Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
War Thunder makes plan for more active bomber play, more Nuclear Escalation gameplay, and new maps for the next patch
War Thunder is planning updates to improve bomber gameplay and the Nuclear Escalation mode in its next patch. The upcoming update will also introduce new vehicles, improved tooltips, a new sensor view, and a new battle map set in the Falklands.
Red Dead Redemption multiplayer launched with so many bugs, lead dev thought Rockstar was being hacked: "Is somebody trolling us? What's going on?"
Kris Roberts, lead multiplayer designer for Red Dead Redemption at Rockstar Games, recounted the chaotic launch of the game's multiplayer mode. He described experiencing severe bugs, including players riding chickens and flying, which led him to initially suspect the game was being hacked. The team eventually identified a bug involving resource-heavy gold bags from competitive modes appearing in free roam, which they fixed with a script deployed rapidly via title storage.
Active development on League of Legends fighting game spinoff 2XKO will be coming to an end at the end of the year
Riot Games is ending active development on its League of Legends fighting game spinoff, 2XKO, at the end of the year due to insufficient player adoption and retention. While servers will remain live beyond 2026, the game will become fully playable with all characters unlocked and purchases made before August 20th will be refunded. The final major patch in October will add Samira, following Lux's addition in September.
2XKO will end active development in December 2026
Riot Games has announced that active development for their fighting game 2XKO will cease in December 2026. While all remaining revealed content, including new characters Lux and Samira, will be released, the final content patch will arrive in October, followed by a last balance and bug fix update at the year's end. Servers will remain online after development concludes, and purchases made before August 20 will be refunded.
2XKO Is Ending Active Development Very Soon
Riot Games announced that active development for its free-to-play fighting game, 2XKO, will cease in December 2026 due to a lack of sustained player engagement. While content updates will end, the game's servers will remain online beyond 2026, and a final patch with new characters and improvements is planned for December. The company cited the difficulty of achieving sustainability in the competitive fighting game market as the primary reason for this decision.
Naughty Dog Never Treated The Last of Us Online as Filler — and Intergalactic’s Team Mostly Formed After the Cancellation
Naughty Dog's canceled multiplayer game, The Last of Us Online, was treated as a tentpole release rather than a filler project, according to Jason Schreier. Most of the team now working on the unannounced Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet only joined after The Last of Us Online was scrapped, having spent seven years in development before its cancellation at approximately 80% completion due to the challenges of live service support.
Whatever happened to 15-year-old equestrian MMORPG Star Stable?
The family-friendly equestrian MMORPG Star Stable is celebrating its 15th anniversary and remains actively developed by Star Stable Entertainment AB. Recent updates in 2024 and 2025 have focused on mechanics like jousting, overhauled equestrian centers, wardrobe features, and a new tack system. The studio is currently working on a more realistic show jumping mode for 2026, indicating the game is alive and well.
Resident Evil Veronica producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi attending Gamescom 2026
Resident Evil Veronica producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi is confirmed to be attending Gamescom 2026, despite rumors of crunch impacting the game's release date. His attendance has fueled speculation online about potential announcements regarding the game.
"Do questions like that create a self-fulfilling prophecy?”: Dishonored director Harvey Smith on the fear of asking if immersive sims are dead
Dishonored director Harvey Smith, alongside fellow leads Ben Horne and Ricardo Bare, discusses the current state and future of immersive sims. Smith questions whether the constant questioning of the genre's viability creates a self-fulfilling prophecy, while Horne emphasizes focusing on creative vision rather than chasing trends. They acknowledge the success of titles like BioShock and Deus Ex, and Smith pushes back against the notion that first-person games don't sell.
Fallout co-creator says devs should look to "bad games" for inspiration and not just "good" ones:…
Fallout co-creator Timothy Cain suggests that game developers should draw inspiration from "bad games" as well as successful ones. He argues that analyzing failures, particularly those affected by survivorship bias, can offer valuable lessons that are often overlooked when only focusing on popular titles.
Enshrouded 1.0 will make its hardest boss less of a "chore"
Keen Games is implementing significant changes to Enshrouded's final boss, the Fell Dragon Youngling, for its 1.0 launch on October 15. These updates, based on community feedback, aim to make the boss fight challenging but less of a "chore" by adjusting the arena, fixing bugs, and adding new combat mechanics. The developer is also reintroducing faster updrafts for gliders as an optional setting and improving NPC pathfinding and fishing mechanics.
What Goes Into A Game Price Tag?
The article explores the factors influencing video game pricing, from the standard $70 AAA price point to lower-cost indie titles. Experts and developers discuss how production costs, market demand, and pricing strategies impact a game's success, with examples like Grand Theft Auto 6 and Mina the Hollower illustrating different approaches. The piece highlights that while some games command premium prices, others thrive by offering lower entry points to reach a wider audience.
Vague Patch Notes: How do MMOs come back from bad launches?
This article analyzes how Massively Multiplayer Online games can recover from poor launches, emphasizing the critical role of leadership admitting fault and engaging with the player base. It contrasts successful turnarounds, like Final Fantasy XIV, with games that failed to gain traction, such as Ship of Heroes, highlighting that player perception must improve before the game itself can be fixed.
Former EA manager will "believe" the next Mass Effect is happening "when I see it" after $55 billion acquisition: "They can pull the plug very, very easily"
A former EA manager, Emmanuel Rosier, expressed skepticism about the future of Mass Effect 5 following Electronic Arts' acquisition by private investors. Rosier, now with Newzoo, stated that EA could easily cancel the project, especially if the new investors prioritize financial decisions over the studio's history. He noted that BioWare has struggled in recent years and that games can take a very long time to develop, citing Dragon Age: The Veilguard's lengthy development.
The live-service elements of Horizon Hunters Gathering are reportedly being stripped out following 'poor feedback' as new details emerge about several canceled PlayStation titles
Guerrilla Games is reportedly overhauling its upcoming live-service title Horizon Hunters Gathering, removing its multiplayer-focused features and shifting to a traditional cooperative multiplayer game with a story mode and smaller scope due to negative playtest feedback. This change comes as part of Sony's broader, and reportedly troubled, initiative to push its single-player focused studios into the live-service market, with several other PlayStation live-service projects, including a God of War game from Bluepoint and an online Spider-Man title from Insomniac, having been canceled.
Paradox has been cooking up some Stellaris "summer experiments," from megastructure upgrades to a full espionage rework
Paradox Interactive is experimenting with several new features for its space strategy game Stellaris, including potential reworks for espionage, megastructure upgrades, and trade deals. These 'summer experiments' are currently in beta testing for the 4.5 'Cygnus' update and are not guaranteed to be included in the final release. The developer is also exploring improvements to fleet design, empire creation menus, and flag customization.
Most Popular 2024 PlayStation 5 RPG Drops Stunning Sequel Gameplay Trailer
Game Science has released a 15-minute gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Zhong Kui, the sequel to their hit PlayStation 5 action RPG Black Myth: Wukong. Inspired by Chinese mythology, the new title features protagonist Zhong Kui battling demons with a blend of sword combat and elemental abilities, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 for visually impressive graphics. While the game is a long way from launch, it is confirmed to be in development for PC and consoles.
Hidetaka Miyazaki: “Nintendo is definitely the right partner” for The Duskbloods
Hidetaka Miyazaki stated that Nintendo is the ideal partner for his upcoming multiplayer game, The Duskbloods. He expressed this sentiment during an interview with IGN, where he also discussed the game's closed network test and the development relationship with Nintendo.
Deimos Storm - A WIP old school mech platformer for the Commodore Amiga AGA is demo'd
A demo has been released for Deimos Storm, an old-school mech platformer currently in development for the Commodore Amiga AGA. The game is being developed by Muzza (programmer) and lzardo2012 (artist), utilizing a custom engine after initial work on the Scorpion Engine. The demo showcases features like 50Hz scrolling and enemy updates, aiming for positive feedback despite past project confusion.
FromSoftware explains why The Duskbloods is Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive
FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki explained that The Duskbloods will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 due to a positive and forward-thinking collaboration with Nintendo. He highlighted Nintendo's strengths in player onboarding and tutorial design as key factors in the decision, contrasting it with FromSoftware's typical approach. The game is also set to receive gameplay leaks and will launch after Elden Ring on the platform.
