Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
Two Point Studios looks back at 10 years from Hospital to Museum
Two Point Studios is celebrating its 10th anniversary, reflecting on its journey from Two Point Hospital to Two Point Museum. Co-founder Gary Carr, Community Manager Leif Bayliss, and Lead Game Designer Luke Finley-Maxwell discussed the studio's evolution, its signature comedic style, and future plans. They highlighted the development of Two Point Museum's unique biome mechanics and the studio's continued support for the game, while also expressing a desire to explore new territories in the future.
New Details Revealed on Whore of the Orient, LA Noire's Canceled Spiritual Successor
New details have emerged regarding the canceled game Whore of the Orient, which was intended as a spiritual successor to LA Noire. A former writer on the project shared previously unknown information about its development.
Let The Games Begin: SAW: Genesis Enters Closed Alpha Testing Ahead of Gamescom Showcase
SAW: Genesis has entered its Closed Alpha testing phase, allowing players an early look at the 3v1 asymmetrical horror game developed by Broken Mirror Games, Anshar Studios, and Bloober Team in collaboration with Lionsgate. The testing period, which began distributing keys on July 10, aims to gather feedback for balancing and technical improvements ahead of its Early Access launch and a showcase at Gamescom.
Bungie pulls "unfinished" Marathon gun skins, but promises you'll get them back next week
Bungie has temporarily removed four weapon skins from the game Marathon due to unfinished art assets that caused them to appear mostly invisible, particularly the 'RGBully' effect on the Bully SMG. The developer plans to reintroduce the affected Arcana Crusade pack skins in next week's mid-season update, assuring players that ownership is preserved. This update will also include details on the new Vault Breaker mode, balance changes, and weapon adjustments.
As GTA 6's PC portless launch looms, ex-Rockstar producer says prioritising consoles first is primarily about being "better off starting with the constraints"
Former Rockstar Games producer John Ricchio explained that prioritizing console development first for titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 is a strategic choice to manage complexity. He stated that it's easier to scale up a game from hardware with stricter limitations than to scale down a PC version for consoles, a philosophy applied to Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption.
"We thought, well, how would we reinvent this wheel?" – Minecraft specialists 4J Studios on building a new sandbox crafting game from first principles
Dundee-based 4J Studios, known for porting Minecraft, is developing its own sandbox crafting game called Reforj. Driven by a desire to innovate beyond Minecraft and a pragmatic need for new revenue streams after Microsoft brought more development in-house, 4J has created the Elements Engine, designed for high performance on consoles and featuring advanced sculpting and circuit systems. Reforj will also integrate a narrative from the outset, differentiating it from Minecraft's more open-ended approach.
Devs recount chaotic Xbox firings as modders rally behind Bethsoft and ZOS unions
Developers recount chaotic and cruel firings at Xbox, Bethesda, ZeniMax Online Studios, and id Software, with employees reportedly notified via brief, disabled video calls. Remaining staff face low morale and increased workloads, with union members disproportionately affected. The PC modding community has shown support for affected developers by creating mods for Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, with rallies planned.
The Duskbloods network test gets release date, here’s when it’s hapenning
The closed network test for The Duskbloods will take place between August 21 and August 24. Participant applications open on July 22 and require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. This test aims to evaluate server load, multiplayer functionality, and game balance prior to the game's 2026 release.
"We've seen how close you can get": How studio closures pushed Suzerain's maker to create two new DLCs and a turn-based strategy spinoff
Torpor Games, the studio behind the political strategy game Suzerain, has announced three new projects: two DLCs and a turn-based strategy spinoff, all set to release before their next flagship title, The Conformist. These expansions, including 'Suzerain Stories: The Neutral Lens,' 'Wars of Suzerain,' and 'Socialist Republic of Galmland,' aim to deepen the existing world and engage players with new perspectives and mechanics. The studio also secured investment from Sisu Game Ventures, 1Up Ventures, and Krafton to support these new ventures and ensure the continued development of Suzerain.
'Yes, that's Counter-Strike on a PSP!': Modder gets favorite PC FPS working on Sony's 22-year-old…
A modder named Yifeng Wang has successfully created a Counter-Strike clone, dubbed OpenStrike, that runs on the 22-year-old PlayStation Portable handheld. This proof-of-concept utilizes a custom Rust-based 3D engine and a JavaScript engine, achieving 60 FPS with a small RAM footprint. The mod also works on the PlayStation Vita and features all eight original Counter-Strike maps.
Stars Reach has wiped its test servers and treated testers to a brand-new character customization system
Playable Worlds has released a new patch for Stars Reach, introducing a significant character customization system update that allows for detailed customization of species, body type, and appearance. This update is considered an intermediate step, with further enhancements like color options and more variety planned. The patch also includes HUD overhauls, combat tweaks, and a doubled creature count, alongside the announcement that the game's early access period will begin later this summer, preceded by a "Great Wipe" of test servers.
"You'll never get another World of Warcraft or Morrowind in the current climate," id Software producer says as constant layoffs batter the industry
id Software producer Andrew Willis criticizes the current state of the video game industry, citing widespread layoffs and mismanagement by executives who lack understanding of game development. He argues that this focus on short-term gains and profit extraction prevents the creation of long-term, impactful franchises like World of Warcraft or Morrowind. Willis suggests that the industry's volatility for employees, despite increasing consumer spending, points to a failure in executive leadership.
"I had a front row seat to one of the greatest creative explosions in history" – Glen Schofield announces retirement
Industry veteran Glen Schofield has announced his retirement after a 35-year career, citing the past two decades as a period of immense creativity in gaming. He expressed gratitude to Electronic Arts for Dead Space, Activision for three Call of Duty titles, and reflected on his work on The Callisto Protocol. Schofield, who also co-founded Sledgehammer Games and founded Striking Distance Studios, believes the industry is at an inflection point for the next generation of developers.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced studio Ubisoft Barcelona goes on three-day strike in protest of layoffs
Ubisoft Barcelona, a studio involved in the development of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, is staging a three-day strike to protest layoffs. Despite the game's success, 51 workers are reportedly impacted by restructuring. Developers are demanding better severance packages and assurances against future job cuts.
Dead Space series co-creator and industry veteran Glen Schofield announces his retirement in emotional video
Industry veteran and co-creator of Dead Space, Glen Schofield, has announced his retirement after over 35 years in game development. In an emotional video, Schofield thanked his family, colleagues, and fans for their support throughout his career, which included directing three Call of Duty games for Activision and creating Dead Space for Electronic Arts. He expressed optimism for the future of game development and encouraged the next generation of creators.
"There are no benefits to being owned by Microsoft," says Doom dev: "They have destroyed immense amounts of value that I don't even think that they're aware of"
A developer at id Software claims there are no benefits to being owned by Microsoft, citing mass layoffs that occurred just before the launch of a new Doom DLC. The developer stated that Microsoft has destroyed significant value and that even successful game launches do not guarantee job security. This comes after reports of 136 out of 185 developers being laid off from the studio.
Dead Space creator Glen Schofield announces he's retiring from "the day-to-day work" of making games from the vicinity of some chirpy nature
Dead Space creator Glen Schofield announced his retirement from the day-to-day work of game development after a 35-year career. His last game was The Callisto Protocol, and he previously worked on titles like Call of Duty. Schofield expressed gratitude to fans and industry peers, encouraging the next generation of game makers.
"I don't know how anyone remaining at Xbox Studios can feel safe" - New report reveals environment of uncertainty and fear, and a "staggering" loss of institutional knowledge
A new report details an environment of fear and uncertainty within Microsoft's Xbox Studios following recent layoffs, with employees unsure of future cuts and the impact on game development. Studios like id Software and Bethesda Game Studios have lost significant talent, raising concerns about the loss of institutional knowledge and the ability to maintain core franchises and proprietary technology.
GTA 6 isn't on PC at launch because it's 'always better to start with the constraints', suggests…
Former Rockstar producer John Ricchio suggests that Grand Theft Auto 6 is not launching on PC simultaneously because starting development with console constraints is more efficient. He explained that shrinking a game for consoles is harder than extending it for more powerful PC hardware, and that development priorities, such as working on Grand Theft Auto 5, also influenced the decision.
The rumoured Resident Evil 1 Remake reportedly entered pre-production last year
A rumored remake of the original Resident Evil game reportedly entered pre-production nearly a year ago, according to insider Dusk Golem. Development is expected to proceed after Resident Evil Veronica, with a potential release around 2029. Another insider report suggests Resident Evil Zero entered full production in late 2022, possibly making it the next remake after Veronica.
