoko Taro and Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya believe Korean developers are technologically ahead of Japan in game development. They expressed admiration for the quality and innovation emerging from Korea, citing titles like Crimson Desert, Lies of P, and Stellar Blade. The developers stated that this competition inspires them to improve their own work and not be left behind.
Sagan om Goldeneye 007
This article details the development of the iconic Nintendo 64 game GoldenEye 007 by Rare. It highlights how a small, inexperienced team, led by Martin Hollis and inspired by figures like Tim Stamper, overcame challenges and Nintendo's initial concerns to create a groundbreaking first-person shooter that redefined the genre on consoles. The game's success, particularly its innovative multiplayer mode, cemented its legacy in video game history.
Rocket League Will Be the First Unreal Engine 6 Title, With A Bold New Look
Psyonix announced that Rocket League will be the first game to utilize Unreal Engine 6, marking a significant visual upgrade from its decade-old Unreal Engine 3 foundation. While no release timeline has been provided, the move signifies a major shift for the popular car-sports hybrid, with Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney previously highlighting Unreal Engine 6's embrace of a multithreaded approach.
Judas reportedly not releasing intil 2028
The narrative-driven FPS Judas, developed by Ghost Story Games and led by Ken Levine, is now projected to release in Take-Two Interactive's 2028/2029 fiscal year, indicating a potential launch in late 2028. This is a significant delay from earlier expectations of a 2025 release. The game is planned for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
The Next Kingdom Come Game Is a Lot Closer Than You Think
Warhorse Studios has indicated that the next game in the Kingdom Come series is closer than anticipated, targeting a release between April 2027 and March 2028. This follows the February 2025 release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, suggesting a quicker development cycle than expected for the studio, which is also working on a Lord of the Rings game.
Your first look at Unreal Engine 6 comes courtesy of a much shinier looking Rocket League teaser
Epic Games has provided an early look at Unreal Engine 6 through a teaser trailer for Rocket League, showcasing enhanced visuals and real-time rendering capabilities. While the trailer highlights the engine's potential, specific release dates for the engine and the visual revamp in Rocket League remain unannounced. The teaser also hinted at a potential universal hub for Epic Games titles and a Disney metaverse project.
Paralives feels like the perfect tranquil tonic to the chaos of The Sims
Paralives, a highly anticipated life simulation game, has launched in early access, offering a tranquil alternative to the chaos of The Sims. Developed by Paralives Studio, the game features robust character and building tools, a charming open-world map, and a more deliberate pace for relationships and gameplay. Despite some expected early access bugs, it presents a promising and distinct vision within the genre.
