Game Development
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"There is a magic to what Rockstar does," former GTA 5 dev says ahead of GTA 6, "I just wish they could…
Former Rockstar Games developer John Ricchio discusses the studio's approach to game development, particularly concerning crunch culture and employee burnout, ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6's release. While acknowledging the "magic" in Rockstar's successful titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption, Ricchio expresses a desire for these achievements to come at a lower human cost, noting that the company's ability to hire new talent can perpetuate demanding work conditions.
Former Xbox Studio Compulsion Games Says It's Open to Collaborations
Following negotiations that secured its independence amidst recent Xbox Game Studios layoffs, Montreal-based developer Compulsion Games has announced on LinkedIn that it is open to collaborations. The studio is seeking opportunities to work with other developers and publishers, potentially as a support studio on external projects.
Scars of Honor elaborates on its FirstWatch player tester group, gliding, and open world plans
Developer Beast Burst Entertainment detailed its 'FirstWatch' player testing initiative for Scars of Honor, which involves selected players providing feedback through private Discord servers, polls, and interviews. The studio also showcased development updates including improved animations, gliding mechanics, and plans for opt-in open world PvP and world events.
Palworld devs have "a few other little secret things in development" amid plans to "keep expanding"…
Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, has revealed plans to continue expanding the game's universe with new spin-offs and secret projects in development. Following the successful 1.0 launch and the upcoming dating sim 'More Than Just Pals,' the company aims to grow the Palworld intellectual property further. Head of publishing John Buckley expressed confidence in the IP's potential for continued growth.
Id Software fortsätter att utveckla nästa Doom-titel
Despite recent mass layoffs at id Software following Microsoft's Xbox reorganization, the studio has confirmed it is continuing development on new games and technology. The current staff size is comparable to when DOOM (2016) was in development, and the studio remains focused on creating its own games and proprietary engine technology. Reports indicate that work on a new DOOM title has already begun.
"A kick in the teeth for the fired workers": Unionised former MindsEye devs protest alleged fan playtest at Build A Rocket Boy
The IWGB union, representing former employees of Build a Rocket Boy (BARB), protested outside the studio's offices. They accuse BARB of hosting an expenses-paid fan playtest event for their game, MindsEye, shortly after mass layoffs, calling it a "kick in the teeth" to the former workers. The union also alleges BARB management installed surveillance software on employee PCs to identify "saboteurs."
YGG teams with Animoca’s Minds for $5,000 VibeBlitz Game Jam, starting today
YGG has launched its first VibeBlitz game jam in collaboration with Minds by Animoca Brands, running from July 13 to August 10. The event focuses on AI-assisted game creation, with participants competing for a $5,000 prize pool and potential entry into the Minds Investment Programme. Games must fit within a 32x32 plot, be browser-playable, and utilize the Game Designer Mind AI for at least 50% of development.
The Alters and Frostpunk developer 11 Bit Studios is laying off 20 employees
11 Bit Studios, the developer behind The Alters and Frostpunk, has laid off 20 employees to align team structures with current project phases. The company stated that most affected employees were offered internal transfers, and those leaving will receive support. This follows previous layoffs in 2024 and late 2023, despite the Frostpunk franchise surpassing 11 million players and Frostpunk 2 nearing 600,000 sales.
GTA 6 isn't coming to PC at launch, but not because Rockstar doesn't "care about PC," says GTA 5 producer: "If you're working on that, you're not working on something else"
Former Rockstar Games producer John Ricchio explained that Grand Theft Auto 6's delayed PC launch is not due to a lack of care for PC players, but rather a strategic decision to prioritize development resources. He stated that developing for PC alongside consoles presents challenges, and the studio focuses on platforms where it's most efficient to do so, often leading to PC versions releasing later.
EA seems to have killed off the Need for Speed franchise
Electronic Arts appears to have discontinued the Need for Speed franchise. Criterion Games, the long-time developer of the series, has been reassigned to support the Battlefield franchise, indicating the end of new Need for Speed titles.
The Elder Scrolls Online Dev ZeniMax Online Studios Insists It's Now the Same Size It Was When It Made Much-Loved DLCs, Moves to Reassure Worried Fans After Xbox Layoffs
ZeniMax Online Studios, the developer of The Elder Scrolls Online, has assured fans that the studio's size and commitment to the game remain unchanged despite recent layoffs at Xbox. The studio aims to alleviate concerns about the future of the game and its DLC development.
CFB 27 Ditches Controversial Microtransactions After Massive Blowback
EA Sports has removed controversial microtransactions from its EA Sports CFB 27 game following significant player backlash and a trending social media boycott. The paid progression options in Road to Glory and Online Dynasty modes have been eliminated, though unspent in-game currency can still be used in Ultimate Team. EA has pledged greater transparency for future live-service plans.
Xbox’s ‘Reset’ – What its Franchise-First Future Could Look Like | IGN Opinion
This opinion piece explores Xbox's potential future strategy of releasing its major franchises more frequently, including titles like Halo, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. It suggests ways Xbox could leverage its resources to achieve this goal.
Outer Worlds 2 Director Reacts To Mass Layoffs At Xbox And Dispels “Misinformation”
Obsidian Entertainment's game director Brandon Adler addressed recent layoffs at Xbox and dispelled what he called misinformation about the studio's current identity. Adler stated that while the company has changed over 20 years, its core DNA remains the same, with many lead developers having worked on classic titles like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity. The article also mentions reported layoffs at Obsidian, the cancellation of an Avowed sequel, and a potential new Fallout game.
Podd-dags - Kontrollrummet intervjuar A Void Hope-skaparen
Mikael Forslind, creator of A Void Hope and founder of Elden Pixels, discusses his journey in game development and how fatherhood has influenced his work. The interview touches on his early experiences with computers in the 80s and 90s and the personal narrative behind A Void Hope.
Ivy Juice Games Joins the GamingUp Showcase 2026
Ivy Juice Games, a publisher based in Berlin, will participate in the new digital event GamingUp Showcase 2026, which focuses on game development from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The showcase aims to provide international visibility for selected projects and will be streamed on YouTube and Twitch during gamescom 2026.
Half-Life-inspired Invariant re-announced following Steam delisting, but was "never meant to be" a clone
Invariant, a survival horror game heavily inspired by Half-Life and developed by Faros Game Studio's Josip Makjanić, has been re-announced and is available for wishlisting on Steam after a previous delisting. Makjanić stated the game was "never meant to be" a clone and was rebuilt from scratch with a clear direction after initial development issues. The game is being rebuilt in the Godot engine for Windows and Linux.
Warframe creative director says Destiny 2's end is tragic, because even with hard work 'the business side of this industry always gets the last remark'
Warframe's creative director Rebecca Ford expressed that the recent layoffs at Bungie and cessation of updates for Destiny 2 are tragic, highlighting how the business side of the industry often dictates outcomes despite developers' hard work. She noted that such decisions are existentially threatening to developers, as seen with Microsoft's closure of Tango Gameworks and other industry-wide cuts.
"Starfox x Armored Core" spacefighter ‘Rogue Eclipse’ launching August 7th!
Rogue Eclipse, a spacefighter roguelike inspired by Star Fox and Armored Core, is set to launch on PC via Steam on August 7th. Developed by Huskrafts and published by Outersloth, the game features arcade-style space combat with roguelike elements and customization options. It will be playable at upcoming events like PAX West.
GAMES MADE IN SWEDEN SALE RETURNS TO STEAM
The Games Made in Sweden Sale is returning to Steam, featuring over 100 games from Swedish studios with discounts up to 95%. The sale, running until July 26, will also highlight upcoming releases. Artwork for the event was created by Jakob Bondesson, and the Swedish Games Industry Association supports the initiative.