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Evening Reading - July 13, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers various gaming news items including QuakeCon 2026, Games Done Quick, and updates on games like Palworld and Soulframe. It also touches on the revival of the Turok franchise and mentions the cancellation of an SNK-sponsored stream due to ownership concerns.
Games Inbox: What will be the next Nintendo remake after Zelda: Ocarina Of Time?
Readers discuss potential future Nintendo remakes following the success of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced and the anticipated Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. There is also speculation about FromSoftware's next project and a desire for id Software to perfect its modern Doom titles. The discussion also touches on the shift to digital distribution and the future of physical media.
Compulsion Games Seeks Collaborations
Compulsion Games has announced its return to independent development following its emancipation from Xbox. The studio is actively seeking collaborations with other entities in the industry.
Koei Tecmo CEO Didn’t Have “Any Real Expectations” From Pokémon Pokopia
Koei Tecmo President and CEO Hisashi Koinuma expressed a strong sense of accomplishment regarding the success of Pokémon Pokopia, despite having low expectations before its launch. He noted that positive reception from overseas media contributed to its strong performance, and indicated that successful past collaborations may pave the way for future spin-off titles.
Taking Too Long to Release a Game Could Harm its Potential For Success, Says Ubisoft
Ubisoft's financial report discusses the risks of both premature and delayed game releases in the current market. The company noted that extended development cycles can harm a game's potential success by causing market anticipation to wane or standards to shift. While no specific titles were named, the report comes amid ongoing development for the Far Cry franchise, with rumors suggesting a new entry will feature PvEvP elements and extraction shooter mechanics.
Kingdom Hearts 4 Could Receive New Details as Series Deep Dive Announced for August 15th at D23 2026
Square Enix has announced a "Deep Dive Into Kingdom Hearts" event for August 15th, 2026, at D23, to commemorate the series' 25th anniversary. While new details for Kingdom Hearts 4 are anticipated, its release is still projected for 2027 or later, with confirmed platforms including Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
Dying Light: The Beast is No Longer Coming to PS4 and Xbox One Because of Hardware Constraints
Techland has announced that Dying Light: The Beast will no longer be released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One due to hardware limitations. The game was designed to leverage the power of current-generation consoles, and bringing it to previous-generation platforms would have required unacceptable compromises. Refunds are available for pre-orders on those platforms.
South of Midnight Developer is Looking for Studios to Collaborate With
Compulsion Games, now an independent studio after being released from Xbox, is seeking collaboration partners for its next project. The studio, which developed the BAFTA and Peabody Award-winning game South of Midnight, aims to leverage its talent and expertise while securing funding. This announcement follows recent layoffs at Xbox and the independent transitions of other former Xbox studios like Undead Labs, Double Fine Productions, and Ninja Theory.
Resident Evil Requiem DLC is Large and Story-Focused, Coming After Veronica – Rumor
A new rumor suggests that the upcoming downloadable content for Resident Evil Requiem will be a substantial, story-focused expansion, comparable in scope to Separate Ways and Shadow of Rose. This DLC is reportedly delayed and will release after the rumored Resident Evil Veronica remake. Capcom is reportedly investing in longer, more experimental story DLCs for its Resident Evil titles to address performance issues with side games and fill release schedules.
“Losing Key Talents and Skills” is a Major Risk, Says Ubisoft Amidst Layoffs
Ubisoft has acknowledged the significant risk of losing key talent and skills amidst ongoing layoffs, as detailed in its annual financial report. The company is implementing succession plans and retention strategies for critical roles to mitigate the impact of departures in a competitive industry. Additionally, Ubisoft is partnering with colleges to improve recruitment and is addressing the challenges of releasing games too early or too late.
Palworld Developer is Thinking About How it Can Expand on the Game’s World
Pocketpair is considering expanding the Palworld universe with potential spin-off titles, including Palworld: Palfarm, while emphasizing that Palworld itself is not a live service game. The studio's head of publishing, John Buckley, stated that they are experimenting with new ideas to grow the game's world beyond its current scope, even after the successful 1.0 launch which introduced significant new content and Pals.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Development Began 6 Months After the Base Game’s Launch
Capcom has revealed that development on the Dragon's Dogma 2 expansion, Dark Arisen, began approximately six months after the base game's launch, driven by passionate player feedback. Producer Naoto Oyama and director Kento Kinoshita discussed the expansion's focus on new combat, a new region, and over 25 hours of content. The update also removes most microtransactions and adds features like the Eternal Ferrystone for infinite fast travel.
Stardew Valley was almost canceled after Eric Barone's PC died without backups: "It feels crazy that it all…
Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone revealed that the beloved farming simulator was nearly canceled due to a PC crash that resulted in data loss, as he had no backups. He was eventually able to recover the project from an old hard drive, allowing development to continue. Barone also discussed the ongoing development of his next game, Haunted Chocolatier, noting it is taking a long time to ensure quality.
Newly Independent Compulsion Games Is Looking to Work With Other Studios
Compulsion Games has become an independent studio following Microsoft's acquisition and is now seeking new collaborations with other game development studios. The company aims to leverage its creative talent by forming partnerships.
Ubisoft says it's going a little quiet after Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced ahead of "significantly…
Ubisoft has announced a period of relative quiet following the release of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, with a lighter slate of new games expected until fiscal year 2027-2028. The company anticipates a significant increase in its content pipeline for major brands like Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Ghost Recon in the following years, alongside an acceleration of its live service operations.
Ubisoft says "releasing a game too late" could "hinder its success" as Far Cry 7 wait settles into…
Ubisoft stated in its financial report that releasing games too late can harm their success due to waning market anticipation and competition. The company acknowledged that overly long development cycles can damage a game's reputation and lead to player loss. This comes as fans await Far Cry 7, Ghost Recon, and Beyond Good and Evil 2, with Ubisoft also undergoing significant layoffs.
Dev defends short games after criticizing Steam for making it easy to refund them: "I will never stretch out a game…
Developer Mateo Covic defends the creation of short games and argues against the perceived pressure to extend playtime solely to avoid Steam's refund policy. While acknowledging the exploitability of the refund system, Covic maintains that games should be released when they are ready, regardless of length, and that short, fun, and affordable games have a valid audience.
LA Noire Could Have Featured A Different, Very Famous, And More Expensive Lead Actor
A writer for the 2011 game LA Noire has revealed that actor Jon Hamm was considered for the lead role of Cole Phelps, though Aaron Staton was ultimately chosen. While Hamm was a more expensive option, the writer felt Staton better captured the character's specific nuances. The article also touches on the game's development by Team Bondi, its various platform releases, and the ongoing discussion about a potential sequel.
Slay The Spire 2 Is Choosing “Shit” Art Over Generative AI
Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano explains the decision to use intentionally crude, MS Paint-style placeholder art in Slay the Spire 2 instead of generative AI. This approach sets player expectations for the early access title, maintains authorial intent in the art process, and injects personality into the game. While the studio uses AI for code review and as a thesaurus, they firmly reject generative AI for art due to its lack of expression and potential to harm reputation.
One week after going independent in the Xbox bloodbath, South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games is looking for work
Compulsion Games, the developer of the BAFTA and Peabody Award-winning title South of Midnight, has announced it is seeking new collaborations after becoming independent following recent layoffs at Xbox. Microsoft, which acquired Compulsion in 2018, allowed the studio to go independent rather than closing it. The studio is leveraging its experience in creating original intellectual property to partner with other companies in the games and entertainment industry.
