Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Path of Exile co-creator says using decoy assets to trick dataminers taught him it's a "pretty wasteful process," but is "very good" for trolling
Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson shared his experience with data mining, noting that while using decoy assets to mislead dataminers is a wasteful process, it can be effective for trolling. He discussed various methods developers use to mitigate data mining, ultimately suggesting that community salt and occasional developer jokes are the best approaches.
Another PlayStation Exclusive Marvel Game in Development – Report
A new report indicates that Insomniac Games' standalone Marvel's Venom game is still in active development for PlayStation, despite a lack of official updates. While originally expected to release before Marvel's Wolverine, the symbiote-based title is now speculated for a late 2027 release, potentially as a PlayStation 6 launch title. Official confirmation from Sony Interactive Entertainment is still pending.
Patrice Désilets vows to make a sequel to Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Patrice Désilets, creator of Assassin's Creed, has stated his intention to develop a sequel to his 2019 game Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey. Désilets confirmed he owns the intellectual property for Ancestors and plans to create further volumes of the game, though a sequel will only be possible after the completion of his current project, 1666: Amsterdam.
Riot MMO's future is 'incredibly bright' despite co-founder likening its development to the grail: 'Many a brave knight are going to die'
Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill expressed confidence in the ongoing development of the company's mysterious MMO, likening the challenging process to an internal 'grail quest.' Despite the project's long development and the recent closure of another Riot game, 2XKO, Merrill believes the future is 'incredibly bright.' However, no specific details regarding a name, release window, or progress were provided.
Camelot Unchained revamps its unpopular class XP system and cleans up movement and control
Camelot Unchained has revamped its class experience point system following significant player backlash. The changes, implemented in the game's test build, include XP earnings from dealing damage and healing in RvR, shared XP from player kills and objective captures, and improved gathering XP. Unchained Entertainment acknowledged the system was more disliked than anticipated. The update also brought improvements to movement controls, UI, and group combat features.
Tim Schafer: "No one puts Double Fine out of business except me"
Tim Schafer, head of Double Fine Productions, discussed the studio's efforts to regain independence from Microsoft following significant layoffs. He stated that the studio's mission changed after new leadership took over at Xbox, leading to the decision to part ways. Schafer emphasized the importance of creative problem-solving and keeping the team alive amidst industry challenges.
The ‘grail’ of building an MMO is a ‘worthy quest,’ Riot Games founder Marc Merrill says
Riot Games founder Marc Merrill expressed the studio's continued dedication to developing its MMORPG, referring to the ambitious project internally as 'The Grail.' He acknowledged the difficulty and risk involved but emphasized the team's commitment to executing their vision and meeting player expectations.
Square Enix wants Final Fantasy 7 to be an 'IP with an ever-evolving future', which is strange to say about a…
The author questions Square Enix's strategy of focusing heavily on the Final Fantasy 7 IP with its remake trilogy, suggesting it might be a symptom of a 'fear of new IP' trap. While acknowledging the quality of the remakes and Final Fantasy 16, the piece argues that Final Fantasy's inherent nature allows for new worlds and characters with each entry, making the extensive rehashing of a classic seem unnecessary and potentially tiring for players.
Don't count on the rumoured StarCraft game being a Destiny-like, says Jason Schreier
According to reporter Jason Schreier, the rumored next StarCraft game is unlikely to be a Destiny-style live service shooter. Information from Jez Corden suggests it might be more akin to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 or Far Cry. Blizzard Entertainment is expected to reveal more at BlizzCon.
League of Legends MMO is Riot's "Grail quest" and "many a brave knight are going to die," boss says, but fans aren't confident after 2XKO's fate: "Hope this time you don't cancel it"
Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill referred to the long-in-development League of Legends MMO as the studio's "Grail quest," acknowledging the high stakes and potential for failure. However, fan confidence is low due to the recent cancellation of 2XKO and changes to Legends of Runeterra, with many expressing concern that the MMO could also be canceled or lack long-term support.
GTA 6 boss says "there will always be things to satirize," but Rockstar has to "be careful about what we pick" because after 11 years of development "it could be gone, it could change, it could be dated"
Rockstar North co-lead Rob Nelson discussed the challenges of developing Grand Theft Auto 6, which has been in progress since 2015. He explained that the long development cycles require careful selection of satirical elements to ensure they remain relevant upon release, as ideas can become dated over time.
Knights of Frontier Valley second Steam playtest starts September 15
Knights of Frontier Valley will begin its second Steam playtest on September 15, featuring Version 0.5 which adds companions, new locations, expanded crafting, and quality-of-life improvements. The game, developed by Martin Menzel under Adamant Studios and published by MicroProse, is an old-school open-world roguelike RPG inspired by 80s and 90s titles.
Nintendo Developing New Smash Bros, Nintendogs, Mario Kart DLC With Star Fox, Leaker Claims
A leaker claims Nintendo is developing an all-new Super Smash Bros. and Nintendogs. The leaker also suggests that DLC for Mario Kart will feature Star Fox characters.
Mario Kart DLC and Luigi’s Mansion 4 leaked for next Nintendo Direct
Ahead of upcoming Nintendo Direct presentations, rumors have surfaced regarding potential announcements for Mario Kart World DLC featuring Star Fox content and a new Luigi's Mansion 4. Other alleged leaks suggest upcoming games like Star Fox, Nintendogs, Super Smash Bros., Wario Land, and a Super Metroid remake.
Blizzard frestar med något Starcraft-relaterat inför helgens Blizzcon
Blizzard Entertainment is expected to announce something Starcraft-related at BlizzCon, with rumors pointing towards a new shooter or real-time strategy game. Hidden messages on the official Starcraft website hint at new content, while speculation suggests potential involvement from developers like Creative Assembly.
MMO Week in Review: Joy of movement
This week's MMO news roundup covers a preview of Guild Wars 3's combat and movement, with ArenaNet's Colin Johanson taking on the game's direction. Other news includes Xbox's cloud gaming plans, Aion 2 lacking an Oceania server, Elder Scrolls Online's roadmap, and rumors of a StarCraft successor from Nexon and Blizzard.
Forza Horizon 6 is Still Releasing on PS5 Later This Year, Says Playground Games
Playground Games has confirmed that the PlayStation 5 version of Forza Horizon 6 is still scheduled for a 2026 release. The developer provided an update on the game's ongoing support, including a new Drift Attack mode, and reiterated its commitment to the title despite its staggered release across platforms.
Mass Effect Team Can Make a Great Game if Left Alone, Says Former Cinematic Designer
Former Mass Effect cinematic designer Armando Troisi believes the current BioWare team can create a great new Mass Effect game if left to their own devices, citing the presence of original developers. He contrasts this with the challenges of the live-service era and corporate interference, expressing optimism for BioWare's ability to excel at narrative-driven RPGs. However, concerns are raised about Electronic Arts' financial situation and potential focus on live-service titles.
Saber Interactive is Not Using Generative AI for Licensed Games, Says CCO
Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits stated that the company is not using generative AI in its licensed games, including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3, Turok: Origins, and Jurassic Park Survival. While experimenting with AI in the rideshare simulator game, Willits believes the industry has not yet figured out its practical application in game development. This clarification comes amidst controversy surrounding the use of AI in the rideshare game and a former writer's claims of being replaced.
Fable Team Could Have Randomly Generated Its NPCs, But They Didn’t Make Sense, Says Director
Playground Games director Ralph Fulton revealed that despite having a tool to randomly generate NPCs for Fable, the team opted to hand-craft each one to ensure they made sense. This approach, along with giving NPCs daily routines, led to a "very different way of building a game." The studio also confirmed no generative AI was used for voice work, employing around 100 actors for the game's "Living Population."
