Game Development
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Obsidian still have "the same DNA" that went into New Vegas and KOTOR 2, The Outer Worlds 2 director insists, following chatter around layoffs
Following recent layoffs at Obsidian Entertainment, director Brandon Adler defended the studio's creative DNA, asserting that the core team behind classic games like Fallout: New Vegas and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II remains intact. Adler pushed back against criticism that the studio has lost its way, emphasizing that the same individuals are still in leadership roles and that the studio's fundamental ethos persists despite changes over the years.
What does the future of external development look like?
Industry leaders discuss the evolving landscape of external development in the gaming industry, predicting a shift towards more strategic, integrated partnerships rather than simple outsourcing. Factors like AI, increasing game complexity, and publisher budget pressures are driving this change, leading to a more specialized and collaborative approach.
Welcome to ExDev Week
This week-long feature on GamesIndustry.biz explores the present and future of external development in the games industry. It highlights the role of external studios in creating major games and discusses themes such as balancing work-for-hire with original IP creation and building client trust. The analysis also considers external development as a potentially more sustainable alternative to large internal teams amidst industry transformation and job losses.
Floppy game development contest challenges creators to build a complete game under 1.44MB
The 1.44MB Game Development Contest, organized by 2P GAME ARCADE, challenges developers to create complete, standalone games that fit within the storage capacity of a 3.5-inch floppy disk. Submissions are open until September 4, 2026, with prize money available for the top entries. The contest aims to explore how extreme technical restrictions can influence creativity and prioritize gameplay over graphics.
The Outer Worlds 2 lead slams "cold take artists" following Xbox layoffs at Obsidian, says "the same DNA" that created hits like Fallout: New Vegas and more remains
Brandon Adler, co-director of The Outer Worlds 2, has spoken out against "cold take artists" speculating about Obsidian Entertainment following recent layoffs at Xbox studios. Adler emphasized that the core "DNA" of the studio, responsible for games like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity, remains intact despite the loss of talent. He acknowledged the difficulties faced by the company and its developers while defending the seasoned developers still working at Obsidian.
Pearl Abyss jobbar på att få Crimson Desert att rulla på Switch 2
Pearl Abyss is exploring the possibility of releasing Crimson Desert on the Nintendo Switch 2, with basic game mechanics already functional on the platform. The company is focused on maintaining graphical fidelity and the open-world experience. They are also considering adding multiplayer features, contingent on server and game balance considerations.
The Filipino side of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Ubisoft Philippines discusses their significant contributions to Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of the 2013 title. The studio led the recreation of key locations, enhanced gameplay mechanics like fort captures and harpooning, and handled quality assurance, marking their largest undertaking to date and celebrating their 10th anniversary.
MMO Week in Review: 213
Microsoft's significant layoffs have heavily impacted the Elder Scrolls Online live team, reducing its size to that of 2015-2018. This week also saw Warframe's TennoCon, Aion 2 previewing its monetization, Tencent acquiring the PlanetSide franchise, Star Trek Online launching Undiscovered, and Gamigo porting Fiesta Online to consoles.
Obsidian Director Warns of “Cold-Take Artists” Spreading Misinformation About the Studio
Obsidian Entertainment director Brandon Adler has spoken out against "cold-take artists" spreading misinformation following recent layoffs at the studio. Adler emphasized that despite changes, the core DNA of the studio, responsible for games like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity, remains intact. He also addressed reports about the future of Avowed, with former co-founder Chris Avellone stating Avowed 2 is still planned.
Xbox Developers Facing “Panic and Anxiety” at Further Layoffs – Rumor
Xbox developers are reportedly experiencing significant panic and anxiety due to ongoing and anticipated future layoffs, with further job cuts planned for the remainder of fiscal year 2027. This uncertainty is causing stress among remaining staff, who fear their workload could be used as justification for future termination. The situation extends to agencies working with the company, which have seen their vendor budgets slashed by 50 percent.
Palworld 1.0 – 10 Huge Improvements Over Early Access
Palworld has officially launched version 1.0 after over two years in early access, introducing significant improvements across nearly all major game systems. Pocketpair has reworked progression, combat, Pal breeding, base management, and exploration, making the game fundamentally different from its early access state. Key enhancements include the new 'Awakening' mechanic to strengthen Pals, a more involved 'Mutation' breeding system, rebalanced Partner Skills, and a rebuilt combat system for faster, more tactical gameplay.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Looking More Troubled Than Ever
Recent layoffs at Xbox-owned studios, including Bethesda Game Studios, are raising concerns about the development of The Elder Scrolls 6. The article suggests that the removal of experienced personnel and reliance on contractors could lead to further delays and negatively impact the game's quality. This situation is viewed as a "spreadsheet decision" by Xbox, prioritizing cost-cutting over the franchise's long-term success.
Siege Camp’s in-development MMORPG Anvil Empires just got a big map and combat overhaul
Siege Camp's upcoming medieval MMORPG, Anvil Empires, has received significant updates including a complete world map recreation and a combat overhaul. The new map features more usable space and balanced terrain, while combat has been enhanced with more player agency. Other improvements include revamped town structures, item exchange UIs, and a functional smoke system.
Elder Scrolls Online studio echoes id Software, claims to now be the same size it was 10 years ago following Xbox…
ZeniMax Online Studios, developer of The Elder Scrolls Online, has reportedly returned to its circa 2015-2018 headcount following recent layoffs, a situation echoed by id Software. This mirrors the size the studios were during the development of acclaimed DLCs like Orsinium and Summerset. The article critiques this narrative, arguing that a decade of growth cannot be undone without significant impact, regardless of current headcount.
Hytale boss decides to break silence on its Chapter 1 update: "Asking everyone to run on faith for months isn't great"
Simon Collins-Laflamme, Hytale's lead developer, has broken the silence regarding the game's upcoming Chapter 1 update. He acknowledges the community's desire for more information and plans to share behind-the-scenes details soon, moving away from a complete surprise reveal to maintain player engagement. A detailed blog post is expected within the next week, offering work-in-progress peeks at the substantial new content.
Sunday Interviews
Developers at Digital Extremes, the studio behind Warframe, are taking a cautious approach following recent industry layoffs. The team is focused on ensuring the continued success and stability of the game and its community.
Sunday Postmortems/Retrospectives
This article touches on two separate topics: how Sonic the Hedgehog's creators inadvertently created a Christmas game, and the original locations used by Remedy Entertainment for photo references in Max Payne. It appears to be a collection of retrospective pieces.
Steam's "no questions asked" refund policy makes it "super easy for players to abuse this rule", says indie developer
An indie developer, Mateo Covic, has voiced concerns that Steam's "no questions asked" refund policy is being abused by players, leading to a significant number of refunds for his game, Paddle Paddle Paddle. Despite positive reviews, Covic argues that players can complete games within the two-hour window and still receive a refund, which he believes is unfair to developers. While Covic is not advocating for the removal of refunds entirely, he suggests that the current system makes it too easy for players to exploit the policy.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond devs don't have the time or budget for all the "cool ideas" they had for the first…
Developers at Toys for Bob discussed the challenges of managing scope and budget for the upcoming game Spyro: A Realm Beyond. Studio head Paul Yan and associate creative director Louis Studdert explained that while many 'cool ideas' arise during development, discipline is needed to prevent scope creep and ensure the game launches on time and within budget. They also highlighted the importance of their experienced team in navigating these challenges.
The Sunday Papers
Criterion Games, known for racing titles like Burnout and Need For Speed, is now solely focused on developing for the Battlefield series, as confirmed by studio leadership. Meanwhile, an analysis of Xbox's recent restructuring highlights the company's significant layoffs and the challenges faced by the division, drawing parallels to past industry missteps.
