Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
007 First Light on Nintendo Switch 2 is “seeing really good progress”
The Nintendo Switch 2 version of the recently released James Bond game, 007 First Light, is reportedly making good progress. The port was delayed to ensure it meets quality standards, and an update indicates development is on track.
Nexon Announces Public-Private Partnership for Cultivating Next-Generation Game Development in Korea
Nexon, in partnership with Kona Venture Partners and Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has established a public-private fund committing ₩250 billion over five years to cultivate early-stage game development studios in Korea. The initiative aims to address a funding contraction in the market and support the creation of next-generation games and globally scalable intellectual property, particularly leveraging emerging technologies like AI.
Warframe dev explains why it's not celebrating the end of its biggest rival, Destiny 2
Despite Destiny 2 ending its live support, Warframe's developers at Digital Extremes expressed sadness rather than celebration. Community Director Megan Everett stated that the news was "heartbreaking" and that competition is healthy for the gaming industry. The team views both games as distinct, catering to different player needs, and believes the presence of rivals like Destiny 2 pushes Warframe to improve.
Hytale releases server source code and assets in Shared Source Programme
Hytale has launched a Shared Source programme, granting select creators access to the game's full server source code and assets. This initiative, managed through GitHub, aims to empower modders and server creators while addressing legal and management concerns. The program is designed to foster community development and innovation for Hytale.
Italy's second-largest independent game studio buys its independence from Embracer
Italian game studio 34BigThings has regained its independence from Embracer Group after six years. Co-founder Valerio Di Donato acquired full ownership and will lead the studio alongside Giuseppe Enrico Franchi and CFO Daniel Giagnorio. The studio plans to announce a major title later this year and has further projects slated for 2027 and 2028.
Destiny 2 devs repeatedly pitched a dating sim, Bungie veterans say, "but leadership was very Hard No that nobody…
Bungie veterans revealed that developers repeatedly pitched a dating simulator inspired by 'Dream Daddy' for Destiny 2, but leadership consistently rejected the idea. While a prototype was created for an internal 'Carnival' event, full-fledged pitches were never approved, despite narrative designers believing it could have expanded the game's audience.
Comings and Goings
Electronic Arts has laid off an unspecified number of employees in its fan care and recruitment departments. The exact number of affected individuals has not been disclosed by the company.
Sonic Frontiers Has Sold Just Shy Of 5 Million Copies
Sega has reported that Sonic Frontiers has sold nearly 5 million copies, with a current total of 4.94 million units. Other titles mentioned include Sonic X Shadow Generations at 3.07 million, Sonic Superstars at 2.88 million, and Team Sonic Racing at 3.5 million. Persona 5 Royal leads the pack with 8.66 million sales.
120 Teams Created Games at YGG Play x Verse8 Hackathon Using Vibe Coding, Most Lacking Programming Experience
A hackathon hosted by YGG Play and Verse8 saw 120 teams create games using 'vibe coding,' a method that bypasses traditional programming experience. Participants ranged from students with no coding background to experienced engineers, showcasing the accessibility of the Verse8 platform. YGG co-founder Gabby Dizon highlighted how vibe coding empowers a wider range of creators, including gamers and streamers, to develop games.
Hideo Kojima says his pitch for OD sounded "crazy" to every publisher except Xbox
Hideo Kojima revealed that his pitch for the upcoming horror game OD was initially met with skepticism from most publishers, who considered the concept 'crazy.' However, former Xbox CEO Phil Spencer understood and supported the project. OD is being developed by Kojima Productions in collaboration with horror director Jordan Peele and is described as a unique horror experience that goes beyond conventional scariness.
We could've had a 'very Dream Daddy-inspired' Destiny dating sim, but management said no fun
Former Bungie employees revealed that a dating simulator inspired by 'Dream Daddy' was developed internally for Destiny 2 but was rejected by leadership. The concept, which included potential romances with characters like Crow and Xur, was pitched annually but never greenlit as a full project. Other game jam prototypes, including a fighting game and a heavy metal concert concept, were also discussed.
Games Workshop never detailed how the Skitarii's most iconic weapon reloads, so Fatshark helped model it after a…
Fatshark collaborated with Games Workshop to detail the reload mechanism for the Galvanic Rifle in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, a weapon whose functionality was previously undefined. Lead designer Victor Magnuson revealed that the design was inspired by the M1 Garand, incorporating a bullet clip and a galvanic charge coil. The new Skitarii class, featuring the Galvanic Rifle and Transonic Blades, is now available on Steam.
Fable Veterans’ life sim sandbox RPG Kynseed launches for PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch on 4 August
PixelCount Studios announced that its life simulation sandbox RPG, Kynseed, will launch for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on August 4. The game's free 'Tavern Update' is also available today for PC players, allowing them to run their own taverns. Developed by veterans of the Fable series, Kynseed allows players to live through multiple generations, farm land, run businesses, and explore a hand-crafted world.
Xbox is publishing Kojima's mysterious horror game OD because apparently no one else wanted it - they didn't understand the concept
Xbox is publishing Hideo Kojima's upcoming horror title OD, a project that many publishers reportedly rejected due to its unconventional concept. Kojima described OD as a new form of media blending games and film, starring Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier, with input from director Jordan Peele. Phil Spencer was instrumental in bringing the project to Xbox after Kojima pitched it to numerous companies who found the concept "crazy".
EA: AI is delivering "faster prototyping" and a "real rise in creativity" in its studios
Electronic Arts president of enterprise development, Laura Miele, stated that AI has significantly boosted creativity and removed tedium from game development pipelines. She highlighted faster prototyping and more efficient workflows as key benefits, aligning with previous statements from CEO Andrew Wilson about AI's potential to improve development efficiency and give developers more time. Despite these internal views, industry surveys indicate a significant portion of game developers remain wary of AI's role in content creation.
God of War Laufey Development Began Nearly 10 Years Ago
The development of God of War Laufey, a standalone successor to the Norse saga focusing on the character Laufey, began nearly 10 years ago. Actress Deborah Ann Woll, who voices Laufey, revealed that Cory Barlog pitched the idea to her in 2018, with internal planning potentially starting even earlier. The game is expected in the first half of 2027, though some fans have criticized the shift away from Kratos as the protagonist.
Promising PS5 Action Game Announced a Year Ago Is Canceled – Report
The PlayStation 5 action-adventure game Mudang: Two Hearts, developed by EVR Studio, has reportedly been canceled following the studio's bankruptcy filing. EVR Studio, which was also set to publish the game, declared bankruptcy on June 5, 2026, halting development on the project that was previously known as "Project TH" and had a 2024 release window.
Stranger Than Heaven studio don't intend their "casting choices [to] take the spotlight and overshadow everything else", despite that now having happened two games running
RGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama stated that the inclusion of Tupac Shakur in Stranger Than Heaven and Teruyuki Kagawa in Yakuza Kiwami 3 was not intended to overshadow the games' gameplay and narrative. He clarified that the studio aims for celebrity casting to elevate the overall work, citing examples from Yakuza 0 where actors were perfectly suited for their roles. However, the article argues that these specific casting choices have indeed drawn significant attention and controversy, potentially detracting from the games themselves.
Genshin Impact creator miHoYo has released an AI companion on Steam, an eternal student cursed to never obtain her piano…
Genshin Impact developer miHoYo has launched an AI chatbot companion named BSide: Olivia Lin on Steam in China, marking an early application of its significant investment in AI technology. The company is also integrating AI into upcoming titles like Petit Planet and Genesis, and is reportedly hiring artists experienced with generative AI for Honkai: Nexus Anima.
God of War Laufey is not a new idea, nor is the talking jelly cube - Cory Barlog was apparently discussing it back in 2018
Actress Deborah Ann Woll revealed that the concept for the standalone game God of War Laufey, starring Kratos' wife Faye, was pitched by Cory Barlog back in 2018. Woll, who reprises her role as Faye and also voices the character Phranque, has known about the project for nearly a decade. God of War Laufey is in development exclusively for PlayStation 5, with a potential 2027 release target.
