Game Development
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Why one in three new games at SGF has got their launch wrong | Opinion
The article argues that many game developers and publishers fail to adequately support game announcements made at events like Summer Game Fest. It highlights that a significant portion of announced games lack essential post-announcement marketing infrastructure, such as dedicated websites, social media follow-ups with gameplay, and community Discord servers. The author emphasizes that these foundational steps are crucial for building player interest and ensuring a successful launch, rather than focusing solely on the initial trailer.
Vampire Survivors dev 'reviewing' Fortnite collab after Epic's AI announcement
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reconsidering its collaboration with Epic Games for Fortnite items following Epic's announcement of AI-powered features for Unreal Engine. Poncle expressed concerns on Reddit about Epic's use of generative AI in game asset creation, stating they are reviewing the partnership and will provide updates. This move comes amid growing developer apprehension towards AI in the industry.
Epic Games shows how gen AI messes up Fortnite’s art — and uses it anyway
Epic Games has demonstrated its use of generative AI in creating Fortnite assets, despite requiring significant manual correction of errors. This approach has drawn criticism from fans and led to developer Poncle reconsidering a collaboration with Epic due to concerns over AI usage.
PS5's State of Decay 3 Looks to Have All the Ingredients for Success
State of Decay 3, currently in Early Alpha, showcases extensive 72-minute gameplay footage highlighting resource scavenging, base building, and emergent world interactions. While the art style is noted as uninspired, the game appears to have strong potential for financial success within the popular survival genre. The official release is targeted for 2027, though a delay is considered possible given its current development stage.
GTA VI Cover Art Appears Ahead of Pre-orders
Rockstar Games has revealed the cover art for Grand Theft Auto VI, which will be available for pre-order starting June 25, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The game is slated for a November 19, 2026 release. The article also touches on recent staff firings and ongoing legal cases related to alleged union-busting and leaking of confidential information.
gamescom dev announces opening keynote by Amir Satvat and first program highlights
gamescom dev 2026 has announced its first program highlights, including an opening keynote by Amir Satvat on the future of the games industry. The event will feature new curated tracks for Animation, Level Design, and AI, with initial speakers and sessions revealed. The conference, taking place August 23-25 in Cologne, aims to bring together global industry professionals.
Award-winning dog adventure Hubert just got a major demo update
The award-winning narrative dog adventure Hubert, developed by Brocap Studio, has received a significant demo update. The updated demo, now available in 11 languages with improved combat, can be played on Steam. Hubert also won Best Game at the Game Access Conference 2026.
Sonic Team head talks about how SEGA was once ready to stop making Sonic games
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka revealed that SEGA considered discontinuing Sonic games during a period of downturns, even after the Sonic Boom series. He stated that the company was ready to stop making Sonic games at one point, and he was tasked with revitalizing the franchise. Iizuka credits fan support for the series' current success and the continued investment in new titles.
Sonic Team boss says SEGA tasked him with bringing Sonic back from the dead
Sonic Team boss Takashi Iizuka revealed that SEGA once considered abandoning the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise due to its perceived decline. Iizuka was tasked with finding a way to revive the series, indicating a significant effort to bring the franchise back to prominence.
D&D-inspired Critical Role's homegrown videogame is coming along well, says Laura Bailey: 'There's a…
Laura Bailey, a voice actor for Critical Role, has provided an update on the development of the franchise's homegrown video game, stating that progress is being made. The game, based in the Exandria setting, is being developed in partnership with AdHoc. Bailey indicated that while she cannot share many details, the project is actively moving forward.
'Gamers Don't Want It': Palworld Dev Against Generative AI as It Grows More Common in Games
John Buckley, head of publishing and communications at Pocketpair, stated that the studio behind Palworld is against the use of generative AI in game development. He believes gamers do not want AI-generated content and that its utility is questionable, contrasting with some Asian markets that are more willing to adopt the technology. Steam now requires disclosure of generative AI usage in game listings.
Epic Says AI Will Play A Bigger Role In Unreal Engine 6
Epic Games is increasing the role of Generative AI in Unreal Engine 6, using it as an 'art concepting process' to assist artists in creating 3D in-game assets for titles like Fortnite. While the technology aims to speed up development by transforming sketches into 3D models, Epic emphasizes that human artists will refine the AI-generated outputs to meet high standards. The integration of GenAI has received mixed reactions from developers, with some expressing concerns about its implementation.
Rumour: Persona 6 Release Is Way Closer Than Most People Think
A recent rumor suggests that Persona 6 could be closer to release than anticipated, potentially targeting the latter half of 2027. This speculation stems from a video game translator claiming to be working on the project, a task that typically begins about a year before a game's launch. The timing also aligns with Atlus's past release schedules and avoids overlapping with the upcoming Persona 4 Revival.
Vampire Survivors studio Poncle is "reviewing" its Fortnite collaboration after the State of Unreal show and Epic's focus on generative AI
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reviewing its collaboration with Fortnite following Epic Games' showcase of generative AI tools in Unreal Engine. Poncle expressed concern over Epic's use of AI for asset creation, stating they would reassess the partnership. This comes amid ongoing ethical debates surrounding AI in game development, including its impact on artists and potential copyright issues.
Fortnite boss hopes to take on Roblox's massive everythingverse with a "very different" massive everythingverse, as Epic unveil genAI-infused Unreal Engine 6
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney outlined his vision for a future "everythingverse" to compete with Roblox, emphasizing open standards and collaboration. The company also unveiled Unreal Engine 6, featuring generative AI integration aimed at streamlining game development and reducing tedious tasks for creators.
Hours after announcing a Vampire Survivors crossover with Fortnite, the roguelike's lead is now "reviewing" the decision as Epic Games goes big on gen AI
Following Epic Games' announcement of its use of generative AI in Fortnite development, Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reviewing its planned crossover with the game. The decision comes after Epic Games showcased its AI art concepting process, which has drawn criticism due to recent layoffs and the broader implications of AI in game development.
Unreal Engine 6 is bringing generative AI into its development tools
Epic Games is integrating generative AI into Unreal Engine 6's development tools, aiming to streamline tasks like level design, character rigging, and lighting. The engine will also feature the Verse programming language for more accessible development and support for persistent, large-scale live experiences. Unreal Engine 6 will unify Unreal Engine 5 and Unreal Editor for Fortnite, enhancing interoperability and collaboration among developers.
No, Tom Cruise wasn't nearly Halo's Master Chief, and Julia Roberts wasn't nearly in the series either - but there was this conversation at a party
Contrary to rumors, Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts were never close to being cast in Halo. Voice director Marty O'Donnell confirmed a conversation at a party where a casting agent proposed Cruise as Master Chief and Roberts as Cortana for Halo 2, but O'Donnell rejected the idea, prioritizing the established fan connection with original voice actors Steve Downes and Jen Taylor.
OtherSide Entertainment cuts 17 jobs after Argos cancellation
OtherSide Entertainment has laid off 17 employees following the cancellation of its in-development project, Argos. The studio cited challenging industry conditions as the reason for the project's unviability. This follows a history of project cancellations and IP acquisitions for the developer.
Unreal Engine 5.8 just got a faster Lumen for Nintendo Switch 2
Epic Games has released Unreal Engine 5.8, introducing Lumen Lite, a performance-optimized version of its global illumination system specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2, aiming to enable 60fps gaming. The update also includes improvements for PC and other platforms, along with new features like MegaLights and experimental Mesh Terrain.
