Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Retro platformer series Dizzy is back for a new game from its original creators, who are really happy for you to know it's made with AI
The Oliver Twins, creators of the retro platformer series Dizzy, have announced a new game that will serve as a remake of Treasure Island Dizzy with modern visuals and a new Mega Drive version. They openly discussed their use of generative AI in development, citing cost savings and the ability for indies to compete with larger studios. However, the article strongly criticizes this approach, labeling it as theft and harmful to artists.
As Halo Moves to Activision, Halo Studios Writers Tease What Might Have Been
Halo Studios writers have teased potential future directions for the Master Chief's story following the launch of Halo: Campaign Evolved. This comes amid the recent announcement that Activision will now be overseeing the Halo series, a move that seems to have caused internal reflection at Halo Studios.
Ninja Theory’s Future Uncertain as Xbox Consultation Continues
Ninja Theory is undergoing significant layoffs and restructuring as Xbox consultation continues, with the studio's closure not yet confirmed. Two potential sale agreements for the Hellblade studio fell through, leading to redundancy processes for employees. This situation is part of a wider Xbox studio reshuffle that has already included substantial job cuts across the company.
Following through on their warning, Until Dawn and Directive 8020 devs Supermassive lay off "more than 70" staff
Supermassive Games has laid off over 70 employees, including veteran Frank Tindle and talent acquisition leader Tim Browning, following the recent launch of Directive 8020. The studio cited the need for "sustainability" as the reason for these significant staff reductions, which follow earlier redundancy consultations.
Supermassive Games suffers layoffs as more than 70 developers seem to have left the company this week
Supermassive Games has undergone significant layoffs, with over 70 employees reportedly losing their jobs. This follows a previous round of cuts in August 2025, which the company stated were necessary for sustainability and to adapt to industry changes. The studio, known for Until Dawn and the recently released Directive 8020, is facing a challenging period.
Evening Reading - October 5, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including DLC for Warhammer 3, a review of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, and community-driven content in World of Warcraft. It also touches on potential TV and movie adaptations for ARC Raiders and The Finals, and the use of AI in game development by Capcom.
OD is “Unusual” for Hideo Kojima, Who Wants to “Keep Quiet and Release It”
Hideo Kojima stated that his upcoming game OD is being developed with a deliberate lack of promotion, aiming for a quiet release. Despite delays due to SAG-AFTRA filming, shooting is progressing well, with full character replacements taking significant work. Xbox is publishing OD and the previously announced Physint, with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma noting OD's budget is substantially below that of a premium title.
Metal Gear Creator Doesn’t Like AI Tech Like DLSS 5, Concedes it Will “Probably Become Standard”
Hideo Kojima expressed mixed feelings about generative AI technology like DLSS 5, concerned about its potential to alter artistic intent in game development. While acknowledging its usefulness and likely industry adoption, he dislikes the idea of AI changing his work without his direct control. Kojima's past games have explored AI themes, and he remains uncertain about its role at Kojima Productions.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Going Multiplatform Was “An Inevitable Outcome,” Says Director
Square Enix director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that Final Fantasy 7 Revelation launching simultaneously on multiple platforms, including Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, was an inevitable outcome due to changing player habits. The focus is now on delivering a consistent experience across different environments rather than pushing hardware limits.
Uncharted Actor is “110 Percent” Prepared to Return for New Entry
Nolan North, the voice actor for Nathan Drake in the Uncharted series, has expressed strong enthusiasm for returning to the franchise for a new entry. While he has not heard any official news, North stated he is "110 percent" prepared and believes a new Uncharted game could be massive, depending on Sony Interactive Entertainment's interest.
Supermassive Games Lays Off “More Than 70” Employees Two Months After Redundancy Consultation
Developer Supermassive Games has laid off over 70 employees, a significant reduction following a redundancy consultation process initiated in August. This decision comes after the commercial underperformance of its latest title, Directive 8020, and the subsequent departure of its CEO. The future of upcoming projects within The Dark Pictures Anthology remains uncertain.
Halo Studios’ Next Game May Have Featured The Mysterious Xalanyn Before Cancelation
Halo franchise writer Alex Wakeford discussed potential future projects, including the introduction of the mysterious Xalanyn entities, before a major reshuffling at Xbox. While Halo Studios is now tasked with supporting existing games, Activision is working on a new Halo title, aiming to create "the greatest Halo game ever." This comes amidst significant layoffs across Xbox studios, and reports indicate Halo Studios' next project was canceled.
Watch Dogs: Legion Director’s Cut Could Launch in the First Half of 2027 – Rumor
A rumor suggests that Watch Dogs: Legion Director's Cut could be released in the first half of 2027, with potential features including a full night mode and new story content. While Ubisoft has not announced new entries in the Watch Dogs series, this re-release might test the waters for the franchise, especially after Watch Dogs: Legion reportedly underperformed.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation ditching PS5 exclusivity was "inevitable," Naoki Hamaguchi says, because players are "no longer tied to a single piece of hardware"
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will be the first entry in the remake series to launch on multiple platforms simultaneously, a move director Naoki Hamaguchi calls an "inevitable outcome" of the current gaming landscape. He stated that players are no longer tied to a single piece of hardware, and future AAA development should focus on delivering consistent experiences across diverse environments rather than solely on high performance. Square Enix announced its commitment to a multiplatform strategy in 2024.
"God's strongest programmer": This JRPG sounded great, but then I learned how it was made, and now it…
Lie of Caelum: Spirit, a sci-fi mecha JRPG inspired by Xenogears and Phantasy Star, has garnered significant attention and Kickstarter funding, partly due to its impressive visuals and music. The game is notable for being developed using RPG Maker MZ, a tool not typically associated with such advanced 3D graphics and complex gameplay features like seamless mech transitions, card games, and mini-games.
Baldur's Gate 3 and Elden Ring are "North Stars" for Tencent as the company tries to build the next Larian or FromSoftware: "That is the long-term commitment"
Tencent aims to replicate the success of studios like Larian and FromSoftware by focusing on genre leadership and long-term developer support, citing Baldur's Gate 3 and Elden Ring as benchmarks. VP Yong-yi Zhu emphasized the company's commitment to nurturing talent and iterating on genres over multiple titles, contrasting this with their own portfolio of evergreen live service games.
Pourquoi les anciens joueurs de Football Manager perdent patience avec la franchise | Invision Game Community
Long-time Football Manager players are expressing frustration with the franchise, particularly with the cancellation of Football Manager 25 and the technical issues and interface changes in Football Manager 26. Despite the introduction of women's football and official licenses, core gameplay elements and stability concerns are alienating the dedicated fanbase.
Ninja Theory begins laying off staff, according to employee posts
Ninja Theory, the developer behind the Hellblade series, has begun laying off staff. Xbox had proposed closing the studio in September after two separate sale agreements fell through. Employees have expressed sadness on social media about not being able to finish their current projects.
MMO Business Roundup: Capcom’s AI tools, Bungie co-founder’s new gig, and Jagex’s trailer kerfuffle
This MMO business roundup covers Capcom's plans to integrate generative AI into its RE Engine for game development, the launch of Stone Kite by Bungie co-founder Jason Jones focusing on comic books and other media, and fan backlash against Jagex for using AI in a RuneScape trailer. The use of AI in game development and marketing is a recurring theme, with mixed reactions from companies and players.
Hideo Kojima says Physint is "quite different" from Metal Gear: "I want plenty of new ideas and a…
Hideo Kojima has stated that his upcoming game, Physint, will be a different kind of spy action game, distinct from the Metal Gear series. While Sony has dropped out as publisher, Microsoft has stepped in. The game features Bill Skarsgård in the cast, with Kojima detailing how the collaboration came about.
