Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Phantom Blade Zero Gets 50-Day Delay
Phantom Blade Zero has been delayed by 50 days, moving its release date from September 9, 2026, to October 29, 2026. Developer S-GAME stated the extra time will be used to further improve character models and environments without relying on ray tracing. Pre-orders and further details will be revealed during a Summer 2026 State of Play showcase.
2026 - Drift Stage - 0.5.0.4, Current Status: – Priority Update; Return to Active Development.
Drift Stage has received a priority update to version 0.5.0.4, migrating its codebase from Unity 2016 to Unity 2021 to address a critical security vulnerability and improve compatibility with modern hardware and operating systems. This foundational update, while containing some bugs and incomplete features, is a crucial step in resuming active development and was prepared for demonstration at INDIE Games Fest. Future updates will focus on bug fixing, restoring features, and reintroducing Mac and Linux support.
8 years after Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick went shirtless with his 8% body fat physique, he's now a playable…
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has been added as a playable character in WWE 2K24 via a free update. The article notes this comes as Zelnick anticipates the major launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. The piece also references Zelnick's past public display of his fitness physique.
Vampire Survivors' Poncle is expanding into Japan
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is establishing a new studio in Japan, led by Crim CEO Sawaki Takeyasu. Founder Luca Galante expressed admiration for Japanese games and aims to foster a creative environment for developers. Poncle is also expanding its publishing division and opening a studio in Italy.
Conan Exiles Enhanced devs tease something ‘exciting’ coming to the back-burnered Nightingale
Inflexion Games has teased exciting news coming soon for their game Nightingale, with developers Aaryn Flynn and Neil Thompson suggesting updates could be shared in the coming months. The studio has been collaborating with Funcom on Conan Exiles Enhanced, but indicates a return to Nightingale development is on the horizon.
They did motion capture on a cube
Sony revealed God of War Laufey, a spinoff where Kratos's wife Faye endures a divine afterlife. The game features groundbreaking motion capture technology where actor Jack Quaid, portraying a sentient cube named Phranque, was physically embodied in a cubic armature. While the game's release date and platforms are unconfirmed, it is unlikely to come to PC.
PUBG creator announces studio "restructure," stating: "I have reached the limits of how far I can fund this journey"
Brendan Greene, creator of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, has announced a studio restructure at PlayerUnknown Productions due to funding limitations. Development of the Melba technology will continue with a smaller team, while the game Prologue: Go Wayback! will become free-to-play and refunds are being investigated for existing purchasers.
Video game graphics are nowhere near their peak—and Fatekeeper proves it
The article argues that video game graphics have not yet reached their full potential, using the game Fatekeeper as a prime example of current visual capabilities. It suggests that there is significant room for advancement in graphical fidelity within the industry.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis was made using AI—and some generated content will apparently be in the game
The game Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis has been developed using artificial intelligence, with some AI-generated content slated for inclusion in the final product. This development raises concerns about the increasing use of AI in game creation.
GTA 5 is still selling millions a year, letting Rockstar do whatever it wants with GTA 6: analyst estimates 1.8 million…
Grand Theft Auto 5 continues to sell millions of copies annually, with an estimated 1.8 million units sold on PlayStation 5 in May alone, according to Alinea. This sustained success, alongside significant revenue from Grand Theft Auto Online microtransactions, provides Rockstar Games with the financial freedom to focus on delivering a high-quality Grand Theft Auto 6.
poncle to establish Japan studio led by El Shaddai creator Sawaki Takeyasu
Vampire Survivors developer poncle is establishing a new studio in Japan, led by Sawaki Takeyasu, the creator of El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. This move aims to foster closer collaboration with Japanese talent and expand poncle's global development capabilities.
PlayerUnknown announces studio restructure, says he has "reached the limits" of how far he can fund its current iteration
Brandon 'PlayerUnknown' Greene announced a significant restructure for his studio, PlayerUnknown Productions, due to financial limitations. While the development of the ambitious Melba engine will continue with a reduced team, the future of the survival game Prologue: Go Wayback and its developers is uncertain. Greene cited reaching the limits of his ability to fund the studio in its current form as the reason for the downsizing.
There Will Be More Kratos Stories, Sony Promises, After God Of War: Laufey Reveal
Sony announced God of War: Laufey, a new installment focusing on the character Laufey, Kratos's wife and Atreus's mother. Developers stated that while Kratos stories will continue, this game offers an expansion by exploring Laufey's pivotal role and her journey in the Everywhen. The game is set to release on PlayStation 5, with Deborah Ann Woll voicing Laufey and Jack Quaid as Phranque.
Hearts of Iron 4 just turned a "dangerously shippable" idea into a new system of frontline command, with a splash of HOI 3
Paradox Interactive detailed a new Military HQs system for Hearts of Iron 4, inspired by the 'theater pack' Thunder At Our Gates DLC and predecessor Hearts of Iron 3. The system allows players to deploy generals to on-map army HQs to propagate bonuses and improve planning, with considerations for command power and equipment costs. The developers discussed the iterative process of designing this feature, aiming for a balance between depth and accessibility.
Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis devs reveal AI use after State Of Play trailer
Crystal Dynamics has confirmed the use of AI tools in the development of Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis, a remake of the original 1996 game. The game is set to release on February 12, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. An AI disclaimer on the Steam page states that AI-assisted assets were either replaced or refined by humans to maintain the creative vision, addressing concerns about potential AI asset inclusion.
PlayerUnknown's survival game is shutting down 6 months after launch: 'I have reached the limits of how far I…
PlayerUnknown Productions has halted development on its survival game Prologue: Go Wayback! just over six months after its early access launch, citing financial limitations. Founder Brendan Greene stated that while the studio will continue developing its Melba technology with a smaller team, further work on Prologue is suspended. The studio plans to release one final update before potentially making the game free and investigating refunds for purchasers.
PlayerUnknown Productions is laying off staff and halting development on Go Wayback
PlayerUnknown Productions, founded by Brendan Greene, is undergoing a restructuring that involves staff layoffs and halting development on Prologue: Go Wayback. The studio plans to push the game out of early access and make it free-to-play, while investigating refund options for existing purchasers. Krafton, which holds a minority stake in the studio, was previously involved with Greene on PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
CD Projekt Red's new mystery IP 'Hadar' is "an emotional, open-world experience" in line with the developer's Witcher and Cyberpunk games
CD Projekt Red's new mystery IP, codenamed Hadar, is being developed as an emotional, open-world experience, aligning with the studio's previous titles like The Witcher and Cyberpunk. The project is in its early stages with a small team, utilizing Unreal Engine for prototyping and live-testing mechanics. The studio is actively hiring for the project, indicating a ramp-up in development.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis reveals AI usage disclaimer
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis will launch on February 12, 2027, for Nintendo Switch 2 and other platforms. The game's Steam page includes a disclaimer stating that AI-assisted tools were used during development, with all AI-generated assets either replaced or refined by humans. Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto commented that the company prioritizes human creativity over AI.
Destiny 3 hopefuls loudly protest, but I fear it’s too late
This opinion piece discusses the desire for a Destiny 3, suggesting that while fans are vocal, the current state of the franchise may make a sequel unlikely. The author implies that the fate of a potential Destiny 3 rests on factors beyond player demand.