Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Doom director Hugo Martin says id Software is fine, and anyway, 'what matters the most is that the games are…
id Software studio director Hugo Martin addressed concerns about the studio's size and capabilities following recent Xbox layoffs. He stated that the studio is currently the same size as it was during the development of Doom 2016 and that the idTech engine remains active, with engineers in both Frankfurt and at MachineGames. Martin also commented that successful games benefit everyone, including those who were let go.
Marathon Director Joe Ziegler leaves Bungie
Joe Ziegler, the director of Bungie's Marathon, has announced his departure from the studio, with Del Chafe III taking over as the new game director. Ziegler expressed gratitude to the team and players for their support during the game's development and release. He also mentioned having a new role lined up at another company.
Diablo IV continues its week-long battle with mythic item drop rate problems
Blizzard Entertainment is addressing ongoing player complaints regarding extremely low drop rates for mythic items and issues with crafting them in Diablo IV's latest season. Live service design director Dan Tanguay has outlined upcoming patches aimed at increasing mythic item drops from specific bosses and caches, and removing equip limits from mythic uniques.
Star Atlas Rolls Out SAGE C4 Phase Two With Combat V2 and the Nemesis Engine
Star Atlas has launched Phase Two of its SAGE C4 play-test realm, introducing significant gameplay updates including Combat V2, new NPC mechanics powered by the Nemesis Engine, and regional governance features. This phase emphasizes player progression through a sped-up Council Rank system and zXP tracking, with the goal of rigorous community testing before the official launch.
Konami offered Evil Empire a full Castlevania game over a Dead Cells DLC pitch
Evil Empire initially approached Konami to develop a Castlevania downloadable content (DLC) for Dead Cells. Konami instead proposed that Evil Empire develop a full Castlevania game, leading to the creation of Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, which is set to release in October 2026.
ZA/UM Studios to lay off up to 32 workers two months after releasing Zero Parades: For Dead Spies
ZA/UM Studio, the developer behind Disco Elysium and Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, is laying off up to 32 employees across all departments. The company cited that while Zero Parades received critical acclaim, its commercial performance did not meet expectations, making it unsustainable to maintain the current studio size. This follows a history of internal disputes and previous layoffs at the company.
Todd Howard Addresses “Fan Chatter” About Bethesda-Obsidian Rivalry Conspiracies
Bethesda boss Todd Howard has addressed fan theories about a rivalry between Bethesda Game Studios and Obsidian Entertainment, stating that there is significant mutual respect between the studios. He confirmed that Bethesda is looking for opportunities to collaborate with Obsidian again, noting their past work on Fallout: New Vegas and Obsidian's current development of a new Fallout game. Howard also mentioned that Fallout 5 is in pre-production, with remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas planned, and a prequel story for Fallout 3 coming to Fallout 76.
Marathon game director leaves Bungie just 4 months after launch: 'I'll be heading to something new, somewhere…
Joe Ziegler, the game director for Bungie's recently released Marathon, has announced his departure from the company just four months after the game's launch. Del Chafe III will take over as game director, with Ziegler stating he is moving on to a new opportunity. Ziegler's exit, along with that of design lead Lars Bakken, comes at a critical time for Marathon, which is struggling with player counts and is undergoing significant changes including the introduction of PvE gameplay.
After 12 Years, EA Is (Mostly) Nudging The Sims 4 In The Right Direction
Electronic Arts is making efforts to improve The Sims 4's performance and address long-standing bugs, focusing on base-game patches and bug fixes after years of releasing DLC. Recent announcements detail upcoming patches aimed at optimizing performance, reducing save-data corruption, and improving Sim autonomy, though concerns remain about the core task execution and general Sim behavior.
Bethesda Boss Talks Elder Scrolls 6, Fallout 5, Xbox Layoffs, And More
Bethesda Game Studios head Todd Howard provided updates on multiple upcoming projects, confirming that The Elder Scrolls 6 is the studio's primary focus and Fallout 5 is in pre-production. He also revealed that Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas will receive full remakes, and that Starfield will get a Starborn DLC. Howard also touched on the recent Xbox layoffs and the ongoing development of Bethesda's franchises.
Bethesda on Starfield; TES; and Fallout 5, Fallout 76, and Remasters of Fallout 3 & New Vegas
Bethesda Game Studios has issued a statement to reassure fans about future plans for its major franchises, including Starfield, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. This comes amid significant changes at parent company Microsoft. The studio also mentioned potential remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, alongside ongoing support for Fallout 76.
Bethesda make huge promises for The Elder Scrolls and Fallout - now it has to deliver
Bethesda Game Studios has outlined its future plans, confirming development on The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5, with the former being the primary focus and the latter in pre-production. The studio also announced remasters for Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, a new Fallout project from Obsidian Entertainment, and continued support for Starfield and Fallout 76, including a major expansion titled Raven Rock planned for 2027.
Overwatch stopping work on Stadium may be an even bigger fumble than PvE
Blizzard Entertainment has ceased development on Overwatch's Stadium game mode, with only 6% of the player base engaging with it. The author expresses sadness over the decision, highlighting Stadium's potential as an experimental space for creative ideas, some of which were originally intended for the canceled PvE mode. The article argues that canceling Stadium is a greater fumble than the PvE mode's cancellation due to its proven traction and popularity during its launch week.
Todd Howard says 'the timing is right' for a collaboration with Obsidian
Bethesda Game Studios and Obsidian Entertainment are collaborating on a new Fallout project, with franchise director Todd Howard confirming the partnership. This marks a return to collaboration for the studios, who previously worked together on Fallout: New Vegas. The announcement comes amidst recent layoffs at Xbox and its studios, including Obsidian and Bethesda.
Todd Howard says layoffs at Bethesda were "really tough": "We're going through a change so that we…
Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard described the recent layoffs at the studio as "really tough," acknowledging the impact on long-term employees. These cuts, part of broader Xbox staff reductions, are reportedly pushing Bethesda to focus on key franchises like The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5. The news comes amid discussions about the future of Fallout titles and remasters, with fans expressing concern over the impact of these layoffs on game development.
Game of Thrones: War for Westeros delayed to early 2027
Developer PlaySide has announced that Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, a real-time strategy game, has been delayed to early 2027. The studio aims to ensure the game meets the high quality standards expected by both RTS players and Game of Thrones fans. The game will allow players to lead various houses and factions from the series.
Todd Howard Dismisses 'Fan Chatter' About Purported Rivalry Between Bethesda and Obsidian as the New Vegas Developer Starts Work on a New Fallout Game
Todd Howard has dismissed fan speculation about a rivalry between Bethesda Game Studios and Obsidian Entertainment. This comes as Obsidian begins work on a new Fallout game, following their previous work on Fallout: New Vegas.
Tencent’s Final Fantasy XIV Mobile is sunsetting in China and the global version is now canceled
Tencent and Square Enix have canceled the development of Final Fantasy XIV Mobile. The game will cease operations in China on September 30, 2026, and will not be released globally. This decision was made due to business adjustments and market environment changes.
"I feel totally unbothered" - Deborah Ann Woll doesn't care about the trolls taking shots at God Of War Laufey
Actress Deborah Ann Woll remains unbothered by negative online criticism directed at the upcoming game God of War Laufey and her portrayal of the character. Despite some misogynistic comments focusing on her appearance and the in-game model, Woll stated she is not offended because she knows the game is great. The article also briefly mentions the game's potential 2027 release and the upcoming God of War TV series.
Fallout 5 is in pre-production at Bethesda Game Studios
Bethesda Game Studios has announced that Fallout 5 is officially in pre-production and will be built on the new Creation Engine 3. Studio director Todd Howard confirmed the news, stating that while the game is a "long-range destination," the studio is also prioritizing The Elder Scrolls 6. Additionally, remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are confirmed, along with a new Fallout game being developed with Obsidian Entertainment.
