Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Uncharted 5 Is Reportedly In Development And Will Feature Nathan Drake
Reports suggest Naughty Dog is developing Uncharted 5, with Uncharted: The Lost Legacy director Shaun Escayag reportedly leading the project. The game is expected to feature Nathan Drake and is likely to be a PlayStation 6 release, potentially following the studio's new IP, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and The Last of Us 3.
Throwback MMORPG Monsters & Memories enters early access while netting over 12K advance subs
The old-school styled MMORPG Monsters & Memories has entered early access after being unveiled in 2021. The game had already secured over 12,000 advance subscriptions prior to launch, with players able to reserve names and create characters. Recent updates include adjustments to classes, spells, and tradeskills, alongside bug fixes and the ability to create multiple characters per server.
World of Warcraft Forever is highlighting its classes… including classes that don’t currently exist
World of Warcraft Forever is highlighting its existing classes like Druid, Hunter, Warrior, Rogue, and Shaman with deep dives and videos. The game is also surveying players about potential new classes such as Demon Hunters, Tinkers, Bards, Illusionists, Witches, and Necromancers, indicating a divergence from the retail version of World of Warcraft.
GTA 6 Online release date estimate
This analysis estimates that Grand Theft Auto 6 Online could launch in July 2027, based on a statement from Twitch CEO Dan Clancy. The extended wait is attributed to Rockstar Games' need for careful planning, considering the success of Grand Theft Auto 5 Online and the desire to avoid developer crunch.
Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake leaker throws his weight behind reports of a new Uncharted game
A new Uncharted game is reportedly in development at Naughty Dog, potentially starring Nathan Drake and led by Shaun Escayg. Prominent leaker NateTheHate has corroborated these reports, though he has no information on potential future The Last of Us projects.
As Xbox swings the axe, Gears of War: E-Day developers fear they'll be laid off straight after launch - and right before they'd be due their bonuses
Developers at The Coalition, the studio behind Gears of War: E-Day, are increasingly fearful of imminent layoffs following recent waves of job cuts at Microsoft and Xbox. The departure of the game's story director has heightened anxiety, particularly concerning potential loss of Metacritic bonuses tied to the game's launch.
Resident Evil 5 and 6 remakes will happen hints Capcom but not anytime soon
Capcom is considering remaking Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6, but these projects are not currently in active development and face significant hurdles. Producer Jun Takeuchi indicated a long-term plan to remake all mainline entries, but the problematic themes of Resident Evil 5 and the commercial underperformance of Resident Evil 6 make their remakes unlikely in the near future, possibly not until the 2030s.
Jobs roundup: October | Playstack CEO Harvey Elliott voted chair of UKIE
Several key appointments have been made across the UK games industry. Harvey Elliott, CEO of Playstack, has been voted chair of UKIE, succeeding Maria Sayans. Murray Pannell joins Steel City Interactive as head of publishing, while Dean Anderson leads MV&P's APAC partnerships. Catherine Bygrave is the new head of commercial at Code Wizards Group, and Michał Platkow-Gilewski has been promoted to VP of global communications and marketing at CD Projekt Red.
Jobs roundup: October | Code Wizards Group appoints Catherine Bygrave as head of commercial
Several key figures have moved into new roles within the games industry. Michał Platkow-Gilewski was promoted to VP of global communications and marketing at CD Projekt Red, while Catherine Bygrave was appointed head of commercial at Code Wizards Group. Other notable appointments include Daniel Smith as executive producer at Playground Games, Gero Micciché as lead producer at 2K and Hangar 13 Games, and Tymon Smektala as executive producer at Bloober Team's Broken Mirror Games.
The Division studio Massive expands to take control of Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon, and a new IP, in Ubisoft's most recent reorganisation
Ubisoft has reorganised its studios, expanding Massive Entertainment's remit to oversee the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell brands, as well as multiple global studios and a new original IP called March of Giants. This move establishes Massive as a multi-franchise leading subsidiary, similar to the recently formed Vantage Studios. The restructuring follows several rounds of layoffs across Ubisoft, including at Massive Entertainment itself.
Ubisoft’s Creative House 2 is Now Massive Entertainment, Will Work on The Division, Splinter Cell
Ubisoft has officially renamed its Creative House 2 division to Massive Entertainment, consolidating development teams across multiple locations under one identity. This division will now be the primary team responsible for the "The Division," "Ghost Recon," and "Splinter Cell" franchises, as well as new intellectual properties. Massive Entertainment is currently focused on supporting "The Division 2" with its "Echoes of Central Park" expansion and a cross-platform multiplayer update, while also continuing development on "The Division 3."
Gears of War: E-Day Studio Fears Layoffs, Demoralized by Story Director’s Departure – Rumor
Sources at The Coalition report significant fear and demoralization following the departure of story director Juan Vaca and other developers, despite the studio's previous perceived safety from Xbox layoffs. Concerns are high regarding potential future layoffs, restructuring under Activision Blizzard, and the payout of Metacritic-tied bonuses, leading to a somber atmosphere as Gears of War: E-Day approaches its release.
Kena: Scars of Kosmora Delayed to 2027 to “Polish the Expanded Experience We Want to Deliver”
Ember Lab has delayed Kena: Scars of Kosmora from 2026 to 2027 to allow for further polish on its expanded experience. The game, a character-focused linear adventure with a broader scope than its predecessor, will be available on PlayStation 5 and PC. The delay allows the developers to deliver a top-notch game that exceeds the quality of Kena: Bridge of Spirits.
Valve’s still-developing multiplayer shooter Deadlock drops a massive update and sees a swell of player activity
Valve's unreleased multiplayer shooter Deadlock has received a significant update called 'The City Never Sleeps,' introducing new characters, a redesigned battle map, and various visual upgrades. This update has led to a surge in player activity, with the game's beta reaching a new peak of over 228,000 concurrent players on Steam. Future development priorities include character progression, customization, and alternate game modes.
EVE Online is updating NPC ‘agents’ as part of wider tech upgrades, so make sure to contact your digital fellas
EVE Online is undergoing a significant technical upgrade that involves future-proofing its mission-granting NPC agents and improving its underlying database infrastructure by moving from Python 2 to Python 3. While player standings will remain unaffected, players who have interacted with an agent but not updated their progress before the upgrade will see their jobs cleared out.
Valve says Deadlock is still too unfinished to release publicly, but has hero cosmetics and new game modes in the works
Valve has stated that Deadlock, its invite-only MOBA, is still too unfinished for a public release despite recent updates and new content. The company is focusing on parallel development across various aspects of the game, including progression and hero customizations, and is experimenting with speculative features like new game modes and item redesigns. Valve emphasizes the difficulty of multiplayer game development and the importance of player feedback in shaping the game before a wider launch.
Former Halo lead suggests three ways Activision could revive the legendary series, and urges the company to hire laid off Bungie staff
Former Halo franchise director Frank O'Connor has proposed three potential paths for Activision to revive the Halo series, including hiring laid-off developers from Bungie and Halo Studios. His suggestions range from creating a classic-style Halo to a complete reinvention or a Call of Duty-like annual release model.
Ubisoft renames Creative House 2, home of The Division, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell, as Massive Entertainment
Ubisoft has renamed its Creative House 2 business unit to Massive Entertainment, consolidating development teams in Toronto, Montreal, Paris, and Sweden under the established brand. This unit will oversee franchises like Tom Clancy's The Division, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell, as well as new original intellectual property. Veteran executive Christoph Hartmann will lead the newly unified Massive Entertainment, aiming to leverage combined expertise for future game development.
The Splinter Cell Remake Is Still Lurking In The Shadows
Ubisoft is actively recruiting for several roles on the remake of the original Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, indicating the project is still in active development despite being announced nearly five years ago with no gameplay shown. The article notes that the remake's final form is unclear, especially regarding its gameplay mechanics and how it might incorporate elements from later entries like Conviction and Blacklist.
"Xbox is not for sale": CEO Asha Sharma says "we will do whatever it takes" to turn the console maker's fortunes around
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has stated that the company is not for sale, despite significant internal restructuring and studio layoffs. She affirmed a commitment to doing "whatever it takes" to ensure Xbox's success. Separately, Rockstar Games detailed advancements in Grand Theft Auto 6's weather system, promising dynamic cloudscapes and localized, persistent weather effects.
