Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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State of Decay 3 Announced Early Because Studio Head Was Worried About Being “Swallowed Up” by Xbox
Undead Labs announced State of Decay 3 early to prevent the studio from being "swallowed up" by Microsoft's acquisition strategy. Studio head Philip Holt revealed that the decision was made to ensure their work would be recognized before potential divestment or being absorbed into a larger organization. The studio has since left the Microsoft umbrella, and development continues.
New Ape Escape Game is Being Developed by Sonic Mania Studio – Rumor
A rumor suggests that a new Ape Escape game is in development by Evening Star, the studio behind Sonic Mania. While not close to release, the project has reportedly been in development for nearly a year. This potential revival is part of Sony's broader strategy to reintroduce older franchises to a new audience.
Google debuts new 'experimental' AI game platform named Google Playground
Google has launched Google Playground, an experimental platform for creating, sharing, and playing games built with generative AI tools. The browser-based platform requires no coding experience and allows users to customize games through conversational prompts, with integration for Unity's new Spark tool.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 582: The year of MMO sequels is upon us
The Massively OP Podcast episode 582 covers the announcement of RuneScape 4 and RuneScape Reignited, alongside recent MMO launches like Aion 2 and Dune Awakening. Discussions also include The Lord of the Rings Online's new expansion and neighbor system, EverQuest expansions, and WoW Forever's beta developments.
The PC Gamer Mysteries, Case #1: "A Slice of Death": Why is there a dead golfer hidden in Golden Tee '99?
An investigation into the mystery of a dead golfer hidden in the game Golden Tee '99 has revealed that the figure was a digitized photograph of course designer Jim Zielinski himself, placed as a humorous Easter egg. While the blood pool was present in the original arcade version and some emulations, it is missing in the recent Steam release of Golden Tee Arcade Classics, a discrepancy that remains unexplained.
Until Dawn Developer Announces Massive Layoffs
Supermassive Games, the developer behind Until Dawn and The Quarry, has conducted massive layoffs, releasing over 70 employees across various departments. This follows a previous wave of downsizing in February 2024 and a consultation that put over 75 employees at risk. The company's parent, Nordisk Games, has not commented, but the restructuring is likely due to rising production costs and industry shifts.
Nolan North Is Staying in Shape Just in Case Sony Calls About Uncharted 5
Uncharted voice actor Nolan North expressed his eagerness to return for a potential Uncharted 5, stating he is keeping in shape in anticipation of a call from Sony. This comes amid reports that a new entry in the franchise is in development.
Castlevania Belmont's Curse skipping Switch 2 also baffles former Nintendo marketing lead: "The way Konami has…
Former Nintendo marketing manager Kit Ellis expressed confusion over Konami's decision to release Castlevania: Belmont's Curse only on the original Nintendo Switch, despite the existence of the Nintendo Switch 2. Ellis noted that while the game runs on the Switch 2, it lacks a dedicated version and appears visually
Warhorse co-founder believes 'AI is not a get out of jail free card' and that execs have a 'simplified mental model' of what it means for games
Warhorse Studios co-founder Martin Klima believes that executives have an oversimplified view of artificial intelligence's role in game development, stating it's not a cost-saving solution. He argues that AI will augment human developers to create larger games rather than replace them, driven by player demand for more content.
Call Of Duty’s Richtofen Actor Wants Him To Come Back, Says 2027’s CoD Could Be From Sledgehammer
Voice actor Nolan North, known for playing Dr. Edward Richtofen in Call of Duty's Zombies mode, expressed his desire to reprise the role in a future Black Ops title. He speculates that the 2027 Call of Duty game might be developed by Sledgehammer Games, suggesting a new Black Ops installment could be further out. North clarified that this is his personal hope and not based on insider information.
State of Decay 3 Was Revealed Early Partly Because of the Studio Boss' Anxiety Around Xbox's Plans
Undead Labs boss Philip Holt revealed that State of Decay 3 was announced early due to his own anxiety surrounding Xbox's future plans for the studio. This early reveal was intended to preemptively address potential concerns.
Co-dev case study: How Blackbird Interactive and Secret Mode helped Escape the Backrooms ride the Backrooms hype wave
This article details the co-development process behind Escape the Backrooms, highlighting the collaboration between solo developer Fancy, publisher Secret Mode, and development studio Blackbird Interactive. It explores how Blackbird Interactive helped port the game to consoles, implement new features like cosmetics, and overcome production challenges, ultimately leading to significant player growth and successful console launches.
Star Citizen answers select player questions about flight, damage, and bugged missions
Cloud Imperium Games addressed player concerns in the first '10 From the Community' Q&A, detailing upcoming flight model updates for Star Citizen and Squadron 42, including the removal of master modes and the addition of quantum boost. The article also touches on the Maelstrom destruction system, challenges with large mission bugs due to complexity and testing, and ongoing development for features like easier logins and medical/respawn updates.
Hideo Kojima would use a trip to space to make a video game, because while the Metal Gear and Death Stranding mastermind would "like to go for another purpose", he doesn't "have any other skills"
Hideo Kojima, the creator of Metal Gear and Death Stranding, expressed his desire to create a video game during a hypothetical trip to space. He envisions a game designed for zero gravity with unique controls, acknowledging that such an experience would require living in space to fully develop.
Sega won't "entrust the creative aspect of games to AI," but is using tech to "improve efficiency" in other departments
Sega will not entrust the creative aspects of game development to AI, but is using the technology to improve efficiency in other departments like publishing and business idea generation. The company has established a Generative AI Committee and Task Force to develop in-house tools. Separately, the South Australian Film Corporation has doubled its Digital Games Fund to $1 million to support local game development across various stages.
Brazil wants to be in "the top five game producers in the world in less than 10 years"
Brazil aims to become one of the top five global game producers within ten years, according to Rodrigo Terra, president of the Brazilian games industry trade body Abragames. The country is focusing on leveraging its culture as a form of soft power and has implemented new legal frameworks and recognized game design professions to foster economic development in the sector.
Hideo Kojima teases future cameos in a "big live-action movie" and a "major anime title"
Hideo Kojima has revealed plans for future cameo appearances in a major live-action movie and a significant anime title, in addition to his recent roles in "Vivant" and "Zootopia 2." Kojima Productions is also developing upcoming games Physint and O.D., with Physint reportedly moving to Xbox.
Uncharted star says a new sequel would be "one of the biggest games ever," but "it just depends if Sony…
Nolan North, the voice actor for Nathan Drake, believes a new Uncharted sequel would be a massive success if Sony decided to develop it. He expressed his eagerness to reprise the role, suggesting it would be one of the biggest games ever. Rumors of a new Uncharted game starring Drake are currently circulating.
South Australian government makes largest investment in game development by doubling its Digital Games Fund to $1m
The South Australian government, through the South Australian Film Corporation, has doubled its Digital Games Fund to $1 million, marking its largest investment in game development. The fund offers three streams for pre-production, production, and post-release activities, alongside a new Game Studio Placement Program to support emerging talent. This initiative aims to boost local game development and increase the global presence of South Australian games.
Now that Halo 7 is over at Activision, Halo Studios releases concept art for their version of the FPS, teasing an "ancient, terrible creature" guarded by a timelock
Halo Studios, now a support studio for Activision's Halo development, has released concept art for their envisioned Halo 7. The art teases an "ancient, terrible creature" guarded by timelock technology on Zeta Halo, showcasing a potential direction for the franchise that will not be realized.
