Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Half-Life 3 re-re-re-confirmed: A Valve dev just said 'HLX' out loud
Valve composer Mike Morasky inadvertently mentioned "HLX," a rumored codename for a new Half-Life game, during a GameSoundCon panel, sparking renewed speculation about Half-Life 3. His co-panelist David Feise reacted with surprise, suggesting the comment was not intended for public disclosure, and Morasky later appeared to reference the slip-up.
I’m Getting Very Worried About Skate Following EA Layoffs
The author expresses significant concern for the future of the game Skate following recent layoffs at publisher Electronic Arts and its developer Full Circle. Despite recent improvements in the game's live-service content, the reduction in staff raises worries about the game's development trajectory and EA's commitment to the franchise.
‘Now You’re Pushing It’ — Debra Wilson Drew the Line at the Wolverine Devs Scanning Her Tattoos Into the Game
Actor Debra Wilson expressed frustration with her likeness being used in video games without her explicit consent, stating she prefers playing characters that do not resemble her. She drew a line with the developers of Wolverine, indicating a boundary regarding the scanning of her tattoos for game assets.
Why People Think Valve Just Accidentally Confirmed Half-Life 3
Valve sound designer Mike Morasky may have accidentally revealed a new Half-Life project, referred to as "HLX," during a Game Sound Con presentation. This mention, quickly followed by a colleague's remark, has fueled speculation among fans that HLX could be Half-Life 3, a game long rumored and highly anticipated.
Valve Developer Mistakenly Mentions Rumored Half-Life 3 Codename
A Valve developer inadvertently revealed the rumored codename for Half-Life 3 during a recent conference. The mention of the long-speculated title has reignited discussions among fans.
Valve dev mentions rumored Half-Life game HLX at a presentation, coworker immediately calls him out: "Nice…
During a presentation on Valve's audio engine, designer Mike Morasky casually mentioned 'HLX,' a rumored Half-Life game, prompting a coworker to immediately call him out. This marks one of the clearest nods yet to the long-speculated title, though no official confirmation or release window was provided.
Mass Effect 5 Trailer Leaks After EA Announces BioWare Closure, Features A Returning Character
A trailer for Mass Effect 5, tentatively titled Mass Effect: Universe, has leaked online, appearing to be legitimate. This leak follows an announcement from Electronic Arts regarding the closure of BioWare, a studio known for its work on the Mass Effect series.
An internal Mass Effect 5 trailer has reportedly leaked, offering you a glimpse at the sequel you'll never get to play
An internal trailer for the unreleased Mass Effect 5 has reportedly leaked, offering a glimpse into the game's pre-production assets and potential narrative direction, including the return of Liara T'Soni. This leak follows the announcement of BioWare's shutdown and the cancellation of the next Mass Effect game, alongside significant layoffs affecting The Sims, Skate, and Battlefield development teams.
Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai thinks gen-AI will cause a surge of unoriginal games, but says human creativity can't be replicated
Super Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai believes generative AI will lead to a significant increase in unoriginal games, with many becoming unprofitable due to mass production and poor quality. However, he asserts that unique human creativity, exemplified by designers like Fumito Ueda, cannot be replicated by AI as it can only reference existing works.
Someone leaked a Mass Effect 5 trailer and now I feel even worse, because it looks really good
A purported trailer for Mass Effect 5, possibly titled Mass Effect: Universe, has leaked online, generating excitement despite its unverified authenticity. The trailer features familiar music and voice acting, and hints at a new protagonist while potentially continuing the story of Liara. The leak comes amid news of BioWare's closure and cancellation of the next Mass Effect game, leading to a mixed sentiment.
Leaked apparent Mass Effect 4 trailer just makes its cancellation feel that much worse
A leaked trailer for the apparent Mass Effect 4 has surfaced, intensifying disappointment and frustration over the game's perceived cancellation. The leak highlights the desire for the title and amplifies the negative sentiment surrounding its potential demise.
Ex-BioWare boss and Mass Effect director Casey Hudson says he'll 'forever be grateful' for his time at the studio: 'Its legacy will live on'
EA has announced the closure of BioWare, the studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, alongside layoffs affecting around 400 employees. Former BioWare director Casey Hudson expressed sadness but gratitude for the studio's legacy, highlighting its impact on unforgettable stories and characters. Other industry figures like Warren Spector reacted negatively to the closure.
Rumored Mass Effect 5 trailer leaks just hours after apparent EA employee claims BioWare had a new trailer ready before…
A trailer for the rumored Mass Effect 5, potentially titled Mass Effect: Universe, has reportedly leaked online shortly after claims from an alleged EA employee that a trailer was ready before BioWare's shutdown. The two-minute, gameplay-free trailer is being scrutinized by fans, while the source also indicated that the Mass Effect team comprised around 50 developers and that the Austin studio will remain open.
Dispatch Is Coming To Mobile In December, With Its First Four Episodes Free
AdHoc Studio announced that the superhero workplace-dramedy Dispatch is coming to Android and iOS on December 9, with its first four episodes available for free. The deluxe edition is also receiving new behind-the-scenes modes, including cast commentary and storyboard animatics. The studio is also hosting a live concert in Los Angeles and releasing new merchandise and soundtracks.
EA says it's 'bringing together our Respawn and DICE studios to collaborate on a future project' that is…
Electronic Arts is consolidating its Respawn Entertainment and DICE studios to collaborate on a future project, widely reported to be Star Wars Battlefront 3. This move comes as EA restructures, shutting down BioWare and laying off 400 employees, including canceling work on Mass Effect 5. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to live-service titles like Apex Legends and upcoming games such as Marvel's Iron Man and Star Wars Jedi 3.
Game dev plans affected by Electronic Arts firings take clearer shape as fans and devs mourn BioWare’s end
Electronic Arts has laid off hundreds of employees and shut down the legendary BioWare studio, impacting various game development projects including The Sims and Star Wars titles. The decision has drawn strong criticism from former employees and industry figures, with many lamenting the loss of BioWare's legacy in RPGs like Dragon Age and Mass Effect.
Game industry legend Warren Spector blows up over BioWare's closure: 'it's utter bulls**t'
Game industry veteran Warren Spector expressed strong disapproval over the closure of BioWare, calling it "utter bullshit" and criticizing the executives involved. He highlighted BioWare's significant contributions to the medium and questioned why those who "do real work" are consistently laid off while C-suite executives receive massive compensation.
Lucasfilm är mer flexibla med vilka som får göra Star Wars-spel
Lucasfilm is adopting a more flexible strategy for Star Wars game development, aiming to partner with a wider range of studios, including smaller and less conventional ones. While large AAA titles like Battlefront remain crucial, the company is open to AA projects and diverse genres to best fulfill the Star Wars fantasy.
BioWare's cancelled Mass Effect game would've learned from Baldur's Gate 3 and The Witcher to deliver "a level of autonomy and choice that no other game has"
Electronic Arts has closed its BioWare studio partner, impacting around 50 staff who were in pre-production on the next Mass Effect game. A BioWare veteran shared that the cancelled project aimed to deliver unprecedented player autonomy and choice, learning from titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and The Witcher.
Over '30 million rounds of PvE were played' over the last week in Arc Raiders but Embark still needs 'a bit of time to understand what the data is telling us'
Embark Studios has concluded a week-long Player versus Environment (PvE) test for Arc Raiders, during which over 30 million rounds were played. The developer is now analyzing the extensive data and player feedback to determine the future of PvE in the game. While the test has been described as polarizing, the recent Frozen Trail update and the PvE test have significantly boosted player counts and positive sentiment for Arc Raiders.
