Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
Housemarque co-founder Ilari Kuittinen exits from studio
Ilari Kuittinen, co-founder and CEO of PlayStation-owned studio Housemarque, has announced his departure after 31 years in game development. The company has been preparing for this transition, appointing Sami Hakala as managing director to ensure operational continuity. Kuittinen's exit follows a long tenure that saw Housemarque develop relationships with major publishers, culminating in its acquisition by Sony in 2021.
Haunted Chocolatier's development has been 'very productive' in recent months, Eric Barone says: 'Working on Haunted Chocolatier is what I’m most eager and driven to do'
Developer Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe, provided an update on Haunted Chocolatier, stating that development has been very productive recently. He expressed his eagerness to work on the game and satisfaction with its current progress, emphasizing that he will not compromise on quality by rushing the release.
Report: 13TB of Steam data leaked after users access 'publicly accessible endpoint'
A significant data leak, dubbed 'Steam2 leak,' has reportedly exposed 13TB of data from Valve's Steam platform, primarily containing files uploaded between 2003 and 2013. The leaked data includes early versions and assets of Valve games like Left 4 Dead 2 and Portal 2, as well as beta builds of third-party titles such as Dragon Age: Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum. The information was allegedly accessed via a publicly accessible endpoint, raising security concerns for Valve and other exposed companies.
The Wolf Among Us 2 is making the most of its reset
The Wolf Among Us 2 is back on track after a decade of development setbacks and a studio reset, now utilizing Unreal Engine 5. The sequel picks up months after the original, featuring a new murder investigation and improved gameplay mechanics like free camera movement. While still in early development with placeholder assets, Telltale Games aims for a 2027 release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with The Wolf Among Us Remastered launching later this year.
Stellar Blade and Lies of P "really made developers in Korea take up the challenge for console games," says…
Shift Up technical director Dong-ki Lee believes games like Stellar Blade and Lies of P have inspired Korean developers to pursue more console game projects. He highlights the growing influence of titles like Crimson Desert and the upcoming Black Myth: Zhong Kui, noting that Stellar Blade's success has encouraged Shift Up to take on more ambitious projects. Lee also expressed enthusiasm for bringing Stellar Blade to the Nintendo Switch 2, leveraging skills gained from developing for PlayStation 5 and PC.
The Tech Behind Instant Withdrawals at Canadian Online Casinos
This analysis examines Evoplay as a modern slot provider, highlighting its focus on unique mechanics, HTML5 technology, mobile optimization, and portfolio diversity. The article emphasizes that innovation and technical quality are becoming more important than quantity in the online casino market, using Evoplay's success and industry recognition as examples of current trends.
The Witcher 4 already runs on all target platforms - CD Projekt Red not taking any chances after Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt Red is prioritizing performance optimization for The Witcher 4 by running it on all target platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, from early in development. This approach aims to avoid the disastrous launch issues experienced with Cyberpunk 2077, which was nearly unplayable on last-generation consoles.
1666: Amsterdam's developer says it 'won't be using AI anymore', and the tech was only used 'in conception and pre-production'—arguably the most creative phase of the entire process
Patrice Désilets' studio Panache Digital Games has stated it will no longer use artificial intelligence in the development of 1666: Amsterdam, after initial use in conception and pre-production. The game has launched into early access with a 'Mixed' Steam rating, with players divided on its experience.
ConcernedApe says sorry Haunted Chocolatier is taking so long: "I won’t compromise on the quality of the game by rushing it or releasing it too early"
Developer Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone provided an update on Haunted Chocolatier, apologizing for the long development time but emphasizing that he will not compromise on game quality. He assured fans that progress is being made and that he is driven to create a game he is proud of, similar to the success of Stardew Valley.
The Long Dark ska få nya DLC:n – skiftar folk från uppföljaren
Hinterland Studios has announced that development resources for the upcoming sequel, The Long Dark 2, will be partially reallocated to support the original The Long Dark. This shift includes the creation of new DLC for the first game and a focus on improving its Survival Mode, as the studio navigates an uncertain game industry landscape. The Long Dark 2 is still planned for an early access release in 2027, but with a reduced team.
Steam Week in Review: Here are the top 10 most popular genres on Steam
A new report analyzing Steam revenue data reveals that sandbox games have the highest 'hit rate,' meaning the largest percentage of games within the genre earn over $100,000. First-person shooters, RPGs, and simulation games also show strong performance. The study used the Boxleiter method to estimate sales based on review counts.
MMO Week in Review: Gamescom, Asura, and Ascension
Gamescom was the dominant event this week, bringing news for numerous MMOs including launch dates for Aion 2 and Path of Exile 2, and trailers for Dune Awakening, Sea of Remnants, and Cinder City. Star Citizen's Squadron 42 received another delay into 2027, while Guild Wars 3 revealed its Asura, and Blizzard shut down another World of Warcraft private server. Other news included updates for Throne and Liberty, Ultima Online, and The Division 2, alongside discussions on game design, AI training lawsuits, and the shutdown of the Project Ascension World of Warcraft emulator.
State of Play and State of Play Japan Announced for September 3rd
PlayStation announced two State of Play presentations for September 3rd. The first, at 6 AM PT, will feature updates from PlayStation Studios and third-party partners, including an extended look at Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This will be followed by State of Play Japan, focusing on titles from Japanese and Asian studios.
People Who Say GTA 6 Looks Like GTA 5 Are “Out of Their Minds”, Says Michael De Santa’s Voice Actor
Ned Luke, the voice actor for Michael De Santa in Grand Theft Auto 5, stated that Grand Theft Auto 6 looks nothing like its predecessor and that comparisons are "out of their minds." He highlighted the significant advancements in animation and technology since Grand Theft Auto 5's release, noting that every character in GTA 6 is individually simulated, placing Rockstar ahead of the industry in NPC technology.
Saros Studio’s Co-Founder Ilari Kuittinen Announces Departure From Housemarque
Housemarque co-founder and managing director Ilari Kuittinen has announced his departure from the company after 31 years. He reflected on the studio's journey from an independent developer to a AAA studio within PlayStation Studios, highlighting achievements like Returnal and Saros. Sami Hakala has taken over as managing director, while Kuittinen plans to take a break before potentially returning to the industry in a mentoring or consulting role.
A decade's worth of Steam files totaling more than 12TB has leaked
A significant data leak originating from Valve has exposed over 12 terabytes of Steam files. The leaked data includes beta builds and completed games from Valve and various third-party developers, raising concerns about game security and intellectual property.
12TB Valve archive leak includes early Portal 2 builds and hints of Half-Life 2: Episode Three
A massive 12TB archive of Valve's internal development files, dating from 2003 to 2013, has been leaked online. The data includes early builds of Portal 2, Left 4 Dead, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, as well as assets potentially related to the unreleased Half-Life 2: Episode Three and the cancelled Portal prequel F-Stop. The leak is currently being investigated by the community for further details.
What made the OG Fallout so great is "overlooked" these days, says co-creator Tim Cain
Co-creator Tim Cain believes the original Fallout's success stemmed from its development process, specifically how the team fostered open discussion and challenged ideas, a practice he feels is overlooked today. He contrasts this with the "Abilene paradox" where developers may avoid conflict and not push back on potentially weak features.
Sonic Team open to Sonic Mania sequel with original developers
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka has expressed openness to a sequel for the critically acclaimed Sonic Mania. He stated that the team remains in close contact with the original developers and there is a mutual desire to collaborate again.
A massive cache of Valve data has reportedly leaked online, appearing to include Portal 2's elusive beta build and a potential weapon from Half-Life 2: Episode 3
A massive 12 terabyte cache of Valve's internal data, spanning from 2003 to 2013, has reportedly leaked online. The leak includes beta builds of games like Portal 2 and assets potentially from Half-Life 2: Episode 3, such as the 'Weaponizer'. The data appears to be sourced from Valve's older Steam2 content-server infrastructure.
