Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
Fallout co-creator tells new devs terrified of layoffs they're "wrong" to expect making games to be a "stable job": "Art itself is inherently unstable"
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain asserts that the video game industry has never been stable and will not improve, advising new developers against expecting job security. He draws parallels to past industry crashes and technological shifts, highlighting current instability exacerbated by generative AI and the post-COVID-19 market.
Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley launch university-affiliated fellowship program
PlayStation lead architect Mark Cerny and video game show host Geoff Keighley have launched the Nova Games Foundation, a university-affiliated fellowship program offering six-figure grants to support upcoming game developers. The program aims to provide 'no-strings-attached' funding and mentorship, with fellows retaining full ownership of their projects. Despite the positive initiative, some former honorees of Keighley's past 'Future Class' program have voiced criticism regarding past experiences with mentorship and opportunity offerings.
Palworld lead worries Steam early access has "lost its meaning": players treat it like "a normal game" and the program has been "abused for a lot of reasons"
John Buckley, communications and publishing lead for Palworld developer Pocketpair, expresses concern that Steam's Early Access program has lost its original meaning. He believes players now treat Early Access games like finished products, leading to unrealistic expectations and a decline in meaningful feedback, which he feels has been "abused for a lot of reasons."
'We are no longer using that one red pipe asset we weren't supposed to use': The Blood of Dawnwalker hotfix clears up one of the game's more charming mistakes
A new hotfix for The Blood of Dawnwalker has been released, addressing stability issues, progression blockers, and controller-related frame rate drops. The update also removes a placeholder red pipe asset that was unintentionally included in the game.
Cinder City confirms a roster of five characters, monetization model, and upcoming test plans
NCsoft's post-apocalyptic shooter MMO, Cinder City, will launch with five characters and a box price model, supplemented by a cosmetics shop and battle passes. Upcoming testing includes pre-alpha for EU, South America, and Asia, followed by alpha in Q4 and beta. The game is slated for a PC launch first, with consoles to follow, and crossplay status is undecided.
Neil Druckmann försäkrar att Naughty Dog inte är klara med The Last of Us
Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann has stated that the company is still the steward of The Last of Us brand, even though they are not involved in the third season of the TV series. He confirmed that Naughty Dog has "a couple of projects" in development, hinting at potential future installments in The Last of Us franchise.
Neil Druckmann försäkrar att de inte är klara med The Last of Us
Neil Druckmann assures fans that Naughty Dog is not finished with The Last of Us franchise and is working on multiple projects. He hints at future developments for the series.
With No 3D Mario In Sight, Mario’s 40th Is A Bust For Switch 2 Owners
Nintendo's 40th anniversary for Mario passed with no new 3D Mario game, disappointing owners of the Nintendo Switch and its successor. While other franchises like Zelda and Kirby received new titles or remakes, Mario's celebration was limited to a Mario Kart update and ports, with a potential successor to Super Mario Odyssey not expected for many years.
Casually Classic: Tempering personal expectations for the WoW Classic BlizzCon announcement
The author discusses tempering expectations for the upcoming World of Warcraft Classic announcement at BlizzCon 2026. While acknowledging the community's intense speculation and anticipation, the piece advises a more grounded approach to receiving the news, suggesting that the reality may differ from fan-driven rumors.
The Duskbloods Was A No-Show At The September Nintendo Direct And Now I’m Worried
The Duskbloods, a highly anticipated exclusive for the Nintendo Switch from FromSoftware, was notably absent from the recent Nintendo Direct presentation. This absence is concerning given its planned 2024 release, especially after a troubled closed network test. The article speculates on potential reasons for the delay, including the need for further online multiplayer refinement, while also noting Nintendo's recent trend of dedicated game presentations.
20 years later, veteran WoW director says players outsmarted him completely in Ahn'Qiraj: 'All that work, and…
Former Blizzard game director Wyatt Cheng reflects on the Ahn'Qiraj raid in World of Warcraft, specifically the Prophet Skeram boss encounter, admitting players outsmarted his intended mechanics. He details how players used various in-game exploits and UI mods to easily identify the real boss, despite his efforts to create a challenging illusion mechanic.
GTA 6 Was Not “Fully Formed” When Trailer 1 Came Out In 2023
Rockstar North boss Rob Nelson stated that Grand Theft Auto 6 was not "fully formed" when its first trailer was released in December 2023. He described the trailer's song as a "mission statement" that helped guide the development team to finish the game. The article also mentions the game's November 19 release date for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and details about a themed DualSense controller.
GTA 6 wasn't "fully formed" when Trailer 1 released, Rockstar boss says, but the Tom Petty song it used was a "mission statement" of where it was going
Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson stated that Grand Theft Auto 6 was not fully formed when its first trailer was released, but the Tom Petty song used, 'Love is a Long Road,' served as a mission statement for the game's direction. He explained that the development process often starts with a song or an image, and the team then travels to the game's setting to gather inspiration.
Video Game Studio Don't Nod Entertainment Could Shut Down
Don't Nod Entertainment, the studio behind Life is Strange, is facing severe financial difficulties and may cease operations by January 31, 2027. The company is considering laying off up to 90 employees as part of a restructuring plan to address cash flow issues. Despite a minority investment from Tencent in 2020, the Chinese company does not plan further investment, leaving Don't Nod reliant on securing external financing to survive.
The Blood of Dawnwalker controller issues tackled in latest hotfix, and Rebel Wolves talks more about a sequel
Rebel Wolves has released a hotfix for The Blood of Dawnwalker addressing controller issues, stability problems, and quest blockers. The developer is also actively seeking a lead writer for a sequel, with studio co-founder Konrad Tomaszkiewicz having previously discussed plans for future adventures.
Light No Fire shows signs of life: Hello Games says No Man's Sky Cosmos update uses shared tech, teases…
Hello Games has provided an update on its upcoming survival game Light No Fire, revealing that technology developed for No Man's Sky's Cosmos update will be utilized. Studio boss Sean Murray indicated that features like player alliances and new lighting tech will carry over, with some footage of Light No Fire's world shown.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Past was 'impossible to realize without the remaster changes,' CD Projekt Red reveals: 'When we started prototyping the area it was impossible to ride with a horse through it'
CD Projekt Red revealed that the upcoming expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Songs of the Past, was made possible by the technical improvements and optimizations introduced in The Witcher 3 Remastered. Developers cited challenges with the game engine and horse handling in the new Letten area that were resolved by the remaster's advancements, allowing for the expansion's realization.
The Daily Grind: Who’s your favorite MMO developer, composer, or community manager?
This article asks readers to name their favorite MMO developer, composer, or community manager and explain why they admire them. It highlights the collaborative nature of MMO development and the importance of recognizing the diverse talents involved.
Gnomecast 245 – Pitching Campaigns
This podcast episode features Ang and Tomas discussing how to pitch campaign ideas to players. They cover the necessary information and other key considerations for developing effective campaign pitches.
'No-one puts Double Fine out of business except me', says Tim Schafer on taking Double Fine independent:…
Double Fine has become an independent studio again after parting ways with Microsoft, a move initiated by new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's significant layoffs. Studio head Tim Schafer expressed that while the games industry has harsh realities, he is determined to keep Double Fine afloat and sees the transition as a creative awakening, despite having to lay off 23 employees himself.
