Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Beyond Good & Evil 2 reportedly still in development 18 years after being announced, now a "solo-first" adventure now
Beyond Good & Evil 2 is reportedly still in pre-production 18 years after its initial announcement, with its development focus shifting from a multiplayer-first experience to a "solo-first" adventure with optional co-op. The game has reportedly struggled to meet creative milestones due to constantly changing ideas, and despite Ubisoft's historical support, recent restructuring has cast uncertainty over its future.
"AI is a technofascist, anti-human and anti-art project", says creator of lefty tech satire Future? No Thanks!, before explaining why he used it anyway
Paulo Pedercini, the creator of the game Future? No Thanks!, has disclosed the use of generative AI tools for a small fraction of the game's code and for character voice acting. Despite his strong criticisms of AI as a "technofascist, anti-human and anti-art project," Pedercini used tools like ChatGPT and Claude for bug fixing and text-to-speech, arguing for nuance in the discussion around AI in game development.
Former Call of Duty Dev Slams Black Ops Re-Releases
Former Call of Duty level designer Gavin Goslin criticized Activision's success with re-releases of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2, stating that while the games are selling well, the developers who created them do not share in the profits. Goslin also commented on the industry's shift away from tight, linear experiences towards more open-ended designs, suggesting a player desire for classic, focused campaigns.
Games like Call of Duty and EA Sports FC most at risk of losing players during GTA 6 launch, according to new data
New data from gaming consultancy Open World suggests that titles like Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and EA Sports FC are most at risk of losing players during the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. The analysis indicates that competitive shooters and sports games, along with driving and high-stakes session games, are most likely to see player migration. Developers are advised to avoid major content updates or marketing pushes during GTA 6's launch window to mitigate player loss.
Vivrato: 97% of studio leaders use AI in some form during development in EU and North America
A new report by consultancy firm Vivrato reveals that 97% of studio leaders in Europe and North America are using AI in some form during game development, with 94% utilizing it across various production stages. The study, based on 101 interviews, highlights AI's most common applications in code and engineering, general productivity, and concept/pre-production, while noting deeper adoption in European studios.
Rykte: Bungie kan få utveckla Star Wars Battlefront 3
Rumors suggest that Bungie and EA Dice are potential candidates to develop Star Wars Battlefront 3, a game that has not yet been officially announced. Electronic Arts is reportedly eager to create a new installment in the franchise, with the previous title, Star Wars Battlefront II, still retaining a player base despite initial criticism regarding its microtransactions.
Beyond Good and Evil 2 is Still in Pre-Production With “At Least” 250
Beyond Good and Evil 2 remains in pre-production at Ubisoft Montpellier, with "at least" 250 people reportedly working on the project. The focus has shifted primarily to single-player with a strong story, though co-op will still be supported. The game's development has been lengthy since its initial announcement in 2008 and re-reveal in 2017, with no release date or platforms yet confirmed.
Resident Evil – Code: Veronica Had a “Direct, Negative” Impact on the Series – Former Capcom Exec
Former Capcom manager Miguel Conti stated that Resident Evil – Code: Veronica had a direct, negative impact on the franchise, leading to the more action-oriented Resident Evil 5 and 6. While some developers consider Code: Veronica the best pre-RE4 title, Conti argues Resident Evil 2 is superior and that Code: Veronica's shift towards action alienated the horror roots of the series. Capcom is planning a remake of Code: Veronica for a 2027 release.
Xbox Will Go Through More Layoffs in October, November, and January – Rumor
Xbox is reportedly planning multiple rounds of layoffs in October, November, and January, following an initial wave in July. CEO Asha Sharma cited a need to cut costs and improve profitability due to over-expansion and underperforming investments. These cuts are part of a larger plan to reduce approximately 3,200 jobs by fiscal year 2027 and have already led to the divestment of several studios.
Ex-Resident Evil dev says Code Veronica "had a direct, negative development on the franchise"
Former Capcom manager Miguel Corti claims that Resident Evil: Code Veronica, despite its acclaim, negatively impacted the franchise by steering it towards action-heavy gameplay seen in Resident Evil 5 and 6. He argues that Code Veronica's perceived success led developers to prioritize spectacle over traditional survival horror, a trend that Resident Evil 7 later reversed.
'If you can’t show your game to the world without fearing it’ll be cloned, something’s broken' says Moonlighter studio on its canceled demo
Digital Sun Games has canceled the public playtest for its upcoming game ReVamp due to concerns about AI models enabling rapid cloning and decompilation. The studio fears that its code and concepts could be stolen and released before the game's planned March 2027 launch, impacting its market visibility and ability to gather feedback.
The studio behind Life is Strange, Jusant, and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is desperately struggling to stay afloat
Don't Nod, the studio behind Life is Strange and Jusant, is facing severe financial difficulties and has entered "safeguard proceedings" to buy time. Despite critical acclaim for games like Jusant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, sales have fallen "well below expectations," leading to layoffs and the postponement of new projects. CEO Oskar Guilbert cited the challenging financing environment in the videogame industry as a major factor.
Founder of bankrupt Samson studio mulls how to use AI for his next attempt: 'Cutting corners in game development has a habit of coming back to bite you in the ass'
Christofer Sundberg, founder of the now-bankrupt Liquid Swords studio, has confirmed the closure of the company six months after the PC release of their game Samson. Despite the console version's greater success, it wasn't enough to save the studio, which faced market conditions and poor business decisions. Sundberg plans to open a new studio, focusing on sustainable development, potentially utilizing AI for prototyping and repetitive tasks, while cautioning against cutting corners.
‘AI slop fest’: PC gamers are annoyed with Steam Next Fest’s abundance of AI titles
PC gamers are expressing frustration with the prevalence of AI-generated titles during Steam Next Fest, labeling the event an 'AI slop fest.' This sentiment highlights concerns about the quality and authenticity of games developed using artificial intelligence.
PlayStation Boss: “Creativity Is For Humans, Not AI”
Sony's Hiroki Totoki and Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick shared their views on AI in game development, with Totoki stating that creativity remains a human domain. Zelnick suggested that while AI itself won't replace developers, those who don't adopt AI might be replaced. Both companies are utilizing AI in their workflows, though Grand Theft Auto 6 will not feature AI.
GTA 6 devs rode in a helicopter over a Beyoncé concert and met 'colorful characters' who revealed their crimes while researching Miami — 'As soon as they know where you're from, they just want to tell you every crime they or their friends have ever done'
Rockstar Games developers conducted extensive research for Grand Theft Auto 6 in Miami, including police ride-alongs and observing a Beyoncé concert from a helicopter. During these trips, developers encountered individuals who shared details of their past crimes upon learning the team was working on GTA.
Innersloth co-founder warns devs: 'there are some very bad deals out there'
Innersloth co-founder Forest Willard is warning indie developers about predatory publishing deals in the industry. He has reviewed numerous contracts that he describes as 'truly abysmal' and not conducive to developers making money on their games. Willard expressed frustration with the current state of dealmaking, urging caution for developers entering into publishing agreements.
Ex-Call of Duty designer "who survived the crunch" in order to launch Black Ops 1 & 2 calls out executives "raking it in" from sales of remasters
A former Treyarch developer, Gavin Goslin, has criticized Activision executives for profiting from re-releases of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2, games he and his colleagues worked tirelessly on. Goslin highlighted the disparity between executives receiving substantial financial windfalls from these older titles and the original creators receiving no compensation, calling it a fundamental flaw in the industry's valuation of talent. The re-releases have reportedly been highly successful, selling millions of copies.
"It doesn’t have to always be triple-A": Galactic Racer and Zero Company’s success has Lucasfilms wanting more smaller-scale Star Wars games
Lucasfilm Games is looking to fund more smaller-scale Star Wars titles, following the success of games like Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Star Wars Zero Company. Vice president Douglas Reilly stated that good ideas can come from various places, not just major publishers, indicating a desire to explore more niche genres beyond blockbuster concepts.
Former Call of Duty Dev Says 'It's Hard to Watch' Xbox Make Money From Black Ops PlayStation Ports
A former Call of Duty designer expressed frustration over the current model where older games are ported to new platforms without developers receiving additional royalties. The designer specifically cited the recent successful ports of Black Ops and Black Ops II to PlayStation as examples of this issue, stating it is 'hard to watch' Xbox profit from these releases.