Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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The Witcher 3 NPCs Kept Dropping Their Babies Due to an Unintended Side Effect of a Cut Mechanic
An unintended side effect of a cut mechanic in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt caused female NPCs to repeatedly drop their babies. This bug, stemming from the developers' focus on creating a realistic environment, resulted in a morbidly humorous glitch.
Way More Work (And Money) Went Into My Favorite Voice Mod Than I Thought
This article details the extensive work and financial investment that went into creating the Stardew Voices mod for Stardew Valley. Creator Shannon Hobby discusses the challenges of audio editing, the deliberate casting process to ensure fair pay for actors, and the personal toll of burnout while developing the mod. Hobby hopes this project can lead to professional opportunities in game voice acting and development.
"Arkane was about to go under" before it committed to Dishonored, former lead says: "We had 4 months of…
Former Arkane Studios lead designer Harvey Smith revealed that the studio was close to closure before committing to the development of Dishonored. The studio was working on multiple projects with dwindling funds before refocusing on the immersive sim, which became a critical and commercial success. Smith has since co-founded a new studio, Black Pony Immersive, to continue making single-player immersive sim games.
Rockstar Games takes down more GTA 6 leaks as new footage includes cut scenes
Rockstar Games is actively combating new leaks of Grand Theft Auto 6, issuing copyright strikes against multiple video clips that have surfaced online. These leaks, allegedly from a group called Cyberleek, include gameplay footage of driving, minigames, and cutscenes, with the leakers demanding Rockstar meet their demands. The game is scheduled to release on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta Will Fix Issues That Have Plagued the Series for the Better Part of a Decade
The upcoming beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 aims to address long-standing issues that have affected the series. This suggests a focus on improving core gameplay mechanics and player experience.
Pantheon Rise of the Fallen’s latest PTR updates the mail system and midgame loot itemization
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen's latest Public Test Realm update from Visionary Realms focuses on improving the mail system's stability and refining midgame loot itemization. This update includes a character wipe on the PTR to gather baseline data for upcoming player market testing and to evaluate itemization feedback.
Insomniac Games "announced Wolverine very early because we knew it would be very difficult to keep a lid on…
Insomniac Games announced Marvel's Wolverine early to preemptively manage leaks and control the narrative around the highly anticipated PlayStation 5 title. Game director Mike Daly explained that this strategy allows the studio to cast its development team effectively and manage its multi-game development slate efficiently. The game is slated for release in September.
After 25% positive Steam reviews, Soulslike dev realizes people hate AI slop and admits "if it looks like the effort is not there, that is a fair reading of what is on screen"
The director of the Soulslike game Vapor World: Over the Mind has apologized for the heavy reliance on AI-generated cutscenes and voices, which led to overwhelmingly negative Steam reviews. Young Kim admitted that the AI-generated content was a hasty decision due to resource limitations and promised to replace all AI cutscenes with original content by the end of the week. The game's developer, ALIVE Inc., had previously disclosed AI usage but failed to anticipate the strong player backlash.
Sony gives up on yet another live service game as Horizon Zero Dawn 3 news leaks
Sony Interactive Entertainment's live service game strategy continues to falter, with the Horizon multiplayer spin-off, Hunters Gathering, reportedly being retooled into a traditional co-op game due to poor testing feedback. Many of Sony's planned live service titles have failed or face uncertain futures, leading to speculation about the delay of future single-player Horizon titles.
"Think Deus Ex, think Dishonored, that's what we're doing": Former Arkane devs reveal new studio dedicated to making single-player immersive sims
Former Arkane developers Harvey Smith and Ben Horne have founded a new studio called Black Pony Immersive, dedicated to creating single-player immersive simulation games. The studio aims to recapture the spirit of titles like Deus Ex and Dishonored, bringing together a team of experienced developers who were affected by recent industry layoffs.
Ex-PlayStation Boss Says Game Development Will Have A “Tough Future” Because Of AI
Former PlayStation Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida expressed concerns about the future of game development due to the increasing integration of AI. While acknowledging AI's potential to democratize game creation, he foresees tougher competition for developers and a potential flood of games impacting consumer choice.
Crossfire – High Stakes & Bold Vision | Crafting Crossfire: Ep1
This article provides an inside look at the development of the game Crossfire, focusing on the vision of the studio That's No Moon. It delves into the philosophies behind the game's narrative and design, aiming to push the gaming medium forward. The content is presented in partnership with Danny O’Dwyer and Secret Tape, with this first installment highlighting the team's core vision.
Triple-A vets and accessibility experts launch new game dev co-op: Raze and Rebuild Studio
Veteran game developers and accessibility experts have launched Raze and Rebuild Studio, a new worker-owned cooperative. The studio aims to address industry layoffs and create games with impact, focusing on real-world experiences and accessibility in both development and gameplay. They are currently developing their debut project without external funding, seeking grants and partners.
James Pond’s New Trailer Has AI Alarm Bells Ringing, Comments Turned Off
Developer System 3 has faced accusations of using generative AI art in the trailer for their upcoming James Pond collection, 'James Pond Legacy: The Pond is Not Enough.' The controversy led to comments being disabled on the YouTube trailer, and the game's creator, Chris Sorrell, has previously spoken out against the use of AI in James Pond titles. The collection, featuring several classic James Pond games, is set to launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 in October 2026.
"As more people play games, even the tiniest niches find a bigger audience" – Why Matt Webster is convinced people want Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Matt Webster, co-founder of Fuse Games, discusses the upcoming release of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, a title he believes can carve out a niche in the current market despite the general decline of racing games. The studio, formed by former Criterion developers, is innovating by incorporating roguelike elements and consequential decision-making, inspired by games like Hades and Slay the Spire, to enhance replayability. Webster also touches on the challenges of independent development, the importance of nurturing young talent, and the industry's aversion to risk.
Redfall Director Pleaded With Microsoft to Release Final Patch, Despite Already Being 'Fired'
Redfall director Harvey Smith revealed he asked Microsoft to allow one final patch for the game, despite having already been dismissed. The plea was made to improve the critically panned Xbox console exclusive, even after his departure from the project.
Take-Two's former AI guy is, in a twist, skeptical about AI now: 'The guy should be selling you the gold if…
A former AI lead for Take-Two Interactive, Dicken, expresses skepticism about the current hype surrounding generative AI in game development. He argues that the technology's practical application is often overstated, citing issues with authorial intent, dialogue trees, and debatable productivity gains. Dicken also warns of potential vendor lock-in and price hikes, comparing the situation to Unity's controversial pricing changes.
A Canceled Mandalorian Looter Shooter Just Surfaced, and Star Wars Fans Are Devastated
Footage has emerged from the defunct studio Echtra Games showcasing a canceled Star Wars looter shooter set in The Mandalorian universe. The game, which featured a Jedi and a Mandalorian protagonist, appeared to be in an advanced state of development, sparking disappointment and discussion among fans about what could have been.
Redfall Bosses Explain What Happened With The Failed Xbox Exclusive
Former Arkane directors Harvey Smith and Ben Horne, now heading Black Pony Immersive, discussed the challenges and missteps in the development of the Xbox exclusive Redfall. They cited the industry's focus on live-service games and external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and the great resignation as contributing to the game's difficulties and poor reception. Despite the studio closure and layoffs, a small team returned to release a significant update, 1.4, which improved the game.
Report: Live-service removed from Horizon Hunters Gathering following negative player feedback
Guerrilla Games is reportedly removing live-service elements from its upcoming co-op title, Horizon Hunters Gathering, due to negative player feedback. The game is being redesigned as a traditional multiplayer experience with a story mode and a reduced scope. This change follows PlayStation's broader challenges with live-service games, including cancellations and studio closures.
