Game Development
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Blizzard announces single-player StarCraft and Diablo 5 but there's bad news
Blizzard announced new installments for StarCraft and Diablo at BlizzCon 2026, but with distant release dates. The new StarCraft will be an open-world shooter focusing on single-player, targeting a 2030 launch, while Diablo 5 is set for Spring 2029. The company president stated these early announcements aim to convey confidence in future projects, despite Blizzard's history of delays.
Blizzard explains why it's revealing StarCraft and Diablo 5 release dates so far away: "We want to convey confidence in some of our biggest bets"
Blizzard Entertainment has announced release dates for Diablo 5 (spring 2029) and a new StarCraft open-world shooter (2030), a departure from their usual 'done when it's done' approach. President Johanna Faries stated this is to "convey confidence in some of our biggest bets." The company also revealed World of Warcraft: Forever, a Diablo Netflix series, and other updates, amidst ongoing Microsoft layoffs.
Moss developer Polyarc Games announces closure
Polyarc Games, the developer behind the VR titles Moss and Glassbreakers, has announced it is shutting down after 12 years of operation. The closure follows a significant layoff earlier this year due to a cancelled project and an inability to secure further funding. The studio was founded by former Bungie developers and had recently released Moss: The Forgotten Relic.
Rapport: Sony släppte Physint pga. missade deadlines och budgetproblem
Sony has reportedly ended its collaboration with Kojima Productions on the upcoming spy game Physint due to missed deadlines and budget issues, with Xbox now set to publish the title. The decision was influenced by Death Stranding's sales not meeting expectations and Physint's projected cost and development timeline. Sony's stricter milestone enforcement following the Concord flop also contributed to the decision, alongside their shift away from releasing single-player games on PC.
Despite the turbulent future of gaming, Roblox keeps the trust of its developers
Despite the introduction of AI-powered game development tools like Roblox Build and Roblox Reality, many Roblox developers express unwavering trust in the platform. They believe Roblox's history of additive changes and respect for creator visions indicates these new features will complement, rather than replace, existing development methods.
Diablo 4 Won’t Get Any More Expansions Before Diablo 5’s 2029 Release
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that Diablo 4 will not receive further expansions before the anticipated 2029 release of Diablo 5. Game director Brent Gibson stated the team is focusing on seasonal content for Diablo 4 and development for Diablo 5, aiming to conclude the 'Story of Hatred' with the upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion. The company plans to support Diablo 4 with seasonal updates for a long time, even after Diablo 5 launches.
Marathon Delays Next Content Update to December 8th, Bungie Shifting Away from Seasonal Model
Bungie has delayed the next major content update for Marathon to December 8th, moving away from its seasonal model to allow more development flexibility. The 'Symbiosis' update will introduce new modes, features, and the game's first permanent PvE experience. Despite these changes and efforts to make the extraction shooter more forgiving, Marathon has struggled to gain traction since its March launch on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.
Blizzard Explains Why The StarCraft Shooter Coming In 2030 Was Announced Now
Blizzard Entertainment general manager Dan Hay explained the decision to announce the StarCraft open-world shooter, slated for 2030, at BlizzCon. He stated that the team felt they had enough of the story, characters, and world to share, and wanted to get feedback from fans early in the development process. Hay also noted that setting a firm release date helps focus development efforts.
World of Warcraft: Forever Devs Explain Why the Game Makes WoW 2 Unlikely
World of Warcraft developers Kris Zierhut and Mike Nuthals discussed the game's ongoing development and features, explaining why a direct sequel like 'WoW 2' is unlikely to be necessary. They highlighted the game's continuous evolution as a reason for its longevity.
Discussing 20 years of Company of Heroes with the team carrying its torch into the future
This article reflects on 20 years of the Company of Heroes real-time strategy franchise, discussing its origins, evolution, and the challenges faced by developer Relic Entertainment. It highlights key titles like the original Company of Heroes, Company of Heroes 2, and the troubled launch of Company of Heroes 3, while also touching on the studio's recent independence and future prospects.
Ship of Heroes will officially sunset after just one year of live operation on September 22
Ship of Heroes will officially cease operations on September 22nd, just one year after its launch. Despite efforts to improve the game by lowering the price and removing the subscription, the shrinking development team and a disastrous launch led to its eventual sunset. The developers expressed gratitude to the community for their feedback throughout the game's nine-year development and one year of live operation.
BioWare crunched "21 days on, one day off" making Mass Effect, says former dev: "That was really, really…
Former BioWare cinematic designer Armando Troisi revealed that the development of the original Mass Effect involved extreme crunch, with teams working "21 days on, one day off" to meet impossible goals set by director Casey Hudson. Despite the grueling conditions and technical challenges of using a new engine, IP, and console, Troisi expressed pride in the final product, calling it a profound interactive film.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation's Knights of the Round boss battle wasn't hard enough, so the devs had an "emergency meeting" to rebuild the iconic summon "from scratch"
The development team behind Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth held an emergency meeting to completely rework the Knights of the Round summon boss battle, as the initial version was not considered challenging enough. Director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that combat director Teruki Endo pushed for a stronger enemy, leading to the decision to rebuild the encounter from scratch to honor the iconic summon's power.
After announcing StarCraft and Diablo 5 years in advance, Blizzard president promises "to ship, and ship big, and…
Blizzard Entertainment president Johanna Faries expressed confidence in the long-term development of StarCraft and Diablo 5, despite their distant release windows of 2030 and 2029 respectively. Faries stated the company's commitment to shipping games on time and emphasized preserving Blizzard's unique culture amidst Microsoft's ownership and recent layoffs.
Former Far Cry boss says it's "an honor" to take over StarCraft: "We won the cosmic lottery"
Former Far Cry lead Dan Hay is heading the development of a new StarCraft game, which will be an open-world shooter. Hay expressed his honor and seriousness in taking on the beloved franchise, calling it a "cosmic lottery." The game, simply titled StarCraft, is set 70 years after Legacy of the Void and is slated for a 2030 release.
Inzoi's experimental new mode transforms it from The Sims into a full social MMO
Inzoi is developing an optional social MMO mode called 'Canvastown' that allows players to interact with up to 50 others in shared spaces and minigames, distinct from its core life simulation gameplay. Game Director Hyungjun Kim emphasized that this 'side project' will not detract from continued development of the main game, which is also receiving updates to its simulation fundamentals and object interaction features.
Inside the Ubisoft Philippines: Studio Tour and Its Work on Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
A studio tour of Ubisoft Philippines revealed the significant contributions of the studio to games like Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. The tour highlighted the local team's ownership of complete features, from dynamic harpooning mechanics and distinct fort designs to detailed animations and immersive audio.
Inside Ubisoft Philippines: Our Studio Tour and a Closer Look at Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
A studio tour of Ubisoft Philippines revealed the significant contributions of its developers to Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, including co-developing complete features, locations, and systems. The studio has grown over a decade, showcasing expertise in art, animation, world-building, and more, working closely with other Ubisoft studios. The feature highlights the pride Filipino developers have in their work on AAA titles and their role in shaping the future of global game development.
The weird, wonderful world of Miles Buckle, Instagram's parallel universe of video games
Artist Miles Buckle creates imaginary retro-style video games inspired by classic films, reimagining scenes from movies like The Shining and Twin Peaks using game engines and 3D art tools. His work explores themes of nostalgia, memory, and the evolution of visual fidelity in media, often using older game aesthetics like PlayStation 1 graphics to evoke specific feelings.
Why is Blizzard still announcing games years ahead of release? 'We want to convey confidence in some of our biggest…
Blizzard Entertainment's strategy of announcing games years before their release, exemplified by StarCraft and Diablo 5, is questioned as a potentially outdated marketing approach. President Johanna Faries stated the company wants to convey confidence in its major projects and ensure they ship on time, aiming to create a healthy Blizzard culture amidst potential future layoffs.
