Game Development
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Amid relentless layoffs at Xbox, Fable lead says "so many people" at the company see the RPG as "vital to the DNA of the platform," which "protected us over a long development cycle"
Despite significant layoffs at Xbox and the cancellation of other projects, the upcoming RPG Fable is considered vital to the platform's identity, which has protected its long development cycle. Director Ralph Fulton believes the game is important to video games as a whole, offering a unique combination of elements. Fable is set to release on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5.
Insomniac May Be Cooking Up Changes to Wolverine’s Infamous Fart Trail
Insomniac Games is reportedly already working on changes for Marvel's Wolverine following player feedback received since its launch. Community director James Stevenson indicated on X that the team is actively listening to players, with a humorous mention of a 'fart trail' potentially being addressed.
Ubisoft Philippines: A Studio Ready for Bigger Things — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Ubisoft Philippines celebrates its 10th anniversary, showcasing its significant contributions to titles like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. The studio has evolved from talent acquisition to taking on greater project ownership, demonstrating a strong capacity for creative input and development.
The Best Overwatch Heroes, According To Blizzard
Overwatch game director Aaron Keller and associate game director Alec Dawson shared their favorite heroes and insights into character design. Dawson's favorites include Lucio and the newer hero Doctrine, while Keller's original main was Tracer and he enjoys playing tanks like Reinhardt and Winston. Both developers expressed admiration for the design of Doctrine, Shion, and Emre.
Marvel's Wolverine dev Insomniac has "been cooking hard" in response to negative feedback: "We have…
Insomniac Games community director James Stevenson acknowledged player feedback regarding Marvel's Wolverine, stating the team is actively working on improvements. The game has received mixed reviews, with some critics citing issues that detract from its overall quality, especially in a competitive release window and amidst broader concerns about Sony's recent business decisions.
007 First Light catches a big delay on Switch 2, pushing it into next year
IO Interactive has delayed the Nintendo Switch 2 version of 007 First Light from its planned summer release to March 2027. The studio cited the need for additional time to polish the game and optimize performance for the platform. This decision comes as a surprise, given the game was recently playable at Gamescom.
Rayman Legends Retold har försenats – trots att det har gått guld
Ubisoft has delayed the release of Rayman Legends Retold, a remake of the 2013 game, from October 1 to December 3. Despite the game having gone gold, the company states the delay is to allow for further polishing. A trailer and media impressions are still scheduled for September 22.
Rayman Legends Retold delayed just weeks before launch
Ubisoft has delayed the release of Rayman Legends Retold, a 3D remake of the original Rayman Legends, from October 1st to December 4th. The company cited the need for additional polish and a desire to avoid competing with other major releases in October and November, such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and Grand Theft Auto VI. A Game Overview trailer is scheduled for September 22nd.
Evening Reading - September 14, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including reviews for Marvel's Wolverine and Final Fantasy 7, details on Diablo 5's release window, and the shelving of The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer mod at Sony's request. It also touches on the Steam Deck pre-order availability and mentions the use of AI in content creation.
'No old code exists': Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis experience director confirms the 'reimagining' had to be built totally from the ground up on Unreal Engine 5 — but this meant Crystal Dynamics could add more tech upgrades
Crystal Dynamics' Jeff Adams confirmed that Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a complete reimagining built from the ground up on Unreal Engine 5, as no original code exists. This approach allowed the team to implement custom technology for physics and graphics, ensuring a modern take on the classic title. The game is set to release on February 27, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Games Inbox: Are Jason and Lucia from GTA 6 good characters?
Readers express skepticism about the likability of Grand Theft Auto 6 protagonists Jason and Lucia, contrasting them with Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2. Concerns are raised about the characters' dry presentation in recent footage and a perceived lack of memorability. Other topics include dissatisfaction with Mario Kart World's Grand Prix modes, questions about Marvel's Wolverine's accessibility features, and commentary on long game development cycles and Sony's recent fan reception.
Arc System Works Reports Net Profit of ¥115 Million in Latest Fiscal Year
Arc System Works has reported a net profit of ¥115 million for the fiscal year ending May 2026, a significant turnaround from the previous year's losses. The company attributes this recovery to the release of several games, including Double Dragon Revive and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and plans to develop a new cel-shaded fighting game. The studio is also addressing post-launch issues for Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, particularly concerning its PC version.
PHYSINT – So… What Exactly Is Going On?
PlayStation has canceled its partnership with Hideo Kojima's Kojima Productions for the upcoming game Physint, citing a difficult decision after three decades of collaboration. Kojima Productions has since partnered with Xbox for the project, which is described as an 'action espionage game' and also working on the horror title OD. The article speculates on the reasons for PlayStation's decision, including high budgets and a potential shift towards live-service games, while highlighting Xbox's eagerness to support Kojima's ambitious vision.
007 First Light’s Nintendo Switch 2 Release Delayed to March 2027
IO Interactive has delayed the Nintendo Switch 2 version of 007 First Light from Summer 2026 to March 2027 to ensure a high-quality port. The studio cited the need for additional time to polish performance, despite positive feedback from demos. The game was originally released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on May 27th.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls Director Explains Upcoming Adjustments for Inputs, Assists
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls director Kazuto Sekine has apologized for the game's rough PC launch and outlined upcoming adjustments. Future updates will address input registration issues and rebalance assist and tag mechanics, which have proven more frequent than intended. The team is also looking into reducing combo downtime caused by extensive tag usage.
Diablo 5, StarCraft Were Announced Early Because Blizzard Wants to “Ship Big, and Ship on Time”
Blizzard Entertainment announced Diablo 5 and a new StarCraft game early to demonstrate confidence in their ability to deliver large titles on time. President Johanna Faries stated this new approach aims to assure fans of the company's commitment to shipping major projects successfully. While Diablo 5 is slated for 2030 and the StarCraft shooter for 2029, Blizzard is also focusing on seasonal content for Diablo 4.
The Steam ripoff market is so bad that viral game Needle In A Haystack Simulator is facing 8 copycats before release and has slapped "original" on itself to clarify
The upcoming Steam game Needle In A Haystack Simulator by Studio Bitdot is facing significant issues with copycat titles appearing on the platform before its release. To combat this, the developers have added "Original" to their listing. The game involves finding a needle within a massive haystack and is set to release in the last quarter of the year.
Level-5 CEO admits using generative AI in recent showcase
Level-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino has apologized after confirming that generative AI was used in the studio's recent digital showcase for Professor Layton and Yo-Kai Watch titles. Hino stated the AI was used as an experiment to make the presentation more spectacular and apologized for making fans uncomfortable, while emphasizing that the games themselves are still made by human hands. He also mentioned the studio's goal to reduce development time by using AI for efficiency tasks like converting artwork into polygons.
GTA 6's first confirmed actor is King of the Hill's Stephen Root: "It's an amazing thing to look at"
Actor Stephen Root, known for King of the Hill, has confirmed he is part of the voice cast for Grand Theft Auto 6. Root stated the game is scheduled for release on November 19th and expressed excitement about his involvement, calling it "an amazing thing to look at."
The Steam Frame launches during one of the slowest periods for VR on Steam, but Valve hopes to 'rekindle the…
Valve's new Steam Frame hardware aims to revitalize the PCVR market, which has seen a decline in new game releases on Steam since 2017. Despite the rise of standalone headsets like Meta Quest 3, Valve believes PCVR still offers unique experiences and hopes the Steam Frame will bridge the gap between PC and mobile VR.
