Game Development
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Gothic blev det Ultima 9 vi aldrig fick
This article analyzes how Piranha Bytes' Gothic, released in 2001, succeeded as a role-playing game where Ultima 9: Ascension failed. While Ultima 9 promised an open-world 3D experience but delivered a buggy and unoptimized product, Gothic, despite its "European jank" and technical limitations, offered a living world and a sense of genuine player immersion. The piece suggests Gothic filled the void left by Ultima 9's shortcomings and influenced subsequent European RPGs.
Senior EA exec Laura Miele thinks AI has led to "a real rise of creativity" among the publisher's studios
Electronic Arts' president of enterprise development, Laura Miele, believes generative AI has fostered a significant increase in creativity within the company's studios by removing tedious tasks and streamlining workflows. Despite some employee concerns and ethical debates surrounding AI, major publishers like Sony Interactive Entertainment, Capcom, and Epic Games are also embracing AI tools to improve development efficiency.
Evening Reading - June 22, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers various gaming news and features. It includes reviews for The Adventures of Elliot and UFC 6, a preview of Rhythm Heaven Groove, and updates on Sega's new titles, Steam Machine components, and a potential Sea of Thieves live-action movie. The article also touches on Final Fantasy 7 Remake director's desire for original projects and the possibility of custom Steam Machines with an updated SteamOS.
The Most Epic Fantasy & Science Fiction Site in Reality
Starfield Portal, part of Gfinity Digital Media, aims to provide comprehensive guides and news for Starfield fans. The editorial team consists of passionate Bethesda enthusiasts with extensive experience in games like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, ensuring meticulously crafted content based on in-depth research and playtime.
The Most Epic Fantasy & Science Fiction Site in Reality
Starfield Portal aims to provide comprehensive guides and news for Starfield fans, leveraging the passion and extensive playtime of its editorial team, who are also enthusiasts of Bethesda's Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series. The site emphasizes editorial independence and adheres to high standards of content integrity.
The Most Epic Fantasy & Science Fiction Site in Reality
Starfield Portal, operated by Gfinity Digital Media, aims to provide comprehensive guides and news for Starfield fans. The editorial team consists of passionate Bethesda enthusiasts with extensive experience in games like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, ensuring meticulously researched and hands-on content.
Warframe Dev Says 'No One Is Celebrating' as Destiny 2 Support Comes to a 'Heartbreaking' End
Warframe community director Megan Everett expressed sadness over Sony's decision to end support for Destiny 2, calling the news "heartbreaking." She stated that no one within the Warframe team is celebrating this development.
Remember Korean Stealth Game MUDANG? Looks Like It's Not Coming Out
The Korean stealth game MUDANG: Two Hearts, previously announced for PlayStation 5, has been cancelled. Developer EVR Studio has filed for bankruptcy, effectively ceasing operations and ending the game's development. This cancellation highlights the increasing financial challenges faced by studios in the current games industry.
OD Existed As a Concept Since Death Stranding 1, New Screenshot Reveals Ominous Details
Hideo Kojima's upcoming horror game OD, developed by Kojima Productions, has a concept that originated during the development of Death Stranding 1. While filming has begun with actors like Hunter Schafer and Sophia Lillis, the involvement of the late Udo Kier remains unclear. The game's premise, beyond "overdosing on fear," and its new game system are still mysteries, though a new screenshot hints at potential callbacks to P.T. and Silent Hills.
Capcom is Not Following a “Master Plan” For Resident Evil Remakes – Rumor
Industry insider Dusk Golem claims Capcom has no current master plan for remaking Resident Evil 5 or 6, with development decisions based on 5-year plans. While remakes of Resident Evil Veronica and Resident Evil 0 are planned and will tie into the original Resident Evil, there is no initiative to remake all titles or specifically restructure the narrative towards Resident Evil Requiem.
Bethesda’s Todd Howard Says Arkane is “Doing a Really, Really Good Job” With Marvel’s Blade
Bethesda's Todd Howard stated that Arkane Studios is making significant progress on Marvel's Blade, expressing optimism about the upcoming vampire-slaying game. While a release window remains unannounced, Howard's recent comments suggest development is proceeding well despite potential industry-wide layoffs.
Next Ghost Recon’s Scope “Cut and Greatly Reduced” After Poor Internal Alpha – Rumor
A new Ghost Recon game, codenamed Ovr, has reportedly had its scope significantly reduced due to issues during an internal alpha test. Sources claim features were stripped, and the game's state was considered 'terrible,' leading to potential crunch for the development team. The game's release window is now uncertain, with a beta possibly targeting November and a full launch potentially delayed beyond next year.
On The Elder Scrolls 6, Todd Howard says "we know we need to get it right and it's been a long time"
Todd Howard, game director for The Elder Scrolls 6 at Bethesda Game Studios, acknowledged the long development time for the highly anticipated title. He stated that the studio knows they "need to get it right" and that the majority of the studio is working on the project. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly keen on shortening development cycles, while Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty has seen the game in motion and described it as "amazing."
Rumor Mill
Electronic Arts is reportedly conducting another round of layoffs, with the company citing a need to "better meet fans’ changing needs." The article questions whether this corporate jargon masks a disregard for developers.
Indie throwback MMO Hollowed Oath rebuilds its chat system and approaches 100 unique NPCs
The indie MMORPG Hollowed Oath is nearing 100 unique NPCs and has rebuilt its chat system with enhanced functionality. Development updates also include the addition of dual-wielding auto-attacks, improved pet AI, and new stealth mechanics. The game world is expanding with new city locations and a Golemancer tutorial questline.
Soil - June 2026 news
The latest update for Soil focuses on significant performance enhancements, allowing the game to run at double the previous speed due to the introduction of multithreading and other optimizations. This update also includes reworked in-world UI elements and several bug fixes, such as addressing mission freezing issues and improving harvester behavior.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy director would like to tackle an original project after Revelation
Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, expressed his desire to work on an original IP after the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trilogy concludes. While currently focused on the 2027 release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, he is more interested in creating a new grand RPG rather than another remake.
Todd Howard On The Elder Scrolls 6: “We Need To Get It Right”
Todd Howard, director at Bethesda Game Studios, stated that the majority of the studio is focused on The Elder Scrolls 6, acknowledging the long development time and the need to "get it right." The game was previously announced over eight years ago and has only shown a title reveal. Microsoft's Matt Booty indicated that the game was not shown at a recent showcase to ensure it is presented at its best when it is ready to be revealed.
Report: EA conducts layoffs in Hyderabad, India and the US
Electronic Arts has conducted another round of layoffs affecting remote workers in the US and employees at its Hyderabad, India office. The affected roles are primarily in trust and safety, IT, customer support, and recruitment departments. This marks the third round of layoffs at EA this year, following reductions at its Battlefield division and the Skate developer Full Circle.
Eidos Montreal founder says modern execs are driven more by spreadsheets than passion for games
Stephane D'Astous, founder of Eidos Montreal, believes modern game executives are driven more by financial spreadsheets than a genuine passion for games. He notes the shift from smaller, more personal decision-making to large, financially motivated corporate strategies, citing the increased influence of entities like Tencent and sovereign wealth funds. D'Astous feels this change has led to unrealistic expectations and a less creative development environment.
