Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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What Is the Animus Hub? Inside Ubisoft’s Connected Ecosystem
Ubisoft is developing a connected ecosystem centered around the Animus Hub, which will be vital for future games like Codename Hexe and Invictus. This system aims to integrate player experiences across different titles.
Former Last of Us and Uncharted 4 dev wonders if we'll "look back" at human-made games like Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and "marvel at it"
A veteran developer from Naughty Dog, Matt Radford, expressed concern that future generations might look back at current human-made games like The Last of Us and Uncharted 4 with awe, similar to ancient cathedrals. He speculates that new technologies, potentially including AI, could fundamentally change game development and reduce the scale of ambitious projects.
Phasmophobia confirms 30 million sales as its Crimson Eye Halloween event returns
Phasmophobia has surpassed 30 million sales across PC and consoles since its 2020 Early Access launch. Developer Kinetic Games announced the milestone alongside the return of its annual Crimson Eye Halloween event, which features increased ghost speed and sanity drain for greater rewards. The game's director, Daniel Knight, expressed gratitude for the community's support, with the full 1.0 release now slated for the second half of 2027.
"Holy s***! Who are you?" - Phantom Blade Zero's director tells the story of PlayStation's first reaction to the game
S-Game director Soulframe recounts how an early, rough mockup of Phantom Blade Zero deeply impressed PlayStation executives, including Christian Svensson and Shuhei Yoshida, leading to its inclusion in a major showcase. The game, which launches on PlayStation 5 and PC on October 29, garnered significant attention, with its trailer becoming the second most viewed from the event.
World of Warcraft Forever devs have learned "you don't listen to the loudest people in the room"
Blizzard Entertainment executives Holly Longdale and Clay Stone discussed the development of World of Warcraft Forever at PAX Australia, emphasizing a new direction that retains core values while expanding horizontally. They highlighted the massive engagement in the beta and the lesson learned to not solely listen to the loudest voices, but to research player feedback trends to create a complete experience.
Evighetsprojektet Squadron 42 dyker upp på Steam
Cloud Imperium Games has released a new trailer and a Steam page for Squadron 42, the single-player campaign for Star Citizen. The game, originally revealed in 2012, is now slated for a Q2 2027 release on PC, with its Steam page confirming this new window after a previous delay from 2026. The trailer features celebrity voice actors and space combat.
Why is Star Wars suddenly so good at video games? - Reader's Feature
A reader argues that the Star Wars license is currently excelling in video games, revitalizing genres that are otherwise neglected. While acknowledging past quality issues with licensed games, the author praises recent titles like Zero Company and Galactic Racer, attributing their success to Lucasfilm Games' quality control and a focus on diverse genres.
Squadron 42 has a Steam page
Squadron 42, the single-player component of Star Citizen, has received a Steam page with system requirements and a listed release window of Q2 2027. This follows a recent delay out of 2026, with game director Chris Roberts citing a clash with Grand Theft Auto 6 as the reason, though skepticism remains due to the game's long development history and numerous previous delays.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director on what to expect on Nintendo Switch 2, wants to take it to an even higher level of quality compared to Rebirth
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi discussed the development approach for the Nintendo Switch 2 version, aiming for a higher quality than Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. He highlighted the importance of prior experience with Rebirth's porting to achieve this goal, emphasizing simultaneous development across platforms without limiting game quality.
A Crimson Desert exec thinks critic review scores were lower because they didn't have enough time to play it, and boy oh boy I wonder whose fault that is
Pearl Abyss's European CEO Lybee Park suggested that lower critic review scores for Crimson Desert were due to limited playtime during the review period, preventing full exploration of the game's hidden details. The author argues that developers are responsible for providing adequate review access and that critics' role is to identify friction points, not just praise games.
Deadlock surpasses Team Fortress 2's all-time concurrent player count peak as it adds a chess wizard
Valve's new MOBA, Deadlock, has surpassed Team Fortress 2's all-time concurrent player peak with 262,145 simultaneous players during its invite-only test. The game's recent addition of a new hero, Solomon the chess mage, is credited with contributing to this surge. The article also touches on the challenges of breaking into the MOBA genre and Valve's approach to game development.
The studio behind Star Wars Zero Company is hiring back some of its furloughed staff
Developer Bit Reactor, the studio behind Star Wars Zero Company, has begun rehiring some of the staff it furloughed earlier this year due to sales uncertainty. The company had previously furloughed over 80% of its employees, but has now increased its payroll to over half of its pre-furlough levels. Despite initial launch issues, the game received positive reviews and performed well on Steam.
Beyond Graphics and Gameplay: What Makes a Video Game Truly Memorable?
A memorable video game transcends impressive graphics and gameplay by fostering emotional connections through compelling characters, meaningful choices, and rewarding challenges. Experiences become lasting when players feel personally involved, whether through character development, impactful decisions, or shared moments with others. The most memorable games offer more than technical prowess; they provide unique, personal experiences that resonate long after playing.
Starforce - A fantastic 1980s Arcade shooter is coming to the Amiga AGA via Acidbottle
Developer Acidbottle is bringing the 1980s arcade hit Starforce to the Amiga AGA platform. The project utilizes modern AI tools alongside the Scorpion Engine, aiming to replicate the original gameplay mechanics, including the Greek alphabet-themed stages and a two-level weapon system. A new soundtrack is also in development.
The advent of first-person shooters introduced a wild frontier of unregulated video game level packs, and it ended in a…
In the 1990s, first-person shooters saw the rise of 'level packs,' boxed products containing collections of custom levels that existed between official expansions and mods. Companies like Sunstorm Interactive created well-regarded packs for games like Duke Nukem 3D, fostering new design talent. However, the era also saw the proliferation of unauthorized and low-quality packs, leading to landmark copyright cases like Micro Star v. FormGen, which established that game mods are derivative works, ultimately leading to the decline of unregulated level packs.
Former Last of Us and Uncharted 4 dev says "the idea of a monolithic GTA 6" or Elder Scrolls 6 is "intimidating," wants more short games instead
Former Naughty Dog developer Matt Radford expressed that monolithic games like Grand Theft Auto 6 and The Elder Scrolls 6 are intimidating, preferring shorter, focused experiences. He cited the time commitment required for long games and the ballooning development budgets as reasons for this preference, though he believes GTA 6 will succeed.
Expect plenty more Silent Hill over the next few years, as Konami has plans for 'second and third waves' of new games in its revived horror series
Konami plans multiple 'waves' of new Silent Hill games, with producer Motoi Okamoto expressing relief at the positive reception of recent titles like Silent Hill 2 Remake, Silent Hill f, and Silent Hill: Townfall. Despite past challenges, including the cancellation of Hideo Kojima's Silent Hills, Konami is committed to reviving the horror franchise with ongoing projects.
Silent Hill, Gravity Rush director's Bokeh Game Studio is reportedly casting for a new horror game
Bokeh Game Studio, founded by Keiichiro Toyama, is reportedly casting for a new, as-yet-untitled horror game. The casting call suggests mature themes and creature transformation, similar to Toyama's previous title, Slitterhead, which received a mixed reception despite a positive review from Eurogamer.
Konami Planning 'Second and Third Waves' of New Silent Hill Games
Konami is planning multiple future installments in the Silent Hill franchise, with producer Motoi Okamoto confirming "second and third waves" of new games are in development. This indicates a renewed focus on the survival horror series.
Programmer who "fixed" Grand Theft Auto's driving releases a "remaster" of it, Rockstar veteran says "it’s remarkable how much it feels like GTA1"
Original Grand Theft Auto programmer Pat Kerr has released a playable JavaScript demo recreating the game's pioneering vehicle physics, which veteran Rockstar developer Obbe Vermeij credits Kerr with saving. The "remastered" demo captures the feel of the original Grand Theft Auto 1's driving mechanics, showcasing a 2D rigid body dynamics simulation and a novel vehicle simulation layer.
