Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
The Elder Scrolls Online Studio Layoffs Affect 213 Employees
ZeniMax Online Studios has laid off 213 employees, a significant portion of its workforce, following Microsoft's broader layoffs impacting Xbox. This reduction has led to a shift in the content roadmap for the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online. Former employees expressed disappointment and concern over the impact on the game's development and the team's well-being.
Palworld 1.0 Launch Trailer Highlights the Journey So Far and All the Upcoming New Content
Pocketpair's Palworld is launching its 1.0 version on July 10th, following a highly successful early access period that attracted over 40 million players. The update will introduce new Pals, a giant new landmass, offshore base-building, revised raid mechanics, and new equipment. The game will be available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PC.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Team Worried About Delays and Crunch Following Layoffs – Rumor
Recent layoffs at Bethesda, impacting key personnel working on The Elder Scrolls 6, have reportedly caused concern among the development team regarding potential delays and increased crunch. The departures include programmers, artists, and designers, with fears that contract labor may be used to fill the gaps. The Elder Scrolls 6, announced in 2018, currently has no release date, but is estimated to be at least two years away.
New Fallout in the Works at Obsidian, Avowed 2 Cancelled – Rumor
According to reports, Obsidian Entertainment is developing a new Fallout title, potentially directed by Josh Sawyer, who previously worked on Fallout: New Vegas. This comes as Avowed 2 and other unannounced projects have reportedly been cancelled following an internal reset at Xbox. While Avowed 2 may continue development temporarily, the studio is shifting focus to the new Fallout game.
Evening Multiplex
A trailer overview for DOOM: The Dark Ages features Hugo Martin, while developers of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 discuss their approach to creating AAA games more efficiently. The article touches on strategies for smarter AAA game development.
etc., etc.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is reportedly still at least two years away from release, indicating a lengthy development period. This news suggests that players will have to wait a considerable amount of time before the highly anticipated title becomes available.
MindsEye developers protest against a fan event their own studio is hosting
Developers at Build a Rocket Boy are planning to protest an upcoming on-site playtest event for their game MindsEye, citing recent layoffs and concerns over labor practices. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain is supporting the protest, which highlights the studio's spending on fan events while allegedly mistreating its workforce.
id Software Was Reportedly Considering Perfect Dark, A John Wick-Style Shooter And More Doom Before Xbox Layoffs
id Software experienced significant layoffs, leading to the cancellation of several projects including a new Perfect Dark game and an original IP. The studio's future creative direction is now uncertain following these workforce reductions.
Obsidian Entertainment may be pivoting to a Fallout game amid layoffs & reorganization
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly undergoing reorganization and layoffs, with speculation that the studio may be pivoting to a new Fallout game directed by Josh Sawyer, potentially shelving projects like an Avowed sequel. Conflicting reports suggest that The Outer Worlds 2 expansions and Avowed 2 are still in development or being re-pitched, though project pauses are rumored.
Xbox just laid off a core Bethesda artist who worked on Skyrim, Oblivion, Morrowind, Fallout 3, and Fallout 4 –…
Microsoft's recent wave of layoffs has impacted Bethesda, with lead character artist Christiane Meister, a 27-year veteran who worked on major titles like Skyrim, Oblivion, Morrowind, Fallout 3, and Fallout 4, being let go. This move highlights significant cuts within Microsoft's gaming division, affecting core talent behind beloved franchises.
Laid-off id Software artist says Microsoft is 'nuking the team into the dirt' and is now the size of a…
Microsoft's recent layoffs have significantly impacted id Software, with 136 roles eliminated, reducing the studio to what a laid-off VFX artist describes as 'support studio size.' This downsizing has led to the elimination of entire teams, including VFX and engine programming, raising concerns about the future of the idTech engine and the studio's creative output.
Microsoft reportedly cancels Avowed sequel as Obsidian focuses on a Fallout game
Microsoft has reportedly canceled the sequel to Avowed, with developer Obsidian Entertainment now focusing on a new Fallout game. This decision comes as part of broader Xbox layoffs affecting the studio.
Microsoft, Please Don’t Ruin Minecraft
Microsoft's new CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly looking to increase investment in Minecraft, drawing comparisons to Roblox's business model. This shift, occurring amidst significant studio cuts within Xbox, raises concerns that Microsoft may alter Minecraft's core gameplay and creative freedom to boost profitability, potentially moving away from its established identity as a sandbox for crafting and survival.
UPDATE: id Software Has Lost 136 of Its 185 Employees
Xbox is undergoing significant layoffs, with 1,600 jobs cut across the company. id Software has been particularly affected, potentially losing a substantial portion of its staff, raising concerns about the studio's future projects and development capacity.
New Fallout Game Is New Focus For New Vegas Developer Obsidian Entertainment – Report
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly shifting its focus to a new Fallout game, potentially shelving a planned sequel to Avowed and other unannounced projects. Studio design director Josh Sawyer, who previously directed Fallout: New Vegas, is expected to lead the new project. This news comes as Obsidian recently experienced significant layoffs due to Microsoft's restructuring of its Xbox division.
Fallout and Elder Scrolls union says Bethesda layoffs didn't hurt Microsoft's "14 layers of management" – "We lost dozens of programmers, artists, designers and testers"
Microsoft's recent layoffs significantly impacted Bethesda Game Studios, ZeniMax Online, Obsidian Entertainment, and id Software, affecting dozens of programmers, artists, designers, and testers, not just management. The Bethesda Game Studios Union expressed outrage, calling the cuts a "stressful annual routine" and urging fans to voice concerns through Microsoft's feedback portal to prevent future layoffs and studio closures.
Obsidian Reportedly Cancels Avowed 2 to Focus on a New Fallout Game
Obsidian Entertainment has reportedly canceled Avowed 2 to shift focus towards developing a new Fallout game. This decision indicates a strategic pivot for the studio, prioritizing the established Fallout franchise.
Much of the what-if dialogue in Invincible VS was done by the show's writers
Developer Quarter Up collaborated with Skybound Entertainment's Invincible TV show writers to create unique dialogue for characters who have never met in the game Invincible VS. Lead Combat Designer Bau Bautista confirmed that the show's writers penned all the dialogue, ensuring authenticity to the characters' personalities and potential interactions.
Invincible VS devs discuss The Immortal, dream matches & the future of the story
Invincible VS developers Dave Hall and Bau Bautista discussed the game's future at EVO 2026, revealing plans for single-player content to engage less competitive players. They also touched on the process of creating lore-accurate dialogue for new character interactions, involving original show writers.
Build a Rocket Boy staff to protest upcoming "all-expenses-paid" fan event
Staff at Build a Rocket Boy are planning a protest outside their Edinburgh offices this weekend. Workers are reportedly unhappy about an upcoming "all-expenses-paid" fan event for the game MindsEye, especially given the studio's significant headcount cuts and the game's poor reception since its June 2025 release. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain is expected to join the demonstration.
