Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
After earning $1 million on Steam from a game that took 4 months to make, stunned devs end up in Valve's coveted…
The indie game Sir, We Have an Orc Problem, developed by Mumpitz Games, has achieved over $1 million in gross revenue on Steam within its first week. The physics-based tower defense game, which took four months to develop, has sold over 128,000 copies and maintained a positive review score of 86%.
New Fallout game reportedly led by Josh Sawyer would be "good" for both Obsidian and Bethesda "in many ways," says former New Vegas creative lead
Former Fallout: New Vegas designer Chris Avellone expressed excitement over reports that Josh Sawyer is directing a new Fallout game at Obsidian Entertainment. Avellone believes this project would benefit both Obsidian and publisher Bethesda by potentially increasing the release cadence of major titles, given Bethesda's historically long development times. While John Gonzalez, a key writer for New Vegas, has returned to Obsidian, his specific role on the new Fallout project remains unclear due to recent Xbox restructuring.
‘This patch concludes the content we have for Book of Travels’: Might & Delight has sunsetted its tiny MMO
Swedish studio Might & Delight has announced the sunsetting of the online multiplayer component of their tiny MMO, Book of Travels. While servers are being turned off, the game will remain available in a single-player, offline mode for the community. The developers expressed regret that their full vision for the game was not realized but are thankful for the community's support and hope the offline version preserves the game's spirit.
Elite Dangerous attacks operations issues and teases its next new vessel
Frontier Developments has been working to address issues with Elite Dangerous' operations feature since its release last month, releasing patches and performing maintenance for reward weirdness, UI behavior, and latency. The studio is also teasing the game's next new vessel with a screenshot, with more details expected on August 6th, leading to speculation it will be a mining-centric planetary ship.
This Game Was Labeled A Success. Its Developer Laid Off 85% Of Staff 2 Months After Release.
Despite Netflix management labeling the FIFA World Cup Launch Edition as a successful cloud game release, its developer Refactor Games has laid off 85% of its staff, approximately 80 people. The studio's co-owner, Delphi Interactive, reportedly pulled funding after the game's launch in June. Developers were notified of the layoffs on July 31 and received no severance pay.
An All-Digital Future Isn’t The Only Threat To Video Game Preservation
Dragon Age creator Mark Darrah explains that remasters of the first three Dragon Age games are unlikely due to a lack of developers familiar with BioWare's proprietary Aurora engine. This contrasts with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which benefited from using the more common Unreal Engine. Darrah also reveals his past plans for a "Champion's Edition" trilogy, which were hampered by studio layoffs and internal disagreements at BioWare.
Rumours of an unannounced Elder Scrolls game are bogus, sadly
Rumors of an unannounced Elder Scrolls game have been debunked, with former Bethesda associate game designer Griffin DeClaire clarifying that his work was solely on The Elder Scrolls VI. DeClaire was laid off from Bethesda Game Studios, which is also in pre-production for Fallout 5 and continuing development on Fallout 76, alongside remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain studio CEO defends AI music video because Evie was originally "created from head to toe" by the devs, but fans say that's not the point
Shift Up CEO Kim Hyung Tae defended the studio's use of AI in a music video for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, stating the character Evie was created by human artists. He clarified that AI was used for rendering based on existing data, not for generating the character from scratch. Despite his explanation, fans remain critical, citing ethical concerns regarding labor and the perceived shortcut of using AI.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain's AI music video should be viewed with "understanding in mind", says studio boss
Shift Up CEO Kim Hyung Tae addressed player criticism regarding an AI-generated music video for Blood Rain, clarifying that the AI renders existing assets created by their artists. He emphasized the necessity of AI in game development to compete with the scale of Chinese studios, noting that 80% of Shift Up's revenue comes from overseas markets.
Evening Reading - August 3, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including reviews for Beast of Reincarnation and Marvel Rivals, updates on Gears of War: E-Day and Street Fighter 6, and announcements for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Palworld Online. The article also touches on business news regarding GameStop stock and discusses physical video game media.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Only Offers 4 Jobs Per Character, But Each Has A “Defined Role”
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed that each character will have only four distinct jobs, a departure from previous Final Fantasy titles with job systems. He explained that this limitation is due to the complexity of modern game development and the desire to ensure each job has a defined role and contributes significantly to the battle system's strategic depth. Despite the reduced number of jobs, the game will feature nine playable characters, resulting in a total of 36 unique FITS (Function Integrated Tactical Suitwear).
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation’s Ending Will Make Players “Glad” to Play Through the Series – Director
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi aims for the game to make players feel glad they experienced the entire Remake series, rather than just focusing on the ending. He indicated the ending might be faithful, entirely new, or unexpected, and that the trilogy will incorporate lore from various spin-offs like Advent Children and Dirge of Cerberus. While DLC is a possibility if fan demand is high, the core story will conclude with the main game.
Midnight Club 5 Was in Development With London Map Before Cancelation – Rumor
A former Rockstar Games designer revealed that Midnight Club 5 was in development with a London map before being canceled. The project faced internal conflicts between the New York and San Diego studios, leading to missed milestones and eventual cancellation. This decision also resulted in layoffs and a shift in focus towards the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
Who Should Lead Metal Gear Solid 6? The Fandom Can’t Agree
Fans are debating who should lead a potential Metal Gear Solid 6, as the franchise has featured multiple protagonists like Solid Snake, Big Boss, Raiden, and Venom Snake. Hideo Kojima's departure from Konami in 2015 complicates discussions, with some fans advocating for a reboot or a new protagonist like Meryl Silverburgh, while others believe the series should rest.
Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto says Super Mario Bros. is only good because it wasn't "done by one person…
Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario franchise, emphasizes that the success of Super Mario Bros. is due to collaborative development rather than a single person's vision. He highlights how game mechanics like the B-dash and the design of Cheep Cheep enemies emerged from team discussions and bug discoveries. Miyamoto also notes the importance of open communication, even banning headphones in the office to foster idea exchange among developers like Takashi Tezuka, Toshihiko Nakago, and Koji Kondo.
"I wouldn't have time to make the game while playing GTA 6," says Danganronpa creator, so obviously he…
Kazutaka Kodaka, the creator of Danganronpa, has stated that the upcoming Danganronpa 2x2 remake's release has been delayed to 2027 to avoid launching alongside Grand Theft Auto 6. Kodaka humorously explained that he wouldn't have time to develop his own game if he were playing Grand Theft Auto 6. The delay also allows for more development time on the remake, which will feature a 30-hour original mode and a 35-hour 'Slayhem' mode.
FIFA World Cup developer Refactor Games reportedly shuttered by Delphi Interactive
Refactor Games, a studio co-owned by Delphi Interactive, has reportedly been shut down shortly after releasing FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition for Netflix Games. Meanwhile, Atari reported significant revenue growth for its 2025-26 fiscal year, driven by acquisitions, though its consolidated group posted a net loss.
Corepunk’s AI-fueled ‘Game Master’ is delayed for more testing as the MMO suffers a rollback due to a bug
The AI-powered Game Master feature for the MMOARPG Corepunk has been delayed by developer Artificial Core for additional testing. This delay comes as a recent patch caused a bug in the game's honor system, forcing the studio to roll back the server. The Game Master feature is expected to be ready in approximately two more weeks.
Rockstar Games Killed Midnight Club 5 Because It Wasn't as Big as GTA, Ex-Designer Claims
An ex-Rockstar Games designer claims that the studio canceled Midnight Club 5 because it was not expected to achieve the same commercial success as the Grand Theft Auto franchise. This suggests a strategic focus on their most profitable series.
Exclusive interview: More than meets the eye: How Stern built its new Transformers pinball machine
Stern Pinball's new Transformers machine blends traditional pinball mechanics with modern video game development techniques, featuring complex software, online connectivity, and intricate mechanical engineering. Lead Game Designer Elliot Eismin and Lead Software Engineer Elizabeth Gieske discuss the challenges of integrating the Transformers license, balancing gameplay for different skill levels, and the evolution of pinball design.