Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Hammer Jam & Clash of Clans Town Hall Expected Dates
While Supercell has not officially announced the dates for Clash of Clans Town Hall 19 and the Hammer Jam event in 2026, patterns suggest Town Hall 19 will arrive in late November and Hammer Jam will begin in early November. Based on community predictions, Hammer Jam 2026 is expected to start on November 5th, with Town Hall 19 releasing on November 23rd. Players are advised to prepare by saving in-game resources and medals.
The Sunday Papers
This week's gaming news roundup features an interview with multimedia artist Jeremy Couillard about his game Soul Injector Commando, a discussion on game development team sizes and outsourcing, and an analysis of why games like Manhunt sometimes fail to maintain their simulated worlds. It also highlights a Game Boy Museum project and the eccentric life of Timothy Dexter.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Team Intentionally Avoided a Metal Gear Rising-Style Cutting System
Director Satoru Nihei discussed the intentional design choices behind Onimusha: Way of the Sword's dismemberment system, contrasting it with the extensive slicing freedom found in games like Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Nihei explained that the team focused on reactive dismemberment tied to specific attacks to emphasize the power of abilities, rather than offering complete player freedom in cutting enemies. This approach, combined with Capcom's RE Engine technology and extensive animation work, contributed to the game's critical and commercial success.
Arkane Lyon Has “Multiple Paths Actively Being Explored” to Stay Afloat – Rumor
A report suggests Arkane Lyon is exploring multiple options to avoid closure, with "positive news" indicating a low likelihood of the studio being shut down by Xbox. This comes amid industry-wide layoffs and high costs associated with closing studios in France, particularly concerning the development of Marvel's Blade.
Shift Up and PlatinumGames detail the process of putting Bayonetta costumes in Stellar Blade
Shift Up and PlatinumGames discussed the collaborative process of integrating Bayonetta costumes into Stellar Blade. PlatinumGames' CEO Atsushi Inaba emphasized a hands-off approach to foster collaboration, while Shift Up's Kim Hyung Tae described the experience as a fun learning process, balancing his creative desires with the need to respect the source material and create a cohesive look for Stellar Blade's protagonist, Eve.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake series director says story wasn’t influenced by player reactions, didn’t want to turn it into his “own personal fan project”
Final Fantasy 7 Remake series director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the overarching story was planned from the beginning and was not influenced by player reactions to previous installments. He emphasized the importance of staying true to the original Final Fantasy 7's essence rather than making it a personal fan project.
BioWare's incredible legacy will continue as long as there are RPGs
This article reflects on the significant legacy of BioWare, a studio that has profoundly influenced the RPG genre with titles like Baldur's Gate, Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age. Despite acknowledging BioWare's own missteps and the detrimental impact of corporate decisions, the author emphasizes the enduring impact of its innovative design choices, storytelling, and representation in games, suggesting its influence will persist as long as RPGs are made.
Paralives' first major update slips to next year, but when it comes you can expect some pretty meaty improvements for all of its main features
The developers of the life simulation game Paralives have detailed plans for its first major update, which has been delayed into next year. The update will focus on improving core systems like relationships and emotions in Live Mode, adding new skills and jobs, fixing Build Mode bugs, and expanding character customization options in the Paramaker, including more body shape sliders.
Star Citizen’s latest Q&A video discusses fighting bugs, server stutters, and desync problems
Star Citizen's latest Q&A addresses persistent issues including bugs, server stutters, and desync problems. Developers are dedicating resources to root-cause analysis and internal testing, with some progress reported on desync solutions and server meshing hiccups. The article also touches on ongoing development challenges and the game's long crowdfunding history.
'I drank from the chalice of blood': indie dev scrubs his game of AI-generated voice lines, having previously described the technology as 'anti-human and anti-art'
Indie developer Paolo Pedercini has removed AI-generated voice lines from his game Future? No Thanks! following backlash, despite previously defending their use for satirical purposes. Pedercini, who also used AI for code assistance, admitted to the use of generative AI in his game, which satirizes the technology itself. The controversy has led to Pedercini replacing the AI voices with those of human actors and offering refunds to players who feel betrayed.
Mass Effect Universe "looked incredible" says creator who claims he advised BioWare
A content creator named Dantics, who claims to have been part of a BioWare community council, has shared alleged details about the cancelled Mass Effect Universe game. He described a game set over 600 years after the Reaper War, featuring a galactic Cold War between factions and a customizable N7 agent with advanced hacking abilities. Dantics expressed disappointment that the game, which he described as "incredible," may never be released following BioWare's closure and EA's job cuts.
Award-winning sci-fi author NK Jemisin joins BioWare's mourners and scorns a broken industry for killing geese that…
Award-winning author NK Jemisin expressed sadness over the decline of BioWare, citing the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series as inspirations. She also criticized the current state of the game industry, particularly the trend of large-scale layoffs that impact developers while executives remain largely unaffected.
Pokemon Winds and Waves might benefit from next-gen water tech, as a Game Freak developer publishes water simulation…
A recent research paper co-authored by a Game Freak developer, Fumiya Narita, and University of Tokyo professor Takashi Kanai details advancements in water simulation technology. This research could potentially enhance the visual fidelity of water effects in upcoming games like Pokemon Winds and Waves, which is slated for a 2027 release on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Peak devs explain why the viral co-op game's size tripled with new console ports: "Instead of the same 30 daily maps rotating forever, you get 208 maps"
The developers of the viral co-op game Peak have explained that the game's file size tripled with the recent console ports to PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S. This increase is due to the addition of 208 rotating maps, up from the previous 30 daily maps, to ensure long-term replayability. The console versions also introduce cross-play and address various bugs and regional pricing issues.
The Sims rival that's stolen my heart plans new skills, jobs, and relationship features for its first update
Paralives Studio is planning its first major update, focusing on improving core gameplay mechanics like conversations, relationships, and economic balance, with a revised early 2027 release target. The update will also introduce new skills, jobs, and expanded character customization options, with future updates planned for features like weather, seasons, and pets.
Lost Odyssey - Final Fantasy-spelet som inte är Final Fantasy
This article analyzes Microsoft's attempt to break into the Japanese RPG market with Lost Odyssey, developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi's studio Mistwalker. Despite its quality and traditional JRPG elements, the game underperformed in Japan due to poor marketing and Microsoft's overall struggles in the region, ultimately failing to launch a new series.
Helldivers 3 Isn’t On The Cards at the Moment, Per Arrowhead’s Chief Creative Officer
Arrowhead Game Studios' Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt stated that Helldivers 3 is not currently in development, with the vast majority of the team focused on Helldivers 2. He believes that continuing to evolve Helldivers 2 as a 'lifelong hobby' is more beneficial than a sequel that would reset player progress.
Betawatch: ArcheAge Chronicles sets its early access plans and Vampir gets a release date
ArcheAge Chronicles has announced its early access price of thirty dollars, with plans to eventually remove gender locks and add third weapon options for classes. Vampir is set to launch on October 27th. The article also provides updates on City of Titans, Soulframe, and numerous other MMOs in various stages of testing and development.
Mass Effect 5 was set in a 'galactic Cold War,' new leak claims, and all 3 endings were wrapped into 1
A leaked concept trailer and subsequent details from a former Mass Effect community council member suggest the canceled Mass Effect 5 was set 600 years after the Reaper War and featured a 'galactic Cold War' between three major factions. The game would have allowed players to customize an N7 agent and incorporate elements from all previous Mass Effect endings, with Liara returning as a powerful Asari Matriarch. The article expresses disappointment over the cancellation of what appeared to be a promising title from BioWare.
Sims Competitor InZoi Deletes “Uncomfortable” Post After Fan Pushback
Krafton has removed a controversial post from the official InZoi X account after users found it disturbing and suggestive of pedophilia. The post, intended to showcase playground improvements and promote the upcoming Celebrity DLC, was criticized for its tone. This incident follows earlier concerns about the game's early access period and AI usage, and comes as EA faces scrutiny for layoffs and pausing Sims projects.