Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Thick as Thieves is Getting No New Content, New Version With Peer-to-Peer Multiplayer in the Works
OtherSide Entertainment has announced that Thick as Thieves will not receive new content due to economic hardship and a significantly reduced team size. The studio is working on a peer-to-peer multiplayer version of the game to ensure its continued playability without dedicated servers. Publisher Megabit will take over maintenance after this update.
The Elder Scrolls 6’s Development Roadmap Hasn’t Been Affected by Layoffs, Says Bethesda
Bethesda Game Studios has stated that its development roadmap for The Elder Scrolls 6 remains unaffected by recent Xbox-wide layoffs, despite significant job losses across its studios. While the company assures progress is on track, former employees express concerns about the impact of losing experienced staff. Director Todd Howard and Xbox CCO Matt Booty have previously indicated the game is progressing well, though a release window remains unannounced.
A never-before-seen before Pokémon Diamond and Pearl documentary reveals early Pokémon designs
A previously unreleased documentary detailing the development of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl has been archived and made public. The documentary showcases early Pokémon designs, scrapped ideas, and beta concepts from the 2006 Nintendo DS game. This footage offers a rare look into the game's two-year development process by GAME FREAK.
Blizzard fires World of Warcraft game master who insta-killed bosses for friends
Blizzard Entertainment has fired a World of Warcraft game master who used their abilities to instantly kill bosses for friends during Mythic+ dungeons. Community manager Randy Jordan confirmed this was a violation of the Code of Conduct by a single employee and that action would also be taken against the complicit player accounts. Blizzard stated that the use of developer tools is logged and this incident was isolated, assuring players that such misuse is against company policy.
SEGA’s new legacy games will “retain the essence of the original while adapting it to modern tastes”
SEGA is reviving classic IPs such as Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, and Jet Set Radio, aiming to preserve their original essence while modernizing them. SEGA president and COO Shuji Utsumi expressed excitement for player reception to these upcoming remakes.
Ex-PlayStation Boss Calls For A Return To The Good Old Days Of AA Gaming
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden believes the current game development model is unsustainable due to ballooning budgets and a lack of diverse titles. He advocates for a return to the 'AA' gaming era of the PlayStation 1 and 2, aiming to create a publishing concern that supports smaller studios and offers more varied experiences for players.
Star Racer announced for Nintendo Switch
Whatnot Games has announced Star Racer, a retro-inspired combat racing game, is coming to Nintendo Switch. The game features high-speed races with combat elements, a track editor, and event races with changing rules. Legendary composer Grant Kirkhope is contributing music to the title.
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner can't remember why he green-lit Kingdom Hearts
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner admitted he cannot recall why he approved the pitch for the Kingdom Hearts video game series. Eisner, now an investor in Delphi Interactive, was questioned about the series' origins after a panel in New York. An anecdote from former Disney Japan employee Shuji Utsumi detailed the experimental nature of the pitch and the groundwork required for its approval.
Dev baffled as Valve pauses their Steam release to painstakingly review "dozens of untextured polygons depicting…
The indie game Future? No Thanks! has been delayed on Steam due to Valve's content review process, which is examining its depiction of nudity. Developer Molleindustria expressed frustration, noting that the mild nudity and the game's demo had previously passed review. The release is now pending the completion of Valve's assessment.
Disney’s Former CEO Seems To Have No Memory Of Approving Kingdom Hearts
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner appears to have no recollection of approving the creation of the Kingdom Hearts video game franchise. Despite being a pivotal figure in Disney's entertainment ventures from 1984 to 2005, Eisner stated he did not remember greenlighting the crossover title between Final Fantasy and Disney characters, which launched on PlayStation 2 in 2002.
Tsunku shares emotional story behind Rhythm Heaven Groove and why he stayed loyal to Nintendo
Musician Tsunku shared an emotional account of his loyalty to Nintendo, declining offers from other companies for over a decade to wait for the Rhythm Heaven series' return. He also detailed how Nintendo's continued development of Rhythm Heaven Megamix during his battle with laryngeal cancer provided him with hope and courage, acknowledging the similar struggles faced by Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata at the time.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced lead says datamining is "very clever," but don't put too much stock into those findings: "Sometimes they're just placeholders that were done 3 years ago"
Richard Knight, game director for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, acknowledges the cleverness of datamining but advises against over-reliance on findings, stating some unearthed assets may be old placeholders. He remained coy about datamined costumes, suggesting they might not be finalized content.
Miyamoto says Nintendo made new Yoshi and Star Fox games because of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Shigeru Miyamoto revealed that Nintendo's recent game development decisions for Star Fox and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book were directly inspired by the inclusion of their characters in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. This cross-inspiration also applied to Princess Peach: Showtime!, which influenced Peach's portrayal in the film. Nintendo is also planning a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Former Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs Director Likens Large-Scale Game Development to Working With 'Flaming Barrels Falling Down From a Construction Site,' Months After Parting Ways With Ubisoft
Former Ubisoft director Clint Hocking described leading large-scale game development teams as akin to working with 'flaming barrels falling down from a construction site.' Hocking, who previously worked on titles like Assassin's Creed and Watch Dogs, left Ubisoft months prior to making these comments.
Avatar: The Last Airbender fighting game delayed on Xbox just hours before release, but not on PS5 or Steam
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game has been delayed on Xbox Series X/S due to unforeseen backend issues, pushing its release to September 3. The game launched as planned on July 23 for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Developer Gameplay Group cited the delay was necessary for a critical backend feature, while also addressing past scrutiny regarding the involvement of Mike Zaimont.
Mario Dad Miyamoto Says Companies Prioritizing Short-Term Profit Gains “Feels Like A Massive Failure”
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto expressed disappointment with companies prioritizing short-term profits over long-term playability, stating it feels like a massive failure. He believes Nintendo's success stems from focusing on creating fun, unique gameplay experiences rather than chasing trends or maximizing immediate financial returns. Miyamoto emphasized that prioritizing gameplay leads to products with broader and more lasting appeal.
The Super Mario Galaxy movie is directly responsible for Switch 2 releases like the Star Fox remake, says Shigeru…
Shigeru Miyamoto revealed that the inclusion of Star Fox and Yoshi in The Super Mario Bros. Movie directly led to the development of the Star Fox 64 Remake and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. This synergy between film and game development is a strategy Nintendo plans to continue, as seen with upcoming titles like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake preceding its movie adaptation.
Amazon walks back comments about taking 007 off of IO, but does say 'anything's possible' when it comes…
Amazon has walked back previous comments suggesting that future 007 games might be developed by Amazon Game Studios, with general manager Jeff Gattis now stating that IO Interactive would likely develop a sequel given the success of 007 First Light. While Amazon owns the rights and may publish, Gattis also mentioned that anything is possible regarding Amazon acquiring IO Interactive, though no such conversations are currently happening.
Amazon “probably want IOI” developing a sequel to 007 First Light
Amazon Game Studios general manager Jeff Gattis suggested that IO Interactive would likely develop a sequel to the successful game 007 First Light, although no official discussions have begun. While Amazon MGM holds the rights to future James Bond video games, Gattis emphasized a desire to do what's best for the game and its creators. The original game sold 3 million copies in two weeks and a Nintendo Switch version is forthcoming.
Elder Scrolls Online’s Microsoft-induced ‘capacity’ issues bring an end to the web version of its cash shop
ZeniMax Online Studios is removing the web version of The Elder Scrolls Online's cash shop to manage team workload, a change attributed to Microsoft's recent layoffs. Players will still be able to purchase crowns and in-game items by logging into the game directly. This decision impacts content creators who relied on the web store for screenshots.
