Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Marathon creative director shoots down rumored merge with Destiny 2: 'Please don't believe everything you read…
Marathon creative director Julia Nardin has debunked rumors of a potential merge between Bungie's Marathon and Destiny 2 IPs. Nardin, who has worked on both titles, stated on X that the 'leak' is fake and that while the games share Bungie's DNA, they are independent entities. This statement comes in response to a 4chan post that also made claims about Marathon potentially shifting to a free-to-play model.
Hyper Light Drifter developer on brink of shutdown after publisher deal falls through
Heart Machine, the developer behind Hyper Light Drifter, is reportedly on the brink of shutting down after a publisher withdrew funding for an unannounced project. Studio founder Alx Preston indicated that most employees have been laid off due to the financial setback. This follows a previous wind-down of development for Hyper Light Breaker and substantial layoffs.
MindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy may finally be closing
Build a Rocket Boy (BARB), the developer behind the game MindsEye, appears to be closing down entirely, with reports indicating all remaining employees are being laid off. This follows multiple rounds of cuts, allegations of mismanagement and surveillance, and a contentious relationship with former publisher IO Interactive after the poorly received launch of MindsEye.
Report: MindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy seemingly closing after more layoffs
Build a Rocket Boy, the studio behind the game MindsEye, is reportedly closing its doors following multiple rounds of layoffs. Developers have been posting farewell messages on social media, and sources indicate the studio is winding down operations. The company has faced a tumultuous development cycle for MindsEye, including allegations of mismanagement and legal claims.
Bungie shuts down leak claiming Destiny will be revived through a merger with Marathon
Bungie has officially denied a rumor claiming that Destiny would be merged with Marathon to revive the series. Bungie veteran Julia Nardin stated that the leak is fake and that while the games share Bungie's DNA, they are independent IPs. The rumor suggested internal testing to combine the IPs and foreshadow future Destiny projects.
MindsEye developers report new round of layoffs at Build A Rocket Boy
Scottish studio Build a Rocket Boy has reportedly conducted another round of layoffs, impacting staff including principal talent acquisition partner Dan Hawkins. This follows previous redundancies after the poorly received launch of their game, MindsEye, and the conclusion of a publishing agreement with IOI Partners.
Studio behind one of the worst rated games of the generation set to close
Build A Rocket Boy, the studio behind the poorly received game Mindseye, is reportedly closing down permanently. The developer, founded by former Rockstar Games president Leslie Benzies, has faced multiple rounds of layoffs and legal action from employees. Sources indicate the studio had around 100 employees remaining.
Vampire RPG escapes Steam's 'Adult Only' jail just in time for launch: "At the risk of disappointing some players, Nighthawks is not porn"
The vampiric RPG Nighthawks has successfully had its 'Adult Only' rating removed from Steam just before its launch. This rating, mistakenly applied by Valve, would have hidden the game from most players. While stressful for the developers, the situation led to a surge in wishlists and highlighted issues with Valve's content guidelines for indie developers.
Parts of GTA 6 are "a bit outdated and weird," says former Rockstar dev, but "like GTA 5" it will "perform really well" and keep fans busy for a decade
A former Rockstar Games developer, Mike York, shared his insights on Grand Theft Auto 6, noting that while some elements appear "outdated and weird," the game is expected to perform well and engage players for a decade, similar to Grand Theft Auto 5. He also commented on the distinct personalities of the protagonists, Jason and Lucia, and Rockstar's strict internal policies regarding employee social media presence.
Shinji Mikami to join AIAS Hall of Fame at 2026 DICE Awards
Prolific game developer Shinji Mikami, known for pioneering the Resident Evil series, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 30th annual DICE Awards on February 18, 2026. The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) is honoring Mikami for his over 30-year career, which includes founding Tango Gameworks and establishing Unbound. Goichi Suda will present the award.
LocalThunk "leaks" Balatro 1.1, revealing "at least" 4 new Jokers, new Tier 2 voucher, and a promise…
Balatro creator LocalThunk has shared details about the upcoming 1.1 update, including at least four new Jokers, a new Tier 2 voucher system, and a new blue stake. He admitted the update is past its original 2025 due date but emphasized his commitment to not rushing the release to ensure a high-quality experience.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops Dev Teases “Something That Nobody’s Ever Experienced Before”
Treyarch design director Kevin Drew teased that the studio's next project will be "something that nobody's ever experienced before." After working on Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, the studio is looking to innovate. The article also touches on recent Call of Duty sales figures and rumors about Microsoft potentially moving Halo development under Activision.
Balatro developer LocalThunk turns up on Discord to talk about the 1.1 update and life after burnout: 'I truly am…
Balatro developer LocalThunk has communicated via Discord about the upcoming 1.1 update, acknowledging the long delay and his personal burnout. He is now approaching development more like a hobby, prioritizing his well-being and the game's quality over strict deadlines. The update is expected to be the last major content addition for Balatro.
Call of Duty Developer Treyarch 'Ready to Make Something New' as It Waves Goodbye to 2 Years of Black Ops
Call of Duty developer Treyarch has indicated they are ready to move on to new projects after two years focused on Black Ops titles. The studio is looking forward to creating something fresh.
"What you're talking about is Palworld 2": Pocketpair lead desperately asks players to stop asking for features that just "aren't possible" like terrain digging
Pocketpair's head of publishing, John Buckley, expressed frustration with player requests for features like terrain digging in Palworld, stating such additions would essentially require developing a sequel. He highlighted that these requests are not feasible due to engine and landscape rework complexities, and that players should not expect them. Buckley also touched on the perceived loss of meaning in Steam's Early Access program, suggesting it has been abused.
Fable Being “Vital To The DNA” Of Xbox Helped Shield The Game From Hardship, Director Says
Fable game director Ralph Fulton stated that the franchise's close association with Xbox has protected the upcoming reboot during its long development. He believes Fable is vital to Xbox's identity and important to gaming as a whole. This protection contrasts with other Xbox projects that faced cancellations and layoffs, including the Perfect Dark reboot and studio closures.
Microsoft hasn't marched Fable to the guillotine because it's 'vital to the DNA' of Xbox, says the…
Playground Games director Ralph Fulton stated that the upcoming Fable reboot has been protected from Microsoft's studio closures due to its vital importance to the Xbox brand's identity. He believes Fable is significant not only for Xbox but for gaming as a whole, offering a unique combination of elements.
Blizzard wants Diablo 5 to have "the best campaign ever," and it's "taking what was great" in…
Blizzard Entertainment aims for Diablo 5 to feature the "best campaign ever," building upon the storytelling and cinematic elements of Diablo 4. Executive producer Matt Zitterman stated that the team is focused on elevating the narrative experience, taking lessons learned from the previous installment to create an even more compelling story for the upcoming sequel.
MindsEye studio Build A Rocket Boy appear to be making fresh redundancies, as one staffer says he's "helping wrap things up here in the HR department"
Build A Rocket Boy, the studio behind the game MindsEye, appears to be undergoing significant staff redundancies. Multiple employees, including a principal talent acquisition partner and a release manager, have indicated they are leaving the company due to layoffs. This follows previous legal claims against the studio regarding alleged mishandling of redundancies and data privacy violations.
The Witcher 3 producer says it's scary to work with another studio on the game's expansion: 'I also think…
CD Projekt Red is collaborating with Fool's Theory, a studio founded by former CDPR developers, on the upcoming expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Executive producer Jakub Kutrzuba expressed that sharing the game with an outside studio is 'scary' due to the company's deep care for the project, but trusts Fool's Theory's expertise and shared vision for quality and storytelling.
