Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Former Wreckreation team starts up new studio working on sequel
Fiona Sperry, former head of Three Fields Entertainment, has announced a new studio called When Tides Turn, which aims to create a sequel to the studio's previous game, Wreckreation. Sperry plans to develop the game openly, involving the community in the process. This follows the financial difficulties that led to the redundancy of the Wreckreation team, with Sperry citing a lack of publisher support from THQ Nordic.
Less than a month after launching Empulse, it looks like Splitgate dev 1047 Games are laying off more staff
1047 Games, the developer behind Splitgate, has reportedly conducted a third round of layoffs following the recent launch of their new game, Empulse. Several employees have shared their departures on LinkedIn, citing the studio's ongoing financial difficulties. The exact number of affected staff is currently unknown.
Pocketpair lead tempts fate after Palworld 1.0, asks players what Pals should get new skins and obliterates those who…
Pocketpair's John Buckley playfully solicited ideas for new Palworld skins, only to be inundated with requests for a 'Sekhmet maid skin.' In response to the overwhelming community demand, Buckley humorously depicted himself using psychokinesis to obliterate fans who suggested the maid outfit, referencing the Watchmen character Doctor Manhattan.
Splitgate studio 1047 Games is laying off more people just a month after releasing its latest game
Developer 1047 Games has reportedly conducted a third wave of layoffs, affecting employees just a month after the release of their latest game, Empulse. This follows previous workforce reductions and struggles to replicate the success of their earlier title, Splitgate: Arena Warfare. Empulse, priced at $20, has not achieved significant player numbers on PC.
Hasbro Is Betting On Fewer, Bigger Video Games After $56 Million Write-Down
Hasbro has recorded a $56 million write-down related to its video game portfolio, leading to the cancellation of several titles planned for release in 2028 and beyond. CEO Chris Cocks outlined a new strategy focusing on fewer, bigger games, prioritizing owned intellectual property like Magic and Dungeons & Dragons, and concentrating investment on high-conviction titles and partnerships. While some projects like Exodus and Warlock remain on track for 2027, others, including a Dungeons & Dragons single-player action-adventure game, have been canceled.
What developers can learn from this generation of game criticism
This article analyzes the impact of video essays and online game criticism on game developers, contrasting it with traditional reviews and playtesting. While direct, actionable advice is rare, developers find inspiration and insight from creators like Mark Brown, Noah Caldwell-Gervais, and Jacob Geller, influencing their design philosophies and understanding of player experience.
Baldur's Gate and D&D owner Hasbro is down $56 million as its strategy of canceling almost everything…
Hasbro is reporting a $56 million loss on its digital games portfolio, leading to the cancellation of several unspecified titles planned through 2028. While Baldur's Gate 3 was a success, the company's broader strategy of investing in and then canceling projects has resulted in significant financial setbacks. CEO Chris Cocks stated the company is refocusing investments on franchises with the clearest upside.
Manor Lords' next beta update adds what all video games are sorely missing: cow breeding
Manor Lords is receiving a beta update by the end of the month that introduces cow breeding, allowing players to import, milk, and butcher cattle. The update also includes new features like pastures with construction costs, cheesemongers, categorized structures, improved construction site animations, oat cultivation, and a new map called Wide Valley.
Game and Mod Development
The article discusses emerging trends in indie game development, suggesting that significant innovation is originating from outside of traditional Western markets. It highlights the growing influence of developers from other regions in shaping the future of the indie gaming landscape.
Morning Interviews
This interview discusses Warframe and the broader landscape of live service games in 2026. Developers from Digital Extremes share insights into the ongoing evolution and challenges of maintaining a live service model.
Sunflower Land bakes its 2028 roadmap directly into the game
Sunflower Land has integrated its roadmap through 2028 directly into the game, allowing players to see upcoming chapters and content without needing external announcements. The blockchain farming title releases a new chapter every three months and has already pushed out over 1,871 updates since its launch in February 2023. This move strengthens the game's presence on the Ronin network following the debut of its FLOWER token.
The Witcher 4 won't be at Gamescom but Witcher 3’s new DLC will be
CD Projekt will debut a trailer for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's final DLC, 'Songs Of The Past,' at Gamescom, which is set to release in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. No updates are expected for The Witcher 4 at the event, with its release likely in 2028 or later. The company is also working on a remake of the first Witcher game and other projects within the franchise.
'We've Been Going Full Speed Ahead for Over 11 years': Nintendo Explains Why It Hasn't Made Splatoon 4 — Yet
Nintendo developers explained that the decision to release the cooperative spinoff Splatoon Raiders first, rather than Splatoon 4, was a deliberate choice after over 11 years of full-speed development. Splatoon Raiders is a new exclusive for the Nintendo Switch.
Developer of Burnout spiritual successor Wreckreation has formed a new studio working on a sequel
Three Fields Entertainment, the developer behind the arcade racer Wreckreation, has announced a sequel to the game and formed a new studio called When Tides Turn. Studio head Fiona Sperry stated that Wreckreation 2 is being developed with player feedback, focusing on handling, progression, and world design. The new studio will serve as the dedicated home for the Wreckreation franchise.
CD Projekt Red says The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past, Geralt's first expansion in a decade, will get a proper…
CD Projekt Red will reveal new information about The Witcher 3's upcoming expansion, Songs of the Past, during Gamescom 2026, including a guided presentation and details on the Opening Night Live stream. The expansion, developed in part by Fool's Theory, is slated for a 2027 release and marks Geralt's first major addition in over a decade.
Stars Reach says it’s ‘an update or so away’ from early access, promises ‘big chonky updates’ in the future
Sandbox MMORPG Stars Reach is nearing its transition from pre-alpha to alpha status, with the developers aiming for early access soon. Key development focuses include server stability, performance improvements, adding more in-game content like loot and clothing, and refining the game's economic loop. Upcoming updates will feature UI tweaks, new crafting stations, city rebuilding, and progress on the Fae race.
The Daily Grind: What are your early access MMORPG must-haves?
This opinion piece questions the value of early access MMORPGs, drawing on 16 years of industry experience. The author argues that gamers shouldn't bear the risk for profit-driven titles and outlines their personal must-haves for early access games, including feature completeness and a clear roadmap.
Another former Xbox studio is "independently owned, again" after Microsoft shut it down in 2024
Alpha Dog Games, a studio previously shut down by Microsoft in 2024, has reemerged as an independently owned entity. Studio founder Shawn Woods updated his LinkedIn profile to reflect the change, indicating the studio regained independence in May 2025. This follows a trend of studios becoming independent after Microsoft's recent closures and layoffs.
Nvidia finally reveals what controls devs actually have for DLSS 5, and don't worry folks, there are TWO main…
Nvidia has detailed the controls developers will have for its DLSS 5 AI upscaling technology, revealing two main sliders: 'structural intensity' and 'tone intensity'. These sliders modulate high-frequency details like reflections and low-frequency details like lighting, respectively, without altering game geometry. Developers can also mask specific objects for independent intensity adjustments, with further controls planned for the technology's launch this fall.
Unity 7 to release in 2027, helps devs "ship sharper graphics"
Unity has announced Unity 7, scheduled for release in Q1 2027 following a beta in December 2026. The new version aims to improve development speed with features like faster shader builds and near-instant Play Mode, alongside enhanced graphics capabilities such as dynamic global illumination and neural upscaling. It will also introduce new monetization tools and improved collaboration features for developers.
