Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Playstation Book Shows Brand New Prototype Console Images
A new commemorative book, "PlayStation: The First 30 Years," reveals previously unseen prototype console images and design concepts from Sony's archives. The publication features accounts from key figures like Ken Kutaragi and includes photographs of experimental hardware and scrapped ideas.
As EA kills Mass Effect 5, BioWare co-founder slams "weird belief" you can "recreate great games with random people and AI" – "It doesn't work"
Following the cancellation of Mass Effect 5 and layoffs at BioWare, co-founder Greg Zeschuk criticized the industry's reliance on executives who lack game development experience and a "weird belief" in recreating games with AI. The article highlights concerns about morale at Electronic Arts amid ongoing layoffs and the publisher's embrace of AI tools.
Not all Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake devs have played the N64 original, series producer says – but "it's thanks to these young people" it was made
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake producer Eiji Aonuma stated that it was beneficial for some younger developers on the project to not have played the original Nintendo 64 game. He believes their fresh perspectives help modernize the game and make it more accessible. Aonuma also mentioned his interest in seeing what younger staff will imagine for future Zelda titles.
Modern Warfare 4 faces backlash after real footage of South Korean crowd crush tragedy was discovered in game's opening moments
Activision and Infinity Ward are facing backlash over the inclusion of real-world footage from the Itaewon Disaster in the opening moments of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Bereaved families and consumer groups are demanding the removal of the clips, which are used to depict fictional casualties during a North Korean invasion. Activision stated the footage was not intended to reference or trivialize any real-world tragedy.
600,000 animations are the appetizer: Rockstar gave GTA 6 NPCs meticulous personality traits to control how they react to you, and now I get why we've been waiting 13 years
Rockstar Games has developed approximately 600,000 unique animations for NPCs in Grand Theft Auto 6, aiming to give them individual personality traits and more realistic reactions to player actions. This meticulous attention to detail, involving a dedicated team and considering factors like temperament and player behavior, contributes to the game's depth and explains the long development cycle since Grand Theft Auto 5.
More Chinese success as Phantom Blade Zero enjoys a big launch and becomes one of Steam's most played games
Phantom Blade Zero has achieved significant success following its release, reaching over 431,000 concurrent players on Steam and topping the global best-sellers chart. Early reviews are mostly positive, with estimates suggesting over 1 million copies sold across PC and PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, Epic Games is doubling down on its use of controversial AI tools for game development, including Fortnite and Unreal Engine 6, despite developer and community concerns.
The five golden rules of external development
Code Wizards, an external development partner with 24 years of experience, outlines five golden rules for successful collaboration in game development. These include building trust from day one, maintaining flexibility to adapt to evolving game designs, prioritizing clear and over-communication, understanding and openly discussing team strengths and weaknesses, and prioritizing the well-being and happiness of people, as happy teams create better games.
GTA 6's NPCs have about 600,000 animations, as well as personality traits that take 'demographic and professional' variables into account
Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature incredibly complex NPCs with approximately 600,000 animations and personality traits that influence their behavior based on demographics, profession, and player interaction. Rockstar Games dedicated a specialized team to develop these intricate characters, aiming for a more individually realized world.
'I feel like we've built a pyramid on Everest' says Rockstar of GTA 6 meeting impossible expectations
Rockstar Games' head of development Aaron Garbut discussed the immense pressure and expectations surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6, comparing the development challenge to building a pyramid on Everest. The article highlights Rockstar's commitment to scale, detail, and interactivity, drawing parallels to the systemic depth seen in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Features Around 600,000 Animations Just for NPCs
Rockstar Games has revealed that Grand Theft Auto 6 features approximately 600,000 animations dedicated solely to non-player characters (NPCs). These animations will dynamically adapt based on player actions, environmental factors, and the time of day, aiming to create a more lifelike world than seen in Red Dead Redemption 2. The game is set to release on November 19th for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Phantom Blade Zero Director Discusses The “Extraordinary Journey” of its Development
Phantom Blade Zero's game director, Liang, shared insights into the game's extensive development journey, highlighting its origins in a hobby project and the team's dedication. The article touches on the game's wuxia themes, technological advancements, and the creative process, celebrating the studio's accomplishments and the positive reception of the title.
Roblox users have wholesale ripped off games like Counter-Strike, Superhot, and Simpsons Hit and Run
A report highlights how users on the Roblox platform are allegedly using AI tools to create experiences that wholesale copy popular games like Counter-Strike, Superhot, and The Simpsons Hit and Run. Some of these experiences recreate entire games, including licensed titles, leading to accusations of plagiarism and potential legal issues for Roblox.
"AAA publishers are abusing Early Access," RPG dev says, and Steam games like Subnautica 2 and Path of Exile have warped "the landscape and players' expectations"
Denis Dyack, CEO of Apocalypse Studios, argues that AAA publishers are abusing the Early Access model, leading to skewed player expectations that disadvantage independent developers. He cites Subnautica 2 and Path of Exile as examples of games that have changed the landscape, making it harder for smaller teams like his own with Deadhaus Sonata to gain market impact. While acknowledging Early Access's potential for experimentation, Dyack believes its current use by large publishers undermines its collaborative purpose.
Valve says devs can fight AI clones on Steam by not "relying on a single mechanic that someone can easily copy," and report extortion to law enforcement while you're at it
Valve has advised game developers on Steam to prioritize originality and add unique features to combat AI-generated game clones. In response to reports of extortion attempts where AI users threaten to clone games if not paid, Valve business team members suggested developers report such threats to law enforcement in extreme cases, while also noting that Valve will investigate further.
Valve admits Steam has an AI slop and cloning problem, but says 'we don't want to be gatekeepers telling developers which tools they should or shouldn't use'
Valve has acknowledged a significant problem with AI-generated 'slop' and game cloning on Steam, which is impacting developers and choking events like Steam Next Fest. While aware of the issue, including reports of extortion threats, Valve stated they do not want to act as gatekeepers dictating which tools developers can use. Instead, they suggest developers focus on building strong communities and continually adding unique features to their games to stand out.
Backrooms director Kane Parsons is currently working on '3 dream projects' while wearing a Valve…
Director Kane Parsons, known for The Backrooms film, revealed in an interview that he is working on three new dream projects. While one is rumored to be a sequel to The Backrooms, another potential project involves Valve, with Parsons expressing admiration for their experimental approach and the influence of the Portal games on his work.
WoW: Forever Content Updates Will Come Slower Than You Might Expect
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed that World of Warcraft: Forever will adopt a content update schedule of roughly every four months, a slower pace than the current eight-week cycle of modern WoW and the rapid updates of WoW Classic's Season of Discovery. Principal game designer Kris Zierhut explained this approach aims to balance player engagement with development resources, avoiding both content droughts and overly frequent, potentially buggy patches. Some content will still unlock incrementally between major updates.
"This company has been driven into a wall for years" - Life is Strange studio Don't Nod faces unrest while teetering on insolvency
French studio Don't Nod, known for Life is Strange, is facing deep unrest and has entered safeguard proceedings to avoid insolvency. The company is undergoing significant restructuring, including substantial layoffs, while attempting to complete its in-development game codenamed P14 through increased outsourcing. Employees report a prolonged period of uncertainty and anxiety, with management's decisions criticized for negatively impacting staff health and livelihoods.
"We are more concerned about the risks of moving too slowly": Epic get more specific about genAI use in Unreal Engine and Fortnite development
Epic Games is actively integrating generative AI into the development of Unreal Engine and Fortnite, according to executive vice president Marcus Wassmer. Tools like Claude Code and Codex are being used to eliminate bugs, compress shaders, and refactor code, significantly speeding up development cycles. Epic prioritizes rapid adoption of AI over skepticism, aiming to maintain a competitive edge in the industry.
Project Zomboid finally has working ladders and useful crowbars, as its developer begins a new era for updates
The Indie Stone has released a new update for Project Zomboid, introducing functional ladders and allowing crowbars to be used for their intended purpose, such as opening locked doors and windows. This update also signifies a shift in the developer's update strategy, moving towards a 'pre-release' branch for testing before stable builds, aiming for shorter testing periods.
