Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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God of War Laufey Part of PS5 Dev's Plans from the Start, Pitched in 2018
Deborah Ann Woll, the voice actor for Faye in God of War, revealed that the concept for God of War Laufey has been in development at Santa Monica Studio for nearly a decade, with initial pitches made in 2018. This suggests a long-term plan for a trilogy, expanding on the lore established in God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok. While a release date is unconfirmed, the game is heavily promoted by Sony and is anticipated for PlayStation 5.
CD Projekt boss warns that games made solely by gen AI are already being made
CD Projekt co-CEO Michał Nowakowski has warned that games developed entirely using generative AI are imminent, citing a studio founder who claims to be able to launch games within weeks. While acknowledging the potential for rapid prototyping, Nowakowski expressed doubts about the long-term viability and artistic merit of such titles, contrasting them with games possessing 'soul' and fresh ideas.
Zelda Fan Ditches Ocarina of Time Unreal Engine Remake After a Decade of Work
A fan has abandoned their decade-long project to remake The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in Unreal Engine. This decision comes after the announcement of an upcoming official remake for the Nintendo Switch.
'Larger budgets and longer schedules do not lead to better games:' Thank You For Your Application recoups dev costs in 22 hours
The narrative-driven interview simulator Thank You For Your Application, developed by IceLemonTea Studio and published by No More Robots, recouped its development costs within 22 hours of its Steam launch. Publisher No More Robots founder Mike Rose stated the game had a five-figure budget and emphasized that larger budgets and longer schedules do not necessarily lead to better games. The title is also slated for release on consoles and mobile later this year.
Ori creator declares Xbox Game Pass a mediocre slop factory that's 'a little like Communism'
Moon Studios CEO Thomas Mahler criticized Xbox Game Pass, calling it a 'mediocre slop factory' and comparing its strategy to Communism. He argued that the service lacks sufficient compelling exclusive titles to justify its subscription cost, leading to a decline in subscribers after a price increase. Mahler also expressed disappointment with the quality of recent first-party Xbox releases, citing Starfield as an example of a game that failed to meet expectations.
CD Projekt boss "knows for a fact" a surge of games made purely with generative AI are coming, but doubts "whether this is really the path to follow"
CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski believes games made purely with generative AI are inevitable but expresses doubts about this being the optimal development path. He suggests studios should focus on being 'lean and cheap' to navigate the increasingly competitive market, while acknowledging the potential of AI integration in tools like Unreal Engine 6.
CD Projekt joint-CEO says it's "fair" that the studio "lost the faith" of some of its audience after Cyberpunk 2077 launch
CD Projekt joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski acknowledged that the studio lost player trust due to the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077, stating it's "fair" that some players may never return. He expressed hope that future titles like The Witcher 4, which will utilize Unreal Engine 5, can help regain that trust. Despite the initial issues, Cyberpunk 2077 has since sold over 35 million copies.
The Last of Us Part 2 will get multiplayer later this year, but not from Sony, and sadly not on PS5 either
A multiplayer mod for The Last of Us Part II has been released by modder Specilizer, featuring lobby systems and custom maps, with a September release date. Meanwhile, CD Projekt Red's co-CEO Michał Nowakowski admits the company has not yet fully redeemed itself in the eyes of fans after the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077, despite significant improvements and positive reception to its Phantom Liberty expansion.
Have as much ramen as you want in “More more mode”! Zero calories!
Flyhigh Works has released Ramen Simulator, a new simulation game developed by the team behind Yakiniku Simulator. The game allows players to create their own ramen bowls with over 100 ingredients and features modes like 'More more mode' for unlimited topping additions and 'Speed Eat' for timed challenges. A discounted bundle including both Ramen Simulator and Yakiniku Simulator is also available.
Steam Week in Review: spammy, AI-generated capsule art is a pox, and it makes browsing Steam less fun
The proliferation of AI-generated capsule art on Steam is diminishing the browsing experience, making it harder to discover genuine indie gems. This trend creates a disconnect between appealing art and actual game quality, potentially leading to wasted time and a less enjoyable user experience for curious players.
MMO Week in Review: ArcheAge’s revival, Guild Wars’ CCG
This week's MMO news roundup covers a variety of topics including Guild Wars receiving a CCG in China, ArcheAge's revival, and Richard Garriott's efforts to regain Ultima copyright. It also features updates on Tomo Endless Blue's Kickstarter success, Embers of the Uncrowned, and Diablo Immortal's new Warlock patch.
Gears of War: E-Day’s 4-Player Campaign Co-op Was a “Huge Investment,” Says Creative Director
The Coalition has made a significant investment in Gears of War: E-Day's campaign, supporting four-player co-op from the outset. Creative director Matt Searcy stated that this decision reflects the core Gears DNA of four-person squads and required extensive environmental design and character animation work. The game is set to release on October 6th, with a multiplayer beta planned for August.
The Real Reason Modern Games Take So Long to Make
Modern AAA games take longer to develop due to escalating ambition, player expectations, and increased complexity in asset creation and quality assurance, despite advancements in development tools. Studios like Remedy Entertainment, Insomniac Games, and FromSoftware achieve faster development cycles through discipline, constraint, reuse, and efficient organizational structures, contrasting with the tendency for overreach in larger productions. The article also touches on the potential impact of generative AI on future game production.
Ori Studio Head Says Game Pass Would Have Worked if Xbox Could “Understand What’s a Good Game”
Moon Studios CEO Thomas Mahler believes Xbox Game Pass could have succeeded if Microsoft had focused on quality over quantity, comparing it unfavorably to premium streaming services. He criticized Xbox's first-party output, citing Starfield as an example of a game that failed to meet the potential of its predecessor, and suggested that Xbox leadership needs a better understanding of what constitutes a "good game" to truly connect with gamers.
God of War Laufey Pitched to Lead Actor in 2018, Cosmic Cube and All
Santa Monica Studio's upcoming game, God of War Laufey, was in the planning stages as early as 2018, according to actor Deborah Ann Woll. She revealed that director Cory Barlog pitched the concept to her then, featuring a cosmic cube central to the lore. The game is allegedly targeting a PlayStation 5 release in the first half of 2027.
CD Projekt Believes Its “Redemption Arc” is Incomplete, Wants to Win Back Fans With The Witcher 4
CD Projekt RED's joint CEO Michał Nowakowski believes the company's redemption arc following Cyberpunk 2077's troubled launch is not yet complete, despite significant improvements and the success of the Phantom Liberty expansion. He expressed hope that future titles, including The Witcher 4, will fully regain lost fan trust. The company plans to focus on developing high-quality games rather than releasing many titles annually, with The Witcher 4 not expected before 2027.
The Witcher 4 Studio’s Co-CEO “Has Doubts” If Generative AI is “The Path to Follow” to Make Games
CD Projekt co-CEO Michał Nowakowski expressed doubts about generative AI being the primary path for game development, despite acknowledging its use in productivity areas. He believes AI cannot create games like The Witcher 5 or 6. Other companies like Pocketpair also avoid generative AI, while Crystal Dynamics has used it in early development for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.
Marvel’s Wolverine’s Sabretooth Actor is Also Playing a Role in Grand Theft Auto 6 – Rumor
Actor Brett Gipson's resume indicates he will voice a supporting character named Ellis in Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6, alongside his role as Sabretooth in Insomniac Games' Marvel's Wolverine. Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to release on November 19th for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with pre-orders beginning June 25th. Marvel's Wolverine is a PlayStation 5 exclusive scheduled for September 15th.
Games Inbox: Is Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 set to be a flop?
This opinion piece discusses the potential failure of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, attributing it to a lack of direction and the series coasting on its name. It also touches on reader opinions regarding Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders, studio closures by major companies, and Nintendo's strategy with remakes.
Former Unreal Engine 'evangelist' and level design legend Sjoerd De Jong leaves Epic Games
Sjoerd De Jong, a prominent Unreal Engine expert and former lead evangelist at Epic Games, has departed the company after 12 years. De Jong, who has a history with Unreal Engine dating back to his teenage years modding the original game, cited a desire to move forward in the ever-changing games industry as his reason for leaving.
