Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Runewaker blames Runes of Magic’s content delay on ‘ugly bumps on the road’ but says it’s back on track
Runewaker has provided an update on the content delays for Runes of Magic, citing "ugly bumps on the road" as the cause. The studio confirmed that a new product manager has been hired and that previously teased content, including a level cap increase and new region, is still in progress. While a timeline remains unannounced, Runewaker assures players that the team is "back on track" and has shared new screenshots.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet "might need to be edited" to avoid "another Last of Us 2 situation," former Naughty Dog dev warns
Former Naughty Dog designer Benson Russell warns that the studio's upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, might need editing to avoid the prolonged development issues seen with The Last of Us Part II. Russell suggests Naughty Dog's current six-year development cycle for the new IP is unsustainable and could lead to a similar outcome if not managed effectively.
Deus Ex director Warren Spector is retiring after nearly 45 years in game dev
Veteran game developer Warren Spector, known for his work on Deus Ex and System Shock, is retiring after nearly 45 years in the industry. Spector announced his retirement via LinkedIn, citing changes in the game business and a desire to pursue writing, lecturing, and consulting. His most recent project, Thick as Thieves, was released with a significantly reduced scope.
Co-op survivalbox Aloft will deliver its last early access update, Discovery & Ancestry, on August 26
The co-op survival sandbox game Aloft will receive its final early access update, "Discovery & Ancestry," on August 26th. This update will introduce a new open world, survival challenges, character upgrades, and a new companion. Developer Astrolabe Interactive is also upgrading the game engine to Unity 6, which will improve performance and visuals as they continue development towards the 1.0 launch.
Pokemon Gamma Emerald solo dev spent 2 years working "12 hours a day" building their remake "from scratch," including 384,000 frames of animation
The solo developer behind the fan-made Pokemon Emerald remake, Pokemon Gamma Emerald, has shared details about their extensive two-year development process, working 12 hours daily and creating 384,000 animation frames. The free remake, built entirely from scratch, recently launched into early access with several quality-of-life improvements and new features.
Assassin's Creed 2 was supposed to cover Brotherhood's entire plot, but that was "way too ambitious to…
Ubisoft originally planned for the events of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood to be included in Assassin's Creed 2, but developers deemed it too ambitious for a single game. This decision led to Ezio's story being expanded across Brotherhood and Assassin's Creed: Revelations. The article also touches on Ubisoft's evolving multi-studio development approach over the years.
Epic Mickey director Warren Spector is retiring
Gaming industry veteran Warren Spector, known for his work on titles like Deus Ex and System Shock, and as the director of Epic Mickey, has announced his retirement. Spector cited age and health as reasons for his decision to step down from game development.
Sony’s Oasis-Loving CEO Thinks We’re Going To Crave Human-Made Art In The Age Of AI
Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki believes that while AI can enhance creativity, human-made art will remain essential and craved by consumers. He suggests that the industry must adapt to leverage AI rather than be threatened by it. This perspective contrasts with some industry figures who express concerns about AI's impact on originality and the value of human experience in art.
Interview: Mike Huguenor (Jeff Rosenstock) talks 'Surfing the Web With the Alien' video game — MP3s & NPCs
Musician Mike Huguenor discusses the creation of his retro side-scrolling game, 'Surfing the Web With the Alien: The Game,' inspired by the realities of touring. The game, set for release on Steam and Game Boy, aims to capture a DIY punk spirit. Huguenor also shares his thoughts on other games he enjoys and his desire to create music for a 'Silent Hill' title.
Raph Koster’s Kickstarted sandbox MMORPG Stars Reach officially enters early access today
Stars Reach, the sandbox MMORPG spearheaded by veteran developer Raph Koster, has officially entered early access today. Developed by Playable Worlds, the game offers deep social, political, and crafting content with a focus on player-driven world transformation. The early access period will last at least six months, with a progression wipe planned before the 1.0 launch, which will be free-to-play.
Former Tekken 8 director Kohei 'Nakatsu' Ikeda joins Katsuhiro Harada's VS Studio
Former Tekken 8 director Kohei Ikeda has announced he is joining Katsuhiro Harada's VS Studio. Ikeda expressed excitement about working with Harada again on new projects, following Harada's departure from Bandai Namco Entertainment and establishment of VS Studio in collaboration with SNK. This move reunites two key figures from the recent Tekken development team.
Star Citizen stream lifts veil on the $1 billion crowdfunded game's buggy state after 14 years in development, and neither devs nor fans seem impressed: "Such a s*** show"
Star Citizen, a crowdfunded space game in development for 14 years by Cloud Imperium Games, is facing renewed criticism following a recent livestream that showcased numerous bugs and development issues. The stream, featuring a private build, highlighted significant problems, leading to disappointment among both developers and the game's backers, with many expressing concerns about the project's future and the substantial funds raised.
Godot adoption is rising: what are devs getting out of the engine?
Godot is experiencing significant adoption growth among game developers, driven by its lightweight nature, fast testing capabilities, and open-source model. This trend accelerated following Unity's controversial runtime fee announcement, leading many developers to seek alternatives. Developers praise Godot for its quick startup times, efficient debugging, and ability to run on less powerful hardware, making it a viable tool for both hobbyists and commercial projects.
Three Epic veterans are building an AI-powered game engine to break the industry's doom cycle
Industry veterans Arjan Brussee, Sjoerd De Jong, and Michal Valient have founded Immens, a new company aiming to develop an AI-powered game engine to challenge established players like Unity and Unreal Engine. The engine will focus on extensibility and flexibility, allowing developers to customize workflows and integrate AI tools to streamline development and reduce costs. The team believes this approach is necessary to break the current cycle of increasingly expensive game development and foster more creativity and risk-taking in the industry.
Disastrous Star Citizen stream is the cringiest thing you'll see today
A recent livestream for the crowdfunded game Star Citizen, developed by Cloud Imperium Games, has been widely criticized for its embarrassing display of bugs and internal team tension. The stream, intended to showcase an upcoming mission, instead highlighted the game's technical issues and an uncomfortable work environment, drawing negative attention from the community and content creators.
Bain & Co: Research shows only one in five players seek out new titles
A report by Bain & Company indicates that two-thirds of players prefer familiar games or sequels, with only one in five actively seeking new titles. The research highlights that focused games targeting specific audiences are more commercially successful than generic ones, citing Baldur's Gate 3 as an example of success versus Concord's struggles. The report also touches on the growing adoption of generative AI in game production and its potential for understanding player behavior and personalization.
Deus Ex creator Warren Spector announces retirement – "it's time to ride off into the sunset"
Deus Ex creator Warren Spector has announced his retirement after more than 40 years in game development. Spector, who also worked on franchises like Thief, Ultima, and Epic Mickey, cited his long career and a desire to pursue other interests as reasons for his departure. He expressed hope for continued innovation in the industry from the next generation of developers.
Dusk Golem & Screenfire Germany: Resident Evil Veronica and Requiem DLC won’t be at Gamescom
Sources Dusk Golem and Screenfire Germany report that Resident Evil Veronica and the Resident Evil Requiem downloadable content will not be showcased at Gamescom. Resident Evil Veronica is reportedly in a deep crunch phase of development.
Star Citizen has a disastrously laggy stream with horrendous vibes, which isn't a great look when you're past…
Star Citizen's recent development stream for the Siege of Orison event was plagued by severe lag, desync issues, and unprofessional behavior from developers, leading to community backlash. The game, which has been in development for over a decade and crowdfunded over $1 billion, continues to face criticism for its prolonged early access period and functional problems despite high-priced in-game purchases.
Disney animation boss says "nothing is impossible" when it comes to making a Kingdom Hearts movie
Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, stated that "nothing is impossible" regarding the potential for a Kingdom Hearts movie. Meanwhile, Kingdom Hearts 4 is confirmed for a late 2027 release window, with creator Tetsuya Nomura teasing new ideas not seen in Kingdom Hearts 3. A Kingdom Hearts anime is also in development at Disney.
