Game Development
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Gears Of War’s “Stay Vertical” Was Inspired By A Real-Life Health Scare
Laura Fryer, a key figure in the development of Gears of War, revealed that a personal health scare inspired the game's memorable line "Stay vertical." She shared how the team's support during her difficult time made the phrase emotionally significant.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 development comes to an end with a big patch and some huge community-requested features
The Chinese Room has released the final update for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, which includes community-requested features like photo mode, dual-wielding pistols, and Noir Mode. This update also addresses numerous bugs and improves ranged combat. While development has concluded, the studio expressed excitement for the community to continue modding and creating content for the game.
Quoteworthy
FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki alluded to unannounced games while addressing controversy surrounding parent company Kadokawa. The article also briefly mentions Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser.
Sunday Postmortems/Retrospectives
Developers from Maxis have stated that the previews for their game Spore were more ambitious than the final product, creating an unachievable fantasy for players. This retrospective discussion highlights the challenges of managing expectations in game development and marketing.
FromSoftware boss Hidetaka Miyazaki references 'yet to be announced' games while commenting on controversy at…
FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki stated that the studio is working on unannounced games and is satisfied with its current development environment under parent company Kadokawa. While declining to comment on Kadokawa's recent investor drama, Miyazaki emphasized the importance of maintaining creative freedom for game development. He also hinted at upcoming titles, both announced and unannounced, for fans to look forward to.
Sonic lead says AAA studios can learn from indies in the same way the movie industry should take notes from Backrooms…
Takashi Iizuka, producer for Sonic the Hedgehog, believes that major AAA studios can learn valuable lessons from indie developers, drawing a parallel to how the film industry could benefit from studying the success of smaller, independent productions. He highlights the speed and agility of indie development as a key area where larger companies could improve, citing the upcoming Sonic Pico Park as an example of AAA collaboration with indie teams.
Xbox Wants Faster Fallout, Elder Scrolls Games to Bolster Business
Microsoft is reportedly looking to accelerate the development of new titles in its Fallout and The Elder Scrolls franchises to improve the sustainability of its Xbox business. CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the need for Xbox to become profitable, while new boss Asha Sharma is tasked with streamlining game development. The company is considering various restructuring options for the Xbox unit, and future game releases may depend on the business's health, potentially impacting their availability on other platforms like PlayStation.
Mortal Shell II Preview
Mortal Shell II has launched its open beta on Steam, offering players a substantial preview of its challenging Soulslike action RPG gameplay. The beta includes several hours of content, showcasing exploration, combat, and the game's dark, grotesque world. Despite minor issues with the lock-on system and occasional lighting inconsistencies, the preview highlights impressive technical performance and a satisfying combat loop, selling the game to newcomers and fans alike. Mortal Shell II is slated for release in 2026 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
GTA 6 had "all the studios in the world" planning around the Rockstar Games behemoth, A Plague Tale dev says
Asobo Studio producer Eric Chort stated that many game developers are planning their release schedules around the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6. He explained that GTA 6's immense marketing and player attention creates an 'ogre' effect, forcing other studios to strategize around its release window to avoid being overshadowed. This strategic planning is evident as numerous major titles are being released in the months leading up to Grand Theft Auto 6's November launch.
Sony pulling back from PC also means it's pulling back from China
Sony appears to be scaling back its strategy of releasing single-player PlayStation titles on PC, a move that has drawn scrutiny. Analysis suggests this shift may be driven by concerns over Valve's dominance rather than competition from Xbox. Data indicates that China represents a significant market for PlayStation games on Steam, with titles like Death Stranding 2 and Stellar Blade seeing substantial sales from the region, suggesting that PC releases can boost PlayStation sales and overall game visibility.
AMC Squad Development News
AMC Squad has released news regarding ongoing development for Episode 6, the finale of their nearly 20-year project. The update details numerous gameplay adjustments and weapon balances implemented by team members James, Zaxtor, Merlijn, Highwire, Sang, Rusty, Geoffrey, Cultist, Micky, Kagura, and Wheaton. Significant level changes have also been made, including unlocking certain maps for more characters to reduce backtracking and enhance replayability.
The Most Epic Fantasy & Science Fiction Site in Reality
Starfield Portal is a website dedicated to providing guides and news for the game Starfield, created by enthusiasts with extensive experience in Bethesda titles. The site emphasizes editorial independence and high standards for content creation, with staff conducting in-depth research and playtime.
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 thousands of hours invested in games like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, ensuring in-depth research and hands-on experience with Starfield.
Rockstar Co-Founder Dan Houser Says There’s No Right Way to Play an Open-World Game
Absurd Ventures co-founders Dan Houser and Lazlow discussed the creation of open-world video games during a panel at the 2026 Tribeca Festival. Houser shared his perspective that there is no single correct method for playing an open-world title.
Xbox’s real exclusivity problem is they don’t make games people want - Reader’s Feature
A reader argues that Xbox's primary issue is a lack of desirable games, not its exclusivity policies. Despite owning major studios like Activision Blizzard and Bethesda, the author believes Xbox has been mismanaged for over a decade, leading to a decline in relevance and a lack of compelling titles that justify purchasing an Xbox Series X console.
Resident Evil Zero Remake “Rebooted Mid-Development,” Now Led by Veronica Team – Rumor
A rumor suggests that the Resident Evil Zero Remake has been rebooted mid-development and is now being led by Capcom Division 1, the same team working on Resident Evil Veronica. The remake was previously handled by the Resident Evil 3 Remake team. Resident Evil Veronica is reportedly set for a 2027 release on current-gen platforms.
Until Dawn 2 Has Been in the Works for At Least 4 Years, as Actor Confirms Joining in 2022
Actor Dacre Montgomery confirmed he joined the development of Until Dawn 2 at Firesprite four years ago, suggesting the game has been in the works since at least 2022. The interactive narrative horror title, a sequel to Supermassive Games' original, is expected to release around 2027 with a new cast and story about paranormal content creators on a haunted island.
Microsoft reportedly considering restructuring Xbox into its own "wholly-owned subsidiary" and "moving faster" on releasing first-party games
Microsoft is reportedly considering restructuring Xbox into a wholly-owned subsidiary or a joint venture to improve its business performance. This potential move is accompanied by plans to accelerate the development of first-party games from franchises like Halo, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls. The company is also reportedly planning significant budget cuts and layoffs as part of a broader business reset for the Xbox brand.
Alright, who's the joker trying to charge $100 on Steam for an almost entirely AI-generated game?
The visual novel Kryonull has drawn criticism on Steam for its $100 price tag, especially since a majority of its assets, including images and voices, were generated using AI. While the script is reportedly original, the developer NovelkaGames' use of AI for assets and the high price have led to backlash. The game is available in English and Russian, with its price in rubles still converting to a significant US dollar amount.
Camelot Unchained’s next weekend test will bring a full character wipe and adjusted stats
Camelot Unchained will implement a character wipe next weekend as part of its early access servers opening, necessitated by planned adjustments to character stats. The game's development has faced delays and controversy since its 2013 Kickstarter, with early access beginning in March 2026 and Steam early access in June 2026.