Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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These devs have been building the perfect platformer for 22 years, and the Steam apocalypse won't stop them now: "Video games have always been about a small team of sickos doing something"
Metanet Software, led by Mare Sheppard and Raigan Burns, is releasing N Plus Infinity Times Two, a new multiplayer-focused platformer, after 22 years of developing the N series. The developers discuss the challenges and evolution of the indie game scene, including the impact of digital distribution and the 'indiepocalypse,' while highlighting the enduring appeal of small teams creating unique experiences. They also touch upon the importance of government funding in Canada for supporting indie development.
Newly discovered Demon's Souls prototype footage reveals a scrapped first-person mode
Newly discovered footage from a 2007 developer presentation reveals that Demon's Souls originally had a selectable first-person mode. Dataminer Lance McDonald found the prototype gameplay, which also showed differences in the third-person camera controls and cut content like snake-headed enemies.
GTA Online will still be supported alongside GTA 6, but don't expect to hear about a new version soon
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed that Grand Theft Auto Online will continue to be supported alongside the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6. While Rockstar Games has not detailed plans for a new iteration of the online component, Zelnick stated that significant resources are dedicated to its ongoing development and support. Pre-order numbers for Grand Theft Auto 6 are reportedly exceptional, though Zelnick urged caution until the game's official release.
How Two Point Studios Repaid Sega in 60 Hours — and Stayed 10 Years
Two Point Studios achieved remarkable financial success with Two Point Hospital, repaying Sega's advance in just two and a half days, far exceeding the initial 18-month projection. The studio, founded by veterans of Lionhead Studios, focused on creating simulation games with charm and depth, a genre they believed was underserved. This success led to a long-term partnership with Sega, with Two Point Studios remaining a valuable first-party developer.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Developer Diary is All About the Sweeping Soundtrack
A developer diary for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve highlights the game's sweeping soundtrack and how its music is designed to evoke specific emotions. The flight combat sim is set to release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on October 2.
FromSoftware sleuth unearths earliest footage of Demon's Souls to date: A prototype with a first person camera mode
Investigator Lance McDonald has uncovered early internal footage of FromSoftware's Demon's Souls, dating back to a 2007 Sony event. This prototype features a first-person camera mode, a locked player model camera, and enemies not present in the final release. The footage provides a fascinating glimpse into the game's development and its potential to be a very different experience.
Newly Discovered Demon's Souls Prototype Footage Shows Scrapped First-Person Option
Newly discovered footage from a 2007 presentation reveals that Demon's Souls originally had a scrapped first-person perspective option. The footage was shared by dataminer Lance McDonald, who is also known for his work on Elden Ring.
Quoteworthy
A former Id Software developer claims that Xbox does not understand the artistic aspects of game development. The article discusses the developer's perspective on the platform holder's approach to games.
Evening Interviews
Paralives Studio expressed surprise at the community's creativity, noting that many features players are requesting have not yet been developed. This highlights the strong engagement and imaginative input from the game's player base.
AI Yi-Yi!
Take-Two Interactive's CEO stated that AI tools will not replace human developers, despite concerns raised by leaks of Google AI potentially revealing internal development plans. The article touches on the broader implications of AI in the gaming industry.
Rare Demon's Souls prototype shows off first-person perspective, unused enemies that could have rewritten Dark Souls history: "Like watching the mona lisa being painted"
A rare 2007 prototype presentation for Demon's Souls, developed by Japan Studio and FromSoftware, has revealed early concepts including a first-person perspective and unused enemies. The prototype showcased the game's potential for photorealistic graphics and highlighted the importance of online connectivity, drawing parallels to FromSoftware's later titles like Dark Souls and Elden Ring.
MoG 2.0: Onchain Heroes Tears Down Maze of Gains and Builds It Again
Onchain Heroes has completely rebuilt its game Maze of Gains, rebranding it as MoG 2.0. This new version features a complete overhaul of combat, progression, and rooms, moving away from luck-based survival to strategic enemy pattern learning. The NFT requirement from the first playtest has been removed for the second, which is now open to all players.
AI Tools Aren’t Going To Replace Anyone, Says GTA 6 Publisher Boss
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that AI tools will not replace human employees in game development, emphasizing creativity as a core pillar. While acknowledging AI's potential to enhance creativity and game quality, he believes it won't significantly lower development costs or lead to layoffs. Zelnick also confirmed Grand Theft Auto 6 remains on track for its November 19 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, with preorders described as unprecedented.
Sea of Thieves decouples feature sets from seasons to make sure new ideas are finished before release
Sea of Thieves is changing its development approach to decouple feature releases from seasonal schedules, aiming to ensure new ideas are fully realized before launch. Production Director Drew Stevens explained that future seasons will not be tied to specific feature sets, allowing them to roll out as they are completed. This shift follows a period where the game was described as being in a 'rough place,' with the team now focused on revitalizing the sandbox and giving new features adequate development time.
Pokemon artist behind iconic Gen 9 'mons also designed a Deltarune Chapter 5 character, though Toby Fox "made…
Pokemon artist Hitoshi Ariga, known for designing characters like Ogerpon and Sneasler, also contributed to Deltarune Chapter 5. While Ariga designed a fox-like character, Deltarune creator Toby Fox made modifications to fit the game's aesthetic. Ariga has a long history in game development, including work on Illusion of Gaia and Streets of Rage 2, and has been designing Pokemon since 2013.
Roadmaps and Plans
The latest devlog for Celestial Return details over 600 adjustments made to the game. This update focuses on the 'Mandate Order' system, providing a comprehensive record of changes.
Midday Postmortems/Retrospectives
This article delves into the development process of 'Dawn of the Machine' for Quake, offering insights from Bethesda Slayers Club. It provides a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of this Quake content.
The Sandbox Opens $7,500 “Overgrown” AI Creator Game Jam on August 12
The Sandbox is launching its "Overgrown" AI Creator Game Jam on August 12, 2026, utilizing its new AI-driven creation toolkit. The event offers a $7,500 prize pool, with Larry Hryb serving as lead judge, aiming to democratize game creation on the platform.
Dragon Age was always "too niche, too backwards, too old-school" in EA's eyes, former BioWare lead argues
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah argues that Electronic Arts never truly understood the Dragon Age franchise, viewing it as "too niche, too backwards, too old-school" compared to Mass Effect. This alleged misunderstanding led to reported corporate intervention and development shifts, including the eventual reboot of Dragon Age 4 into what became Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which reportedly did not meet sales expectations.
Fenris Creations recaps EVE Online and EVE Vanguard’s Operation Avalon, hires Icelandic politician for ‘AI alignment’
Fenris Creations, formerly CCP Games, has released a recap of the recent Operation Avalon event, which integrated EVE Online and EVE Vanguard players. The company also announced the hiring of former Icelandic Minister Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir as Senior Director, AI Partnerships, to lead initiatives for EVE Frontier, focusing on AI research and collaboration.
