Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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The Next Gears Of War Game Probably Won’t Need 7 Years To Cook
The Coalition studio head Mike Crump stated that the development of the next Gears of War game, following Gears of War: E-Day, will not take as long as the seven-year gap after Gears 5. He emphasized focusing on shipping a great game and showcasing Xbox hardware capabilities, while acknowledging concerns about recent Xbox layoffs.
Google announces Playground, an AI game generation platform
Google has announced Playground, a new platform that utilizes AI to generate playable video games based on user prompts. The platform handles all aspects of game creation, including programming, artwork, and imagery. Games can be kept private, shared with friends, or published to a public gallery, with future integration of Unity Spark tools planned.
Hideo Kojima writing a whole Death Stranding character just for him is "one of the kindest things" he's ever done, says Higgs actor Troy Baker
Voice actor Troy Baker shared that Hideo Kojima creating the character Higgs specifically for him in Death Stranding was one of the kindest things the director has ever done. Baker also revealed that Kojima was inspired by his Instagram Live acoustic guitar performances during the pandemic when writing Higgs's character.
Gears of War: E-Day Studio Boss Insists 'The Next Game Will Not Take Nearly as Long' to Make, Responds to Layoff Concern
The head of The Coalition, the studio behind Gears of War: E-Day, has addressed concerns about potential layoffs and assured that the next game will not take as long to develop. This comes amid ongoing workforce reductions at Xbox.
With sex in GTA 6, studio boss suggests Rockstar doesn't want another Hot Coffee moment: "It has to be done…
Rockstar North co-studio boss Rob Nelson discussed Grand Theft Auto 6's handling of intimacy, stating the team wants to portray it 'right' and avoid past controversies like the 'Hot Coffee' incident from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The game's PEGI 18+ rating indicates scenes of intercourse and sexual fetishes.
Perfect Ten: Revisiting our last ten ‘Stormiest Future’ winners
This article revisits Massively Overpowered's past predictions for MMORPGs with 'stormy futures,' analyzing the outcomes for games like New World, Cryptic Studios' library, Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, and Star Citizen. Many of the predicted 'stormy' futures materialized, with some games shutting down or facing significant challenges, while others, like World of Warcraft and Cryptic Studios, have shown resilience or recovery.
Former Halo art director claps back at founding Xbox member for implying 343 Industries had a "laziness"…
Former Halo art director Glenn Israel responded to claims made by founding Xbox member Laura Fryer, who described Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) as a "ghost town" during the development of Gears of War 2. Israel refuted Fryer's recollection, stating that while the studio had "systemic issues," it was not "rife with laziness" and that Fryer's timeline and observations were inaccurate.
Undead Labs speaks about its split from Xbox, revealing it has to "make some changes" to State of Decay 3 following layoffs
Undead Labs has revealed that it must make changes to State of Decay 3 following significant layoffs after regaining independence from Xbox. Studio head Phillip Holt stated that while the game is in alpha, the departure of colleagues necessitates adjustments, though not a dramatic scope reduction. The studio is now focused solely on creating the best possible game for its audience.
State Of Decay 3 Was Announced Early To Keep Undead Labs On Microsoft’s Radar
State of Decay 3 developer Undead Labs announced the game early in 2020 to keep the project on Microsoft's radar during an acquisition spree, according to studio boss Philip Holt. The studio has since become independent and employee-owned. Holt explained that the early announcement was a strategic move to prevent the studio from being overlooked amidst Microsoft's acquisitions of companies like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.
Forza Horizon 6 has been delayed on PS5, a new report suggests, not long after developer Playground insisted it hadn't
A new report suggests Forza Horizon 6 has been delayed on PlayStation 5 to January 2027, contradicting earlier statements from developer Playground Games. Reliable leaker billbil-kun has provided a specific release date and pricing information, while also noting potential differences in edition availability between platforms. Playground Games recently apologized for a lack of communication regarding the game.
Alleged footage of Xbox's cancelled Perfect Dark reboot shows a parkour-heavy chase scene and the summary execution of fruit
Alleged footage of Microsoft's cancelled Perfect Dark reboot has surfaced, showcasing chase sequences and shooting mechanics. The game, developed by The Initiative, was cancelled as part of mass layoffs at Microsoft, with attempts to revive it by Take-Two Interactive reportedly falling through. Several other studios, including Crystal Dynamics, Double Fine, Undead Labs, Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Arkane Studios, were also affected by these layoffs.
Unity unveils Unity Spark, an prompt-based tool for Google's AI games platform
Unity has partnered with Google to introduce Unity Spark, a new AI-powered tool for Google's Playground platform that allows developers to create games using text prompts instead of traditional coding. Unity CEO Matthew Bromberg emphasized that Spark is designed to enable creative expression and build unique interactive experiences, connecting directly to the Unity Asset Store for high-quality assets. The announcement comes amidst ongoing debate and concern within the game industry regarding the use and impact of generative AI.
Unity unveils a web-based AI game creation platform
Unity has unveiled Unity Spark, a new browser-based platform leveraging generative AI to allow users to create 3D games using natural language prompts. This tool, developed in partnership with Google and running on the Unity engine, will launch in beta later this year. Unity Spark aims to democratize game creation by enabling individuals with creative ideas but limited coding experience to bring their visions to life.
GTA 6 won't be playable on PC at launch via Xbox's cloud streaming services, Microsoft exec indicates while refuting exclusivity deal report
Microsoft executive Matthew Ball refuted reports that Xbox secured exclusive cloud streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto 6 on PC. While the game will launch on Xbox consoles on November 19, it will not be available via PC cloud streaming at launch, a decision seemingly driven by business strategy rather than technical limitations. Rockstar Games is also facing an employment tribunal regarding the firing of developers.
New Ape Escape Reportedly in Development at Sonic Mania Team
A new installment in the Ape Escape series is reportedly in development, with the project being led by the same team responsible for the critically acclaimed Sonic Mania. This news suggests a potential revival of the classic PlayStation franchise.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 boss says using AI to replace devs is a "fundamentally flawed idea," but admits it could help us get "bigger games for the same cost"
Martin Klima, CEO of Warhorse Studios, believes using AI to replace game developers is a flawed concept, stating that AI should be viewed as a tool to enhance efficiency rather than a replacement for creative processes. While not reducing costs, AI could enable the creation of larger games for the same budget, a sentiment echoed by Hideo Kojima.
GTA 6 PC Release Date Estimate, Rumors, And News
Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated for a November 19, 2026 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a PC version estimated for Q1 2028. This estimate is based on Rockstar Games' historical release patterns for PC versions of their titles, which often follow console launches by 12-19 months. While Rockstar has not officially announced a PC version, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has emphasized the growing importance of the PC market.
Games industry investors are "sitting on the sidelines waiting for obvious slam dunks", says Undead Labs boss, with labour costs a key worry
Undead Labs studio boss Philip Holt believes investors are hesitant to fund game development projects unless they are 'obvious slam dunks,' citing high labor costs, particularly in expensive regions like Seattle, as a major concern. He also discussed the studio's successful management buyout from Microsoft and its implications for the future of State of Decay 3.
Footage From Canceled Perfect Dark Reboot Surfaces, Showing Off Fruit Physics and Parkour
New footage has surfaced online for the canceled Perfect Dark reboot, showcasing features like fruit physics and parkour mechanics. The game was being developed under the Xbox umbrella.
Gears of War: E-Day is a “Great Foundation,” Says The Coalition: “The Next Game Won’t Take as Long”
The Coalition studio head Mike Crump stated that Gears of War: E-Day is a "great foundation" and that the next game in the series "won't take as long" to develop, partly due to the use of Unreal Engine 5 and built assets. The article also touches on rumors of layoffs within the studio and the exclusion of certain features from previous titles.
