Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
Over 700 games launched on Steam in one week for the first time, though 74% had fewer than 10 reviews
Steam saw over 700 game launches in a single week for the first time, though a significant majority received fewer than 10 reviews. Separately, Supercell's acquisition of Metacore is nearing completion, with Merge Mansion being integrated into Supercell's portfolio.
The adult game crackdown is "ridiculous for our art form", say Hellraiser devs, but they think they'll survive thanks to that Clive Barker association
Developers of Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival express frustration over the ongoing crackdown on adult games, calling it 'ridiculous for our art form.' They believe the established IP status of Hellraiser provides some protection against bans on platforms like Steam, though they acknowledge the chilling effect on developers of original IPs. The game will launch on Steam on October 8 but faces challenges with age classification in territories like Germany and Japan.
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak to discuss development of 007 First Light at Game Republic New Horizons 2026
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak will discuss the development of the James Bond title 007 First Light at Game Republic New Horizons 2026. The game has been IO Interactive's fastest-selling release, with over four million copies sold. Abrak expressed excitement about sharing insights into the creation of the game, which is slated for a late 2026 launch on Nintendo Switch 2.
Star Wars Zero Company studio Bit Reactor reportedly furloughed 80% of staff prior to release
Despite the critical and commercial success of Star Wars Zero Company, its developer Bit Reactor reportedly furloughed 80% of its staff shortly before launch. This decision, made by the studio itself rather than EA or Disney, has led to a lawsuit from a former COO seeking $20 million in damages over alleged contract breaches.
Evening Reading - September 1, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading from Shacknews covers various gaming news items, including Square Enix denying reports of going private, Bit Reactor furloughing Star Wars Zero Company developers, and a Street Fighter movie promo shoot controversy. It also highlights upcoming game releases and updates like Nopixel 5's beta, and mentions a review for Orbitals.
No Rest for the Wicked Delayed to March 2027 for 1.0 Release — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Moon Studios has delayed the 1.0 release of No Rest for the Wicked to March 2027 to ensure a polished launch. The team plans additional open betas throughout 2026 and will offer a Founders Pack for purchases made before January 1, 2027. The game is slated for PC and PlayStation 5, with Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch versions planned for a later date.
The Witcher 4 Studio Co-CEO Says Console Prices Are “An Objective Challenge,” But “Content is King”
CD Projekt RED co-CEO Michał Nowakowski acknowledges that rising console prices present an "objective challenge" but believes content remains king and players will find ways to access games. He expressed confidence that consoles are essential for reaching a broad audience and that the company will adapt its business models regardless of future hardware generations.
No Rest For The Wicked’s 1.0 Release Delayed to March 2027
Moon Studios has announced that the 1.0 release of No Rest for the Wicked, including its PlayStation 5 debut, has been delayed to March 2027. The extra development time will be used to polish gameplay systems, class system, and combat mechanics. The Founder's Pack benefits have been extended, and preorders for the PS5 version will open in January 2027.
Bethesda Employees Thought They Were Safe From Layoffs Thanks to Skyrim, Fallout
Former Bethesda Game Studios Austin developer Anne Barrett shared that employees felt secure from layoffs due to the success of games like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and Fallout, making Xbox's subsequent announcements even more shocking and devastating. The layoffs resulted in a significant drop in morale and a loss of institutional knowledge crucial for the company's proprietary game engine.
Good reviews are a 'great relief,' says Blood of Dawnwalker director, as former CD Projekt coworkers line up…
Blood of Dawnwalker has received generally positive reviews, with PC Gamer awarding it an 83% and Metacritic showing an aggregate score of 83/100. Creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz expressed immense relief at the reception, which was echoed by congratulations from former CD Projekt colleagues.
Star Wars Zero Company Was Originally Pitched as a Titanfall Universe Game
Star Wars Zero Company was initially conceived as a game within the Titanfall universe. This revelation sheds light on the game's early development concepts.
Skyrim and Fallout made Bethesda devs feel "safe" from mass layoffs before Xbox ended decades-long careers in…
Bethesda Game Studios developers, known for franchises like Skyrim and Fallout, felt secure from mass layoffs at Xbox, but were instead blindsided by job cuts affecting long-term employees. An employee described the experience as devastating, with meetings lasting only two minutes to end decades-long careers. The loss of institutional knowledge is a significant concern for future game quality.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 578: Gamescoming and Gamesgoing
The Massively OP Podcast episode 578 covers Gamescom announcements, including launch dates for Aion 2 and Path of Exile 2, and future content plans for Dune: Awakening. The hosts also discuss the shutdown of another WoW Classic server, Guild Wars 3's Asura, Star Citizen's delays, and Star Wars Galaxies hacking drama.
Releasing Cyberpunk 2077 In Its Poor State “Was For Sure Wrong,” CD Projekt Admits
CD Projekt joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski admitted that releasing Cyberpunk 2077 in its poor technical state in December 2020 was "for sure wrong." He cited team exhaustion and external pressure as factors, but pushed back against the idea that investors forced the launch. Despite the rocky start, the game has since sold over 40 million copies and received significant improvements.
Cyberpunk 2077 launched when it did because its devs wanted it "out the door" says CD Projekt Red CEO, but I wonder if he forgot about that reported mandatory crunch
CD Projekt Red CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that Cyberpunk 2077 was not rushed out due to investor pressure, but rather due to the team's exhaustion and desire to release it. However, the article questions this narrative, citing reports of mandatory crunch leading up to the game's troubled launch. Nowakowski admitted the launch decision was a mistake.
The Witcher Remake Is Waiting On The Witcher 4 To Continue Development
CD Projekt has revealed that the development of The Witcher Remake by Fool's Theory is on hold. This is due to technological dependencies on The Witcher 4 and the studio's current focus on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's 'Songs of the Past' expansion. The remake's progress is now integrated with The Witcher 4's development.
Double Fine will finally make Brutal Legend 2, but only if its new Kickstarter campaign reaches an almost impossible $100m
Double Fine has announced plans to develop Brutal Legend 2, contingent on their new Kickstarter campaign for 'Amnesia Fortnight 2026, Indie Reboot' reaching an ambitious $100 million goal. The studio recently regained independence after being acquired by Xbox. The campaign aims to fund a two-week game jam and documentary, with Brutal Legend 2 serving as a highly improbable stretch goal.
Double Fine will finally make Brutal Legend 2, but only if its new Kickstarter campaign reaches an almost impossible $100m
Double Fine has announced a Kickstarter campaign for 'Amnesia Fortnight 2026, Indie Reboot,' which includes a stretch goal to develop Brutal Legend 2 if the campaign reaches an ambitious $100 million. The studio recently regained independence after being owned by Xbox.
No Rest for the Wicked, which was slated to hit 1.0 a month before Grand Theft Auto 6, is delayed into 2027
Moon Studios has announced that its action RPG, No Rest for the Wicked, will be delayed from its planned October release into March 2027. The studio cited the need for more time to improve performance and polish the game to their standards, with an open beta planned for December. The delay means the game will now launch well after Grand Theft Auto 6, which is slated for a November release.
The majority of Doom: The Dark Ages' DLC got made 'in three or four months'
Former Id Software producer Andrew Willis described the development of Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations DLC as extremely brutal, with significant crunch time required to complete the majority of the game in three to four months. Willis reported working at least 12 hours daily for two months, with some days reaching 17 hours, and noted that many team members considered it the worst crunch they had experienced. This news follows recent layoffs at Id Software, impacting many developers who had worked on previous titles.
