Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
Game and Mod Development
Roblox has introduced 'Build,' a new tool designed to enhance game creation on its platform. Separately, a UK union is working to clarify and standardize contracts for video game writers.
Midday Gatherings and Events
SNK has released a Season 3 announcement trailer for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. Separately, a treasure hunt event in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag was reportedly scrapped after a player accidentally discovered a secret chest.
After Destiny 2's death, Warframe head's advice for anyone in live services is to "make a good game…
Warframe's creative director Rebecca Ford advises live-service game developers to focus on creating a good game, citing the recent closure of Destiny 2 as a cautionary tale. She emphasizes that despite developer efforts, business decisions can ultimately dictate a game's fate, a reality she faces daily. Ford highlights Digital Extremes' long-standing success with Warframe, attributing it to a strong internal team and a well-balanced free-to-play model.
Former PlayStation boss says Sony needs 'more games for more people' to justify a $1,000 PS6
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden believes Sony needs to innovate with game content to justify the projected $1,000 price tag for the PlayStation 6. He argues that focusing on a narrow range of popular titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 limits the industry's reach, and developers should create more diverse games to attract a wider audience.
Co-op Puzzle Horror Storebound Hits 1.0 today with New Playable Episodes
Independent developer Embers has announced the full 1.0 launch of its co-op puzzle horror game, Storebound, on Steam and the Epic Games Store. The release includes new playable episodes 5 & 6, completing the narrative, alongside significant technical overhauls, bug fixes, and quality-of-life updates based on community feedback. Storebound is currently available with a 20% launch discount.
Roblox announce plans to let people AI generate basic games using text prompts stuck into a mobile app, but claim that won't fill their homepage with AI slop
Roblox is introducing a new mobile app feature called Build that allows users to generate basic games using text prompts and AI. The company claims this tool, along with other AI-powered features for its Studio development environment, will not lead to a proliferation of low-quality content on its platform, as its discovery systems prioritize games with long-term player retention.
Elder Scrolls Online is "not going to be able to put out the amount of content at the speed" it was, former…
Former Zenimax Online Studios employees report that recent layoffs have significantly reduced the studio's capacity to produce content for The Elder Scrolls Online at its previous pace. Devs estimate some departments are now at a quarter of their former size, impacting the ability to maintain content cadence. The studio's executive producer, studio game director, and production director are among those reportedly let go.
Former Rockstar Dev Explains GTA 6’s Console-First Approach
A former Rockstar Games producer explained that the studio's console-first approach to game development, including for Grand Theft Auto 6, is a deliberate business decision to optimize performance and manage resources. This strategy prioritizes console versions before PC ports, aiming for a better final product by working within constraints. Despite the delayed PC release, Grand Theft Auto 6 is projected to achieve significant sales and revenue upon its November 19 launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Pokemon Go owner Scopely 'reorganizes' Stumble Guys team
Scopely, the owner of Pokémon Go maker Niantic, has reorganized the team supporting its game Stumble Guys, leading to layoffs. A spokesperson stated that the company regularly reviews game performance and has transitioned some impacted employees to other roles. The news follows reports of other departures from the company and comes after Scopely achieved $15 billion in lifetime revenue.
"Our job is to listen, learn, and improve": Andreas Thorstensson on Goals' future and the importance of player feedback
Goals CEO Andreas Thorstensson emphasized the importance of listening to player feedback for the continuous improvement of their soccer game. Despite initial technical issues and some controversial updates, the team is committed to refining gameplay, adding new modes, and communicating their vision more clearly to the community.
We Want Fallout New Vegas 2, But Not Like This
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly beginning work on a new Fallout game, potentially a sequel to Fallout New Vegas, with Josh Sawyer leading the project. This news comes amidst significant layoffs at Xbox and the cancellation of Avowed 2.
Retiring Valve employee replies to HLX question in AMA, unintentionally feeding HL3 fans hopium again
Valve software engineer Christopher Green's retirement AMA has fueled speculation about a potential 'HLX' project, possibly related to Half-Life 3. Green's non-committal response to a question about HLX has reignited hope among fans, despite no official confirmation from Valve. This follows previous rumors and speculation surrounding Valve's development cycles and potential unannounced projects.
Hacker behind GTA 6 leak that cost Rockstar $5 million reportedly awaiting retrial after being released from secure…
The hacker responsible for the Grand Theft Auto 6 leak, Arion Kurtaj, has reportedly been moved from a secure hospital to a regular prison to await a criminal trial in November. Kurtaj, a member of the Lapsus$ hacking group, was deemed unfit to stand trial in July 2023 but his circumstances have now changed. Rockstar Games stated the leak cost them $5 million and thousands of staff hours to recover from.
Report paints a picture of brutal cord-cutting inside Xbox layoffs: 'Many of us did not know what was happening for…
A report details the chaotic and reportedly "brutal" implementation of recent layoffs at Xbox, with employees being informed via brief, impersonal video calls and having their access revoked swiftly. This has led to significant distress and speculation among remaining staff, exacerbated by a stated intention for further layoffs by 2027.
Counter-Strike 2 for Console Gamers: What Xbox Players Need to Know
Counter-Strike 2, a major PC title, is not planned for a native console release on Xbox due to its design favoring keyboard and mouse input and historical issues with console ports. While direct play on Xbox is unavailable, players can access it via PC Game Pass on a Windows PC or through cloud streaming services like GeForce NOW using the Xbox's Edge browser, though the latter may introduce input lag unsuitable for competitive play.
Roblox Will Let Anyone Use AI to Turn Text Prompts Into a Basic Game on Their Phone
Roblox has introduced Build, a new AI-powered tool integrated into its mobile app. This feature allows users to generate basic games from simple text prompts, making game creation more accessible.
After strong Gamescom Latam showing, Brazil Games is showcasing its South American flair to Cologne
Brazil Games, in partnership with Abragames and ApexBrasil, is heading to Gamescom in Cologne to showcase the country's growing indie game development scene. For the first time, Brazil Games will host a dedicated pavilion in the Indie Area, featuring dozens of Brazilian-developed titles supported by initiatives like the Brazil Games Accelerator, Embratur, and Sebrae-SP.
God Of War Laufey Star Doesn’t Care What The Trolls Think: “I Just Know It’s Great”
Actress Deborah Ann Woll, who voices and provides the likeness for Faye in the upcoming God of War Laufey, is unfazed by online criticism of the protagonist choice. She stated that the game is a story about parenthood and regret, and that she knows the game is great despite differing opinions. God of War Laufey is set to release on PlayStation 5, potentially in 2027.
"It's not that we don't care about PC" - Former Rockstar developer suggests why GTA 6 is only coming to consoles at launch
Former Rockstar producer John Ricchio explained that Grand Theft Auto 6's initial launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, rather than PC, is due to the development strategy of optimizing for console constraints first. He noted that scaling down for consoles is more efficient than extending from a PC build, and that resource allocation decisions often prioritize core platform development over immediate PC ports.
"If I work on that, my kids will think I'm Gandalf" – Blackbird Interactive on the highs and lows of external development
Blackbird Interactive discusses the challenges and rewards of external development, balancing work-for-hire projects with original titles. President Rory McGuire and Director Alex Delamaire highlight the importance of team excitement, client management, and leveraging diverse skill sets to succeed in the external development space.
