Game Development
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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.
Former Dragon Age lead says Baldur's Gate 3 studio Larian is taking a "risk" by making Divinity right after its 2023 RPG hit, but he applauds the devs for it
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah believes Larian Studios is taking a calculated risk by focusing on a new Divinity game immediately after the success of Baldur's Gate 3. He applauds Larian's strategy of focusing on one project at a time, contrasting it with BioWare's past issues of juggling multiple series.
New Tides of Annihilation star isn't aiming to copy Baldur's Gate 3 actor Jennifer English, director says: "Both of them have their own unique style"
Tides of Annihilation has replaced Jennifer English with Angela Sant'Albano as the voice of Gwendolyn due to English's health. Director Ary Chen stated that both actors bring unique styles, and English remains involved as an advisor. The game is still without a release window.
"You can’t just throw new people at that problem": Bethesda devs doubt future Elder Scrolls and Fallout games will have the same "quality level", after losing seasoned staff to Xbox cuts
Unionized Bethesda Game Studios staff are expressing doubts about the company's ability to maintain its historical quality level for future Elder Scrolls and Fallout games following significant layoffs by Microsoft. Developers cite the loss of seasoned employees and institutional knowledge as critical factors that cannot be easily replaced, leading to concerns about the development of The Elder Scrolls VI and other titles. Negotiations over severance terms are ongoing, with union members feeling Microsoft's offers are insufficient.
Over 700 games launched on Steam in one week for the first time, though 74% had fewer than 10 reviews
Steam saw over 700 game launches in a single week for the first time, though a significant majority received fewer than 10 reviews. Separately, Supercell's acquisition of Metacore is nearing completion, with Merge Mansion being integrated into Supercell's portfolio.
The adult game crackdown is "ridiculous for our art form", say Hellraiser devs, but they think they'll survive thanks to that Clive Barker association
Developers of Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival express frustration over the ongoing crackdown on adult games, calling it 'ridiculous for our art form.' They believe the established IP status of Hellraiser provides some protection against bans on platforms like Steam, though they acknowledge the chilling effect on developers of original IPs. The game will launch on Steam on October 8 but faces challenges with age classification in territories like Germany and Japan.
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak to discuss development of 007 First Light at Game Republic New Horizons 2026
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak will discuss the development of the James Bond title 007 First Light at Game Republic New Horizons 2026. The game has been IO Interactive's fastest-selling release, with over four million copies sold. Abrak expressed excitement about sharing insights into the creation of the game, which is slated for a late 2026 launch on Nintendo Switch 2.
Star Wars Zero Company studio Bit Reactor reportedly furloughed 80% of staff prior to release
Despite the critical and commercial success of Star Wars Zero Company, its developer Bit Reactor reportedly furloughed 80% of its staff shortly before launch. This decision, made by the studio itself rather than EA or Disney, has led to a lawsuit from a former COO seeking $20 million in damages over alleged contract breaches.
Evening Reading - September 1, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading from Shacknews covers various gaming news items, including Square Enix denying reports of going private, Bit Reactor furloughing Star Wars Zero Company developers, and a Street Fighter movie promo shoot controversy. It also highlights upcoming game releases and updates like Nopixel 5's beta, and mentions a review for Orbitals.
No Rest for the Wicked Delayed to March 2027 for 1.0 Release — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Moon Studios has delayed the 1.0 release of No Rest for the Wicked to March 2027 to ensure a polished launch. The team plans additional open betas throughout 2026 and will offer a Founders Pack for purchases made before January 1, 2027. The game is slated for PC and PlayStation 5, with Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch versions planned for a later date.
The Witcher 4 Studio Co-CEO Says Console Prices Are “An Objective Challenge,” But “Content is King”
CD Projekt RED co-CEO Michał Nowakowski acknowledges that rising console prices present an "objective challenge" but believes content remains king and players will find ways to access games. He expressed confidence that consoles are essential for reaching a broad audience and that the company will adapt its business models regardless of future hardware generations.
No Rest For The Wicked’s 1.0 Release Delayed to March 2027
Moon Studios has announced that the 1.0 release of No Rest for the Wicked, including its PlayStation 5 debut, has been delayed to March 2027. The extra development time will be used to polish gameplay systems, class system, and combat mechanics. The Founder's Pack benefits have been extended, and preorders for the PS5 version will open in January 2027.
Bethesda Employees Thought They Were Safe From Layoffs Thanks to Skyrim, Fallout
Former Bethesda Game Studios Austin developer Anne Barrett shared that employees felt secure from layoffs due to the success of games like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and Fallout, making Xbox's subsequent announcements even more shocking and devastating. The layoffs resulted in a significant drop in morale and a loss of institutional knowledge crucial for the company's proprietary game engine.
Good reviews are a 'great relief,' says Blood of Dawnwalker director, as former CD Projekt coworkers line up…
Blood of Dawnwalker has received generally positive reviews, with PC Gamer awarding it an 83% and Metacritic showing an aggregate score of 83/100. Creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz expressed immense relief at the reception, which was echoed by congratulations from former CD Projekt colleagues.
Star Wars Zero Company Was Originally Pitched as a Titanfall Universe Game
Star Wars Zero Company was initially conceived as a game within the Titanfall universe. This revelation sheds light on the game's early development concepts.
Skyrim and Fallout made Bethesda devs feel "safe" from mass layoffs before Xbox ended decades-long careers in…
Bethesda Game Studios developers, known for franchises like Skyrim and Fallout, felt secure from mass layoffs at Xbox, but were instead blindsided by job cuts affecting long-term employees. An employee described the experience as devastating, with meetings lasting only two minutes to end decades-long careers. The loss of institutional knowledge is a significant concern for future game quality.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 578: Gamescoming and Gamesgoing
The Massively OP Podcast episode 578 covers Gamescom announcements, including launch dates for Aion 2 and Path of Exile 2, and future content plans for Dune: Awakening. The hosts also discuss the shutdown of another WoW Classic server, Guild Wars 3's Asura, Star Citizen's delays, and Star Wars Galaxies hacking drama.
Releasing Cyberpunk 2077 In Its Poor State “Was For Sure Wrong,” CD Projekt Admits
CD Projekt joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski admitted that releasing Cyberpunk 2077 in its poor technical state in December 2020 was "for sure wrong." He cited team exhaustion and external pressure as factors, but pushed back against the idea that investors forced the launch. Despite the rocky start, the game has since sold over 40 million copies and received significant improvements.
Cyberpunk 2077 launched when it did because its devs wanted it "out the door" says CD Projekt Red CEO, but I wonder if he forgot about that reported mandatory crunch
CD Projekt Red CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that Cyberpunk 2077 was not rushed out due to investor pressure, but rather due to the team's exhaustion and desire to release it. However, the article questions this narrative, citing reports of mandatory crunch leading up to the game's troubled launch. Nowakowski admitted the launch decision was a mistake.
The Witcher Remake Is Waiting On The Witcher 4 To Continue Development
CD Projekt has revealed that the development of The Witcher Remake by Fool's Theory is on hold. This is due to technological dependencies on The Witcher 4 and the studio's current focus on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's 'Songs of the Past' expansion. The remake's progress is now integrated with The Witcher 4's development.
