Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Morning Postmortems/Retrospectives
The licensed Paranormal Activity horror game is reportedly 'technically done for good,' with one source stating it's 'difficult to imagine a path forward with it.' The article suggests the game's development has reached a definitive end.
Room 8 Group appoints Juanita Draude as Chief Executive Officer
Room 8 Group has appointed Juanita Draude as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a new phase of growth for the external game development partner. Draude brings over 20 years of experience in media, technology, and entertainment to the role. Her appointment signifies Room 8 Group's continued focus on becoming an integrated, technology-driven partner for game developers and publishers.
Splinter Cell veteran says realistic modern lighting has screwed up stealth games: "it gets very hard to tell what’s light, what’s shadow, what’s dark, what’s safe"
Designer Clint Hocking believes that realistic modern lighting has made stealth games harder to develop and play. He argues that the sophisticated rendering and diffusion in current games obscure the clear distinctions between light and shadow that were present in older, "baked lighting" titles. Hocking, who has worked on games like Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, suggests that developers need to rethink how they communicate visibility to players in modern titles.
Room 8 Group appoints Juanita Draude as CEO
Room 8 Group has appointed Juanita Draude as its new CEO, succeeding Anna Kozlova. Draude brings over two decades of experience in media, technology, and entertainment. She aims to evolve Room 8 Group into an integrated, technology-driven partner for developers and publishers across the full production lifecycle.
The big Strauss Zelnick interview: GTA, AI, Roblox and building the biggest entertainment company in the world
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick discussed the company's strategy regarding Grand Theft Auto 6, artificial intelligence, and mobile gaming. He emphasized that technology enables human creativity rather than replacing jobs and highlighted Take-Two's goal to become the biggest entertainment company on Earth, leveraging its strong PC, console, and mobile presence.
Splinter Cell designer says modern lighting has made stealth games harder to read
Splinter Cell veteran Clint Hocking believes modern lighting techniques, while realistic, make stealth games harder to read and understand for players. He argues that the baked lighting of older stealth titles was more legible, and that current realistic lighting systems need careful tuning to maintain clarity for gameplay.
Leaked ‘Virtua Fighter Crossroads’ developer diary appears online
A video appearing to be a developer diary for a game titled 'Virtua Fighter Crossroads' has been leaked online. The content suggests a behind-the-scenes look at the development of this unannounced title.
Sony’s new trademark gives clues about upcoming game ahead of next State of Play
Sony has filed a new trademark, suggesting an upcoming game announcement is imminent. While details about the game remain unknown, the filing comes ahead of Sony's next State of Play presentation.
Dragon Age: Inquisition's lead narrative designer is making an adventure game world "where the ordinary starts to feel like it is hiding something"
Studio Reset, an independent Canadian studio founded by former BioWare veterans, has announced its debut project: a neon-noir supernatural mystery game. The studio, which includes lead narrative designer Kaelin Lavallée from Dragon Age: Inquisition and former Anthem creative director Kris Schoneberg, aims to modernize the adventure game genre with bold visuals and meaningful replayability, focusing on atmospheric storytelling and intuitive clue-solving.
"Entire nations will hate you": Steam expert warns devs to use good regional pricing and localization if they don't want Silksong-style review bombs
An expert warns game developers that ignoring regional pricing and proper localization can lead to negative reviews and player backlash, citing examples like Hollow Knight: Silksong and Slay the Spire 2. Tom Kaczmarczyk of IndieBI emphasized that failing to adapt prices and provide good localization, especially for markets like China, can significantly suppress sales and damage a game's reputation.
Copycat Gran Turismo Games Now Ripping Off PS5 Racer's Marketing
The game Project Motor Racing is being criticized for imitating the marketing materials of Gran Turismo 7, specifically using similar YouTube thumbnail compositions and naming a car pack 'GT Icons'. Developer Straight4 Studios appears to be leveraging the popularity of Polyphony Digital's franchise to gain attention. This tactic has even fooled some viewers into believing it was an official Gran Turismo update.
Quantic Dream Layoffs Hitting Up to 95 Jobs Following Game Closure
Quantic Dream is reportedly laying off up to 95 employees in France following the closure of its MOBA-like game, Spellcasters Chronicles. The French video game union STJV blames management and NetEase for the game's failure and the subsequent job losses, demanding that layoffs be halted and the Spellcasters team be reassigned.
LATAM indie devs lay out how to improve your text animation
Independent game developers from Latin America showcased innovative text animation techniques at Gamescom LATAM to improve player engagement with game narratives and tutorials. Games like Climb Out of Hell, Artius: Pure Imagination, Ghostless, and Afantasia demonstrate how dynamic text can enhance storytelling, provide commentary, and guide players more effectively, utilizing engines like Unity, Unreal Engine, and Gamemaker.
"Honestly difficult to imagine a path forward with it" - licensed Paranormal Activity horror game "technically done for good", says Mortuary Assistant creator
Brian Clarke, the solo developer of The Mortuary Assistant, has announced that his licensed Paranormal Activity game, Paranormal Activity: Threshold, is "technically done for good." Development ceased after Paramount declined Clarke's request for more time, leading him to part ways with the publisher. Clarke is now considering repurposing the game's assets for a new project or focusing on smaller, less demanding ideas due to burnout.
MOBA Spellcasters Chronicles, which actually didn’t suck, is sunsetting June 19
Quantic Dream is shutting down its multiplayer MOBA, Spellcasters Chronicles, on June 19th due to a lack of players. The company cited the challenging market environment for its decision and will be refocusing on other projects, which will include internal reorganizations and likely layoffs. Refunds will be available for players who purchased the game during its early access period.
Pantheon updates its test realm with the Ranger, NPC tuning, and class adjustments
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen has updated its test realm, introducing the Ranger class for levels 1-10 and planning to increase the level cap soon. This update also includes adjustments to NPC difficulty, item stats, rested XP, and various class abilities and bug fixes.
Squabble over Disco Elysium's legacy continues as Hopetown studio recruit another ex-ZA/UM dev while dropping a new trailer on Zero Parades' release day
The ongoing dispute surrounding Disco Elysium's legacy continues as the studio Longdue, developing the journalistic RPG Hopetown, has recruited former ZA/UM writer Olga Moskvina. This announcement coincides with the release of ZA/UM's new game, Zero Parades, and a new trailer for Hopetown. Longdue aims to distinguish Hopetown from its inspirations through its in-depth note-taking and article-drafting mechanics.
XSOLLA AND THE DUBAI FILMS AND GAMES COMMISSION CREATE A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO CONNECT DUBAI-BASED DEVELOPERS TO GLOBAL MARKETS
Xsolla and the Dubai Films and Games Commission have formed a strategic partnership to boost the video game industry in the Middle East and North Africa. This multi-year agreement aims to provide Dubai-based developers with global market access by combining Xsolla's commerce infrastructure with the commission's development initiatives. The partnership will include a joint studio accelerator program and market intelligence sharing.
Ubisoft confirms new Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Ghost Recon games are in the works and will launch by March 2029, alongside the 'first playable Generative AI experience'
Ubisoft has announced plans to release new titles in its Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Ghost Recon franchises by March 2029, aiming for higher quality standards following recent restructuring. The company is also developing its first playable Generative AI experience to enhance player engagement and development efficiency. Despite a projected low point in free cash flow for FY2026-27 due to restructuring costs and a softer release slate, Ubisoft is focused on growing its live service games and delivering new content.
Quantic Dream cutting jobs after scrapping Spellcasters Chronicles
Quantic Dream has canceled the development of its free-to-play strategy title Spellcasters Chronicles due to a lack of audience and is initiating layoffs. The studio stated that the cancellation will not impact the development of Star Wars Eclipse. A French labor union claims up to 95 jobs are at risk and criticizes the project's management.
