Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Ape Escape return teased by insider as hopes raised for new Astro Bot game
A reliable insider suggests that Sony Interactive Entertainment is planning a return for the Ape Escape franchise. While the original developer Japan Studio is unlikely to be involved, and Bandai Namco has also been ruled out, the project is reportedly in development. This news comes as anticipation grows for a potential new Astro Bot game from Team Asobi.
Krafton shuts down PUBG spin-off Black Budget nine months after closed alpha test
Krafton has ceased development on its PUBG spin-off, Black Budget, just nine months after its closed alpha test. The company cited that the game's current direction would not allow for a long-term enjoyable player experience. This marks the second PUBG spin-off cancellation this year, following Blindspot in March.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Says Not Turning it Into a Personal Fan Project Was “Not Easy”
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the development team deliberately avoided making story changes based on player reactions to ensure the Remake trilogy stayed true to its original vision. He discussed the challenges of adapting the beloved RPG and the risks involved in creating a multi-part remake, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the core identity of Final Fantasy 7.
ARC Raiders Developer Warns of “No Second Chances” In Stringent New Stance On Cheating
Embark, the developer of ARC Raiders, has announced a significantly stricter stance on cheating within the game. The studio will now implement permanent bans for all confirmed instances of cheating, with no warnings or second chances. This policy also extends to linked accounts and prevents banned game copies from being used with other accounts, aiming to create a fairer experience for all players.
The Witcher 3 Remastered vs Crimson Desert Enhanced: Two Open Worlds, Two Paths to Improvement
This analysis compares The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered and Crimson Desert Enhanced, focusing on their open-world design, visuals, combat, and narrative. While both games offer immersive experiences, The Witcher 3 Remastered is lauded for its nuanced writing and impactful player choices, making it the definitive version. Crimson Desert, however, is recognized for its impressive evolution and more modern technical advancements, presenting a more compelling upgrade from its original release.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director says "it wasn't easy" not turning "a masterpiece like FF7 into something that felt like my own personal fan project"
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi discussed the challenges of adapting the beloved original game into a modern trilogy. He emphasized the importance of staying true to the core narrative and avoiding making the remake feel like a personal fan project, while acknowledging the creative liberties taken.
Doom64 - Doom for the Commodore 64? Well sort of.. But it's still impressive
Developer Kweepa has released the final version of Doom 64, an ambitious demake for the Commodore 64, marking the second entry in his planned id Software conversion trilogy. This impressive feat utilizes clever optimizations like dithered shading and custom lookup tables to recreate the classic Doom experience on the limited hardware, even featuring a native soundtrack and sprites sourced from the original PC release. The game is available in versions optimized for modern emulators and stock C64 hardware, with a splash screen illustrated by Paul Docherty.
Masters of Albion's 1.0 launch was a "sketch," Peter Molyneux says. Its New Beginnings update helps "turn it into a painting"
Peter Molyneux describes the initial 1.0 launch of his game Masters of Albion as a "sketch," but states that the new "New Beginnings" update aims to "turn it into a painting." This massive rework addresses performance issues, revamps core gameplay systems like the Arcadium and order system, and introduces a morality system inspired by Fable. The update is live now on Steam.
Charting the Unknown Will Arrive in Crimson Desert on October 29
Pearl Abyss has delayed the release of Crimson Desert's first expansion, Charting the Unknown, from October 15, 2026, to October 29, 2026. The company cited the need for additional development time to ensure a more polished and stable gameplay experience across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. The expansion will cost $24.99 and includes new activities such as sailing and diving.
GTA 6’s Weather System Sounds Like A Big Step Up
Rockstar Games has detailed the advanced weather systems in Grand Theft Auto 6, aiming for localized and persistent environmental effects. Vice president of art for lighting and rendering, Owen Shepherd, explained that the game will feature dynamic cloudscapes, localized rain, and realistic wind effects. The title is set to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
ARC Raiders head dev admits maintaining work-life balance and live service updates have been challenging
Embark Studios executive producer Aleksander Grøndal admitted that the development team for ARC Raiders is experiencing burnout due to the challenges of maintaining a live service game and meeting content demands. The studio is re-evaluating its approach to prioritize developer well-being and improve update quality. Grøndal also discussed ongoing efforts to combat cheating and matchmaking abuse.
Reigns and Card Shark developers Nerial are closing down, laying staff off while the founders go "back to our roots"
Nerial, the studio behind games like Reigns and Card Shark, is shutting down or entering "hibernation mode" after 13 years, with its founders Tamara and François Alliot citing a need for change. The closure affects the entire team, who are now seeking new opportunities. The article expresses disappointment with the explanations for the closure and layoffs, suggesting it may be linked to parent company Devolver Digital's recent financial struggles.
Defender (Williams) - 1980's scrolling shooter by Williams Electronics for arcades is getting an Acidbottle Amiga port
Developer Acidbottle is creating a new horizontal shoot 'em up for the Amiga, aiming to faithfully recreate the classic arcade game Defender. The project started in the Godot engine on PC and is now being translated to the Amiga using AI tools and the official arcade source code as reference. An early alpha build is available for testing on high-end Amiga setups.
PlayStation 5 Remaster of Beloved PS3, PS4 Adventure Game Gets Release Date
The Wolf Among Us remaster will launch on PlayStation 5 on October 29, 2026, with updates to art, shaders, and lighting. Director Matt Saia stated the goal was to honor Telltale's legacy and provide the best version of the game for both new and returning players.
Gears Of War: E-Day Has A Clever Solution To One Of PC Gaming’s Biggest Annoyances
Gears of War: E-Day introduces Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) on PC, a feature that significantly reduces the traditional shader compilation wait times. This technology pre-translates shader files, allowing players to jump into the game much faster, as demonstrated on the ASUS ROG Ally X. While the campaign is noted as distinctly Gears, with some criticism for its story and open areas, the innovative ASD feature is highlighted as a major improvement for PC players.
GTA 6 Doesn’t Compromise Scale For Detail, Rockstar Says
Rockstar Games states that Grand Theft Auto 6 will not compromise on scale for detail, aiming to maximize both aspects of the game's design. Director Aaron Garbut emphasized that the project has "dialed up" detail, scope, and interaction to unprecedented levels for the studio. The game is set to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Card Shark & Reigns developer Nerial is 'going on hibernation'
Nerial, the developer behind the Reigns series and Card Shark, is entering a period of hibernation, ceasing new development and releasing its staff. Co-CEOs François and Tamara Alliot announced the decision, indicating they plan to stay in the games industry but will take time to determine their next steps.
Fallout 5 being set outside the US "could be amazing," former Bethesda lead says, even if Todd Howard has previously suggested it's not happening
Former Bethesda lead designer Bruce Nesmith believes setting Fallout 5 outside the US, such as in London or Paris, could be an amazing opportunity for the franchise. While Todd Howard has previously suggested the series would remain in North America, Nesmith sees potential in international locations to explore distinct cultures and environments within the post-apocalyptic setting.
MMO Business Roundup: Discord’s ad sales, GTA Online hacker’s arrest, and Xbox sale rumors
This MMO business roundup covers Discord's new advertising products, the arrest of a hacker allegedly involved in breaches of Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online, Ubisoft Massive Entertainment taking over more IPs, and rumors of Xbox being up for sale, which CEO Asha Sharma denies.
Jason Jones, Co-Creator of Halo and Destiny and Co-Founder of Bungie, Announces New Studio
Jason Jones, a co-founder of Bungie and co-creator of Halo and Destiny, has launched a new studio named Stone Kite. The studio will explore various entertainment mediums, with its first project being a limited-series comic book titled One Zero One, based on a manuscript written by Jones.