Game Development
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The Complicated History of GTA Controversies
The Grand Theft Auto series has a long and complicated history with controversy, spanning moral panics, celebrity lawsuits, and the inclusion of hidden adult content. This article delves into the various controversies that have surrounded the franchise throughout its existence.
Business and Finance
A union has established a hardship fund to support game developers affected by recent layoffs. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to industry professionals facing job loss.
Independence Weekend Postmortems/Retrospectives
This article offers postmortems and retrospectives on several games, including a critical look at Red Dead Redemption 2 eight years after its release. It also examines the history of FMV games with Wing Commander IV and touches upon the development of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 studio Sandfall isn't bothered that people may not like its next game, and that's the most refreshing thing I've heard all week
Sandfall Interactive founder Guillaume Broche expresses a refreshing lack of concern about whether players will like the studio's next game, emphasizing that their previous success with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stemmed from creative vision rather than trend-chasing. This philosophy is highlighted as a stark contrast to the current industry climate of corporate pressure and iterative franchises, suggesting that a focus on unique, personal projects resonates with audiences.
Stars Reach says it’s reached a ‘pivotal moment’ in testing and requires a full wipe
Playable Worlds announced a full data wipe for the test servers of its space sandbox game, Stars Reach, calling it a 'pivotal moment' before early access. This reset is necessary to implement new systems and refine core game mechanics. While an early access release date is not yet finalized, the developers indicated it is planned for this summer.
ArcheAge Chronicles shares player activity from its June focus group test
XLGAMES has shared player activity data from a recent focus group test for ArcheAge Chronicles, the rebranded and delayed MMORPG formerly known as ArcheAge 2. The test involved 165 participants and accumulated over 2,006 hours of gameplay, with highlights including popular classes and weapons. The game is still projected for a fourth-quarter release this year.
Japanese Art: How Expeditions: Samurai Is Bringing Nippon to Life
THQ Nordic and Campfire Cabal released a developer diary for Expeditions: Samurai, detailing the game's artistic vision inspired by Japanese art and culture. The video showcases concept art, character customization, and the use of Unreal Engine 5. The upcoming historical RPG will feature fully customized character models in dialogue and dynamic companion facial expressions, and is set to launch on PC via Early Access this summer.
Industry veteran Robert Bowling launches new developer //18.bravo
Industry veteran Robert Bowling, formerly of Infinity Ward, has launched a new Los Angeles-based studio called //18.bravo. The studio aims for a radically different approach to game development, focusing on employee success through royalty plans and profit sharing, and plans to release its assets as open source if the company closes. Bowling criticized the current industry for being over-commercialized and detrimental to both players and staff.
Enginefall developer Red Rover Interactive is making layoffs
Red Rover Interactive has announced layoffs across its UK and Norway offices as part of a restructuring process. The studio, which is developing the survival crafting shooter Enginefall, stated the cuts are intended to place the company on a more sustainable footing for the next phase of development. This news follows a $15 million investment led by Krafton in 2024.
Sponsored Post: Solitaire Was the Original “Small Game” – and Indies Are Proving It Right
This article argues that the indie game development philosophy of creating focused, small-scope experiences is not new, but rather a vindication of principles demonstrated by the classic card game Solitaire. It highlights how Solitaire embodies the indie ethos of executing a single idea flawlessly, respecting player time, and offering complete, replayable experiences without unnecessary padding or monetization schemes.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is getting a "Story Expansion Pass" amid a heap of DLC to help it wrap up the remake trilogy, leaked store listings suggest
Leaked Epic Games Store listings suggest that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will receive a 'Story Expansion Pass' and up to nine other DLCs. These listings also include details about a premium edition and pre-order bonuses. The exact content of the DLCs remains unknown, but the 'Story Expansion Pass' indicates potential narrative additions to conclude the remake trilogy.
The Sandbox Announces Alpha Creators Game Jam with $5,000 Reward
The Sandbox has launched its first Game Jam for alpha creators, running from July 2 to July 31, 2023, with a $5,000 prize pool for the top five submissions. This event coincides with the introduction of The Sandbox Studio, an AI-enhanced game engine designed to streamline development. The platform emphasizes user-generated content and has seen continued creator engagement despite industry challenges.
Nintendo talks about how its preserving the Nintendo DNA while adding more staff
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa addressed concerns about preserving the company's unique 'Nintendo DNA' as it increases headcount. He emphasized the importance of work experience, cooperation with senior colleagues, and training, including input from Shigeru Miyamoto, to ensure these values are passed on to new employees.
NORMENHILL - June 2026 Devlog news - Normenhill: Chapter 1 - "Your New Look"
The developer of the indie game Normenhill provided a development update for Chapter 1, detailing the progress of Acts II and III. Act II is nearing completion with most gameplay mechanics and enemies implemented, while Act III is in earlier stages of development. The developer plans to release Act II later this year and Act III in 2027, with Chapter 2's plot also outlined.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's development got so bad that it almost turned its devs away from the industry for good: 'I could feel myself coming apart at the seams'
Former Rocksteady Studios developers Axel Rydby and Johnny Armstrong shared details about the troubled development of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. They described immense pressure, unrealistic deadlines, and a culture shift that led to burnout, with one developer stating they felt like they were 'coming apart at the seams' and questioning their future in the industry. The game's development reportedly cost Warner Bros. Games $200 million.
Rockstar workers hit back, PlayStation ditches physical discs, and chipmakers accused of price fixing - Patch Notes #59
Several significant developments have occurred in the gaming industry, including Rockstar Games facing accusations of pay inequity and crunch, Sony's PlayStation preparing to discontinue physical software production in January 2028, and major chipmakers being sued for alleged price-fixing. Additionally, Ubisoft has hired Christoph Hartmann to oversee its Tom Clancy franchises, while Krafton has agreed to pay bonuses to the Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds following a legal dispute and CEO resignation. Microsoft is also reportedly testing a disc-to-digital feature for its Xbox consoles.
Fearwoods Unveils New Trailer, Screenshots and Development Roadmap
The indie survival horror game Fearwoods has updated its Steam page with a new trailer, screenshots, and a development roadmap. The roadmap details plans for the game's demo, Early Access, and full release, outlining features like improved Aveline behavior and new narrative content.
Jobs roundup: July 2026 | Robert Henrysson steps down as Supermassive Games CEO
Several key personnel changes have occurred in the gaming industry. Robert Henrysson has stepped down as CEO of Supermassive Games and partner at Nordisk Games. Christopher Serra joins Paramount Games as VP of business development and licensing, while Alexis Bonte departs as CEO of Stillfront. Nicholas Penwarden also leaves Epic Games after 15 years.
Jobs roundup: July 2026 | Marathon director Joe Ziegler leaves Bungie
This article rounds up recent hires and departures within the games industry for July 2026. Notable moves include Joe Ziegler leaving Bungie's Marathon team, Chris Chung joining Neowiz, and Robert Henrysson stepping down as CEO of Supermassive Games. Several other companies announced new appointments across marketing, production, and business development roles.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Developers Wanted to Quit the Industry After the Game Was Released
Two developers who worked on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League shared their experiences, with one stating they wanted to leave the industry after the game's release. The article touches on the challenges and potential burnout associated with game development.