Game Development
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Evening Reading - September 2, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several game announcements and updates, including a sequel for Lollipop Chainsaw set for a TGS 2026 premiere, CD Projekt RED's project allocation update, and the upcoming release of SpeedRunners 2. Other news includes Nexus Mods acquiring SteamDB and mentions of Cassette Beasts 2, LEGO Skylines, Star Wars Zero Company, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and a new Street Fighter movie trailer.
The Blood Of Dawnwalker launch day interview – ‘there's constant stress'
Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, co-director of The Witcher 3 and director of Rebel Wolves, discusses the launch of the new IP 'The Blood Of Dawnwalker'. He expresses a mix of excitement and stress about releasing a unique game with risky ideas, highlighting the challenges of creating new intellectual property in the current industry climate. Tomaszkiewicz also touches on the development process, positive preview feedback, and the team's focus on delivering the best possible experience.
Planet Zoo 2 Developer Announces Partnership With Disney to Develop New Game
Frontier Developments has announced a partnership with Disney to develop and publish new games based on Disney's intellectual properties, focusing on the creative management simulation genre. While specific titles are unrevealed, the collaboration aims to leverage Disney's iconic brands. The studio is also preparing for the release of Planet Zoo 2 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in October, which will feature new mechanics like aviaries and aquariums.
The Witcher 4, Cyberpunk 2077 Developer CD Projekt Red Ramps Up Hiring on 'Project Hadar'
CD Projekt Red is significantly increasing staffing for its unannounced 'Project Hadar,' with the development team set to grow from over 30 to 50 people by the end of the year. This hiring push was confirmed by the company's vice president of investor relations, Karolina Gnas, during a recent earnings call.
Fellowship discusses loot, pinnacle dungeons, and planned adjustments leading to its 1.0 release
The developers of Fellowship discussed upcoming adjustments for its 1.0 release, including plans to reduce loot RNG, confirmation that pinnacle dungeons will not be included at launch, and the necessity of crafting tutorials. The team also addressed recent balance updates and promised improvements to UI and stability.
The Witcher Remake Is on Hold Until The Witcher 4's Development Progresses, Confirms CD Projekt Red
CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the remake of The Witcher is on hold. Development will resume only after progress is made on The Witcher 4 and the new expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
The Witcher 4 dev is "still predominantly using people" over AI in development, says CEO, but "everybody has to make those judgments on their own"
CD Projekt Red's joint CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that the company still predominantly uses human developers for games like The Witcher 4, viewing AI as a tool rather than a replacement. While acknowledging AI's potential usefulness in streamlining processes, the studio is not planning to rely on it for complete game creation, with Nowakowski emphasizing that each company must make its own ethical judgments regarding AI in development.
CD Projekt says it never considered charging Witcher 3 owners for the remastered edition: 'It was never a question…
CD Projekt Red confirmed that owners of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will receive the upcoming remastered edition for free, with co-CEO Michał Nowakowski stating it was never considered otherwise. The remaster, set to launch on September 29, will include visual improvements, enhanced combat, and new features, and will replace The Witcher 3: Complete Edition on digital storefronts.
The Witcher Remake Is Still On Pause
The remake of the original The Witcher game is currently on hold due to technical dependencies on The Witcher 4. While other remasters and expansions for the series are planned, the status of this specific remake remains uncertain.
CD Projekt Red wants to hire 50 more devs for its secret Project Hadar "by the end of this year" as it starts…
CD Projekt Red is expanding the development team for its unannounced new IP, Project Hadar, aiming to reach 50 developers by the end of the year. While Hadar is in pre-production and prototyping, the studio's primary focus remains on The Witcher 4, which has a much larger team assigned and a targeted 2028 release date.
The Witcher 4 devs aren't announcing every milestone because they're "very technical," but they're focused on "the actual making of the game till its release date"
CD Projekt Red stated that The Witcher 4 is in full production and is targeting a 2028 release. Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski explained that the studio is not announcing every internal development milestone because they are highly technical and not relevant to the public. The focus remains on the actual creation of the game until its release date.
Dwarf Fortress co-creator says his life as a millionaire is 'basically like reattaining what my parents could do…
Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams discussed his life as a millionaire, stating that his current financial security is akin to regaining what his parents could achieve with regular jobs. Despite the game's success, selling over a million copies and enabling this lifestyle, Adams confirmed that development on the game, including the upcoming Myth and Magic update, continues unchanged.
A Real-Life Romance (And The Love Of Fans) Fueled A Classic NES Remake
A remake of the NES cult classic Battle of Olympus is being developed for Steam, fueled by a real-life romance between its original creators, Yukio Horimoto and Reiko Oshida. The project highlights the positive aspects of game development, emphasizing love for the medium and fan support, in contrast to prevalent negative industry news.
Kingdom Hearts almost led to Disney making its own version of Super Smash Bros, former dev says
A former Disney Interactive concept artist revealed that Disney explored creating a Super Smash Bros.-style fighting game featuring its characters, inspired by the success of Kingdom Hearts. The project, tentatively titled 'Disney's Action Figure Face Off,' never progressed past prototypes due to internal hesitations about character crossovers, though similar concepts like Disney Infinity and Disney Speedstorm were later released.
StarCraft 3 rumors resurface as new report claims Nexon and IP owner Blizzard are nearly ready to finalize a deal
Rumors suggest that Nexon is close to finalizing a deal with Blizzard Entertainment to acquire the development rights for the StarCraft franchise, potentially leading to the creation of StarCraft 3. The report indicates that Nexon has already begun work on a hypothetical StarCraft sequel, separate from Blizzard's own internal efforts.
Banjo-Kazooie composer says "like 3 companies" have pitched a new entry in the series, but "Rare just…
Banjo-Kazooie composer Grant Kirkhope stated that multiple companies have pitched new game ideas to Microsoft and Rare, but Rare has consistently rejected them. Kirkhope expressed a desire to be involved if a new game is ever made and suggested Day 4 Night Studios or Toys For Bob as potential developers.
I asked the Stranger Than Heaven devs the only question that matters: when is the theme song coming to Spotify?
During an interview at Gamescom, RGG Studio's Mikinobu Abe and Hiroyuki Sakamoto addressed the highly anticipated release of the Stranger Than Heaven theme song, featuring Ado, Snoop Dogg, Tori Kelly, and Satoshi Fujihara, on streaming platforms like Spotify. While no firm release date was provided, Sakamoto assured that the song would be available at the proper time, highlighting its integral role in balancing the game's serious tone with its vibrant musical and show business elements.
Saber Interactive hands-on with Hellraiser: Revival, Turok: Origins and Stuntman
Saber Interactive showcased upcoming titles Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival, Turok: Origins, and Stuntman: Hollywood at Gamescom. Hellraiser: Revival is a survival horror game set to release on October 8 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC. Turok: Origins is a prequel shooter with co-op, planned for early 2027. Stuntman: Hollywood revives the stunt driving series with movie-themed challenges and is slated for 2027.
Camelot Unchained’s fall roadmap plans to bring more focus on high-level RvR gameplay
Camelot Unchained's fall roadmap focuses on enhancing high-level RvR (Realm vs Realm) gameplay, which is the game's core selling point. The development team plans to introduce progression through RvR past the current level 10 cap, with updates to experience gain, combat systems, character customization, new classes, and landscapes. The upcoming King's System and siege engines are also expected to create more engaging battles.
Star Wars Zero Company is a great game that's busted and may never be fixed
Star Wars Zero Company is in a precarious state, with the studio that developed it having furloughed most of its staff. This situation casts significant doubt on the game's future and its potential for fixes.