Game Development
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Dragon Age creator reckons the series is dead following Veilguard flop, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't have another go at it if given the chance
Dragon Age creator David Gaider believes the series is likely dead following the poor commercial performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Despite no longer being at BioWare, Gaider expressed interest in returning to the franchise to take it in a darker, more provocative direction if given the chance. He also commented on BioWare's current focus on Mass Effect 5 and the challenges facing game development under Electronic Arts.
What will another Obsidian Fallout game even look like all these years on? Here's my attempt to read the radioactive tea leaves
Following reports of Obsidian Entertainment being redirected to work on a new Fallout game, this article speculates on what such a title might look like. It considers how the studio could innovate within the series, potentially by exploring new settings and gameplay mechanics, while acknowledging the influence of the recent Fallout TV show and other modern RPGs.
The Blood of Dawnwalker star was "slightly too excited" in his audition to veteran Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 devs: "I probably shouldn't have looked that up"
Actor Will de Renzy-Martin, who voices Coen in The Blood of Dawnwalker, discusses his audition and the challenges of portraying the vampire protagonist. He highlights the game's development by Rebel Wolves, a studio co-founded by veterans from The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. De Renzy-Martin expresses excitement about the depth of the character and the ambitious scope of the RPG.
Microsoft lays off Bethesda vet behind Todd Howard's "crazy" Fallout 4 idea, "too many Skyrim weapons to count," the Dwemer, and Mudcrabs – and he may leave games altogether
Microsoft's ongoing layoffs have impacted Bethesda, with veteran artist Dane Olds, responsible for significant art assets in games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, being let go. Olds, who has been with Bethesda for nearly 20 years, is considering leaving the game industry. This follows other layoffs at the studio, raising concerns about the development of The Elder Scrolls 6.
MMO Hype Train: Can Scars of Honor overcome its generic WoW clone identity?
Scars of Honor, an upcoming MMORPG from Beast Burst Entertainment, faces scrutiny over its generic identity and past crowdfunding failure. Despite a colorful visual style reminiscent of RuneScape and Albion Online, the game's features list offers little distinction from existing titles. The article questions whether Scars of Honor can overcome its "WoW clone" label and generate sufficient hype to succeed in the competitive MMO market.
PC ports of old console games are the new AI vibe coding battleground
The article discusses the growing trend of using AI for game development, particularly for creating PC ports of older console games. A community project for Donkey Kong 64, named DK64 Recompiled, explicitly rejects AI-generated code, highlighting a divide between experienced developers and those relying on AI tools. This debate centers on the quality, maintainability, and ethical implications of AI-assisted game development versus traditional methods.
How One Teacher (And A Private Investigator) Revived The Beloved Franchise Of Your Childhood
Playground Productions CEO Lindsay Barnett discusses the revival of the Backyard Sports franchise, culminating in the new Backyard Baseball game. The journey involved acquiring rights through a private investigator and partnering with Mega Cat Studios for development. The new title emphasizes a faithful representation of the classic 2D style in a 3D world, avoids microtransactions, and focuses on inclusion with diverse characters like Pablo Sanchez, Kenny Kawaguchi, and Sunny Day.
"We were already running a tight ship": Elder Scrolls 6 devs are worried about Xbox's layoffs causing even more delays to the long-awaited RPG
Bethesda developers are concerned that recent layoffs at Microsoft and Xbox will cause further delays for The Elder Scrolls 6. Staff report that the cuts have negatively impacted morale and may lead to longer development cycles due to the need for onboarding new or contract labor. Developers fear this will necessitate crunch time to meet deadlines for the highly anticipated RPG.
The Elder Scrolls 6 will be hurt and potentially delayed by Xbox layoffs, Bethesda devs expect: "This has had a…
Bethesda Game Studios developers express concern that recent Xbox layoffs will negatively impact the production and potentially delay The Elder Scrolls 6. Staff report that the loss of programmers, artists, and designers has already affected morale and workflow, with fears of increased reliance on contract labor and further delays.
After 16 years of exploring the final frontier, Star Trek Online devs are 'trying new things' and 'trying to push the boundaries' of what they can achieve
Star Trek Online is entering a new era with the return of former CEO Jack Emmert and Cryptic Studios' separation from Embracer. The recent 'Undiscovered' update signifies a shift towards trying new things, including remaking old arcs and revamping sector space encounters, aiming to make the game feel more alive and engaging for its players.
Reactional Music wins €2.5 million EIC grant to scale music as a new monetisation layer in gaming
Reactional Music, a platform focused on integrating programmable music into games, has secured a €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council, with potential for up to €9 million in total funding. This investment will support the company's commercial expansion, including scaling music delivery, optimizing SDKs for game engines, and establishing music as a new monetization layer within the gaming economy.
"Great job Microsoft": Former id Software artist says the legendary dev has been "relegated to support studio size" after Xbox's strategy of "nuking a team into the dirt"
Former id Software artist Derek Best stated that Microsoft's recent layoffs have reduced the iconic FPS developer to a support studio size. Best, who was among the 136 employees laid off, criticized Microsoft's strategy, noting the significant loss of institutional knowledge and the impact on the id Tech engine team. The layoffs have raised concerns about the future of id Software's core franchises like Doom and Quake.
Xbox layoffs have likely killed another Perfect Dark reboot from the hollowed-out id Software, as well as a John…
Recent layoffs at Xbox, including approximately 136 at id Software, have likely halted potential projects such as a Perfect Dark reboot and a John Wick-inspired game codenamed "Fury." The significant staff reductions at id Software have reportedly reduced it to a support studio, making ambitious new game development unlikely.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Devs Fear “More Delays” After Layoffs Have “Crushing Effect On Morale”
Developers at Bethesda Game Studios are concerned that recent Microsoft layoffs could lead to significant delays for The Elder Scrolls 6, citing a "crushing effect on morale." These cuts, impacting various disciplines, raise fears of project timelines being pushed back and potential reliance on contract labor. The studio is also reportedly planning Fallout 5 after The Elder Scrolls 6.
Former Dragon Age Lead Writer Says BioWare's Fantasy Series is Unlikely to Ever Return Under EA — Though He Knows What He'd Do With Dragon Age 5 if He Made It
Former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider believes the fantasy series is unlikely to return under Electronic Arts' ownership. However, he has ideas for a potential Dragon Age 5, should the opportunity arise.
VR Action Platformer Hyperstacks Launches on Steam July 30th After 8 Years of Development
Squirrel Bytes announced that the VR action platformer Hyperstacks will launch on Steam VR and exit early access on Meta on July 30th, 2026, after eight years of development. The game features combat, parkour, logic-driven puzzles, and an in-game level editor for community creations.
New Perfect Dark, Co-Op Doom Were Reportedly In The Works At Id Software Before Mass Layoffs
Mass layoffs have significantly impacted id Software, with reports suggesting projects like a new Perfect Dark game, a co-op Doom experience, and a John Wick-inspired title called Fury were in development. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's 'reset plan' led to the dismissal of over half of id Software's staff, potentially affecting the future of the id Tech engine and other studios like Obsidian Entertainment and ZeniMax Online Studios.
Even The Elder Scrolls 6 is affected by Xbox layoffs, say Bethesda employees, as "key" people are let go and morale bottoms out
Bethesda Game Studios employees report that recent Xbox layoffs have significantly impacted development on The Elder Scrolls 6, with over 50 staff, including key personnel, being let go. This has led to low morale and concerns about increased crunch and delays for the highly anticipated title. The layoffs also affect other studios like id Software, potentially reducing their roles to support.
Destiny 2 free game shows just how much fans hate ex-CEO and his car collection
A fan-made game called Destiny: The Final Car has been created to satirize and express frustration with former Bungie CEO Pete Parsons and his car collection. This comes amid fan discontent over Bungie's management, including layoffs and the shift away from new Destiny 2 content following Sony's acquisition of the studio.
A risk-averse video game industry is failing marginalized developers
The video game industry is criticized for being risk-averse, leading to difficulties for marginalized developers like Nazih Fares and his team behind the satirical card game 'The Arab League of Misfits.' Despite positive feedback, their game is deemed too risky by potential funders due to its Arab identity and heritage focus. This trend is exacerbated by industry-wide struggles, layoffs, and a preference for safe, licensed IPs over supporting new voices.
