Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2077 studio wants to make more games without turning CDPR into a company "that's going to be launching a big game every year"
CD Projekt RED CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that the studio aims to release games more frequently without becoming a company that launches a major title every year. While they have a ten-year plan, the goal is not to flood the market but to create high-quality games, potentially releasing three Witcher games and a Cyberpunk sequel within the next six years.
Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene "moves forward with a smaller team", as Prologue: Go Wayback! studio struggles to find funding
Brendan Greene, creator of PUBG and Prologue: Go Wayback!, announced that his studio, PlayerUnknown Productions, is moving forward with a smaller team due to struggles in securing additional funding. Greene expressed gratitude for the team's professionalism despite the challenges and acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining an independent studio without consistent financial backing.
Tetsuya Nomura calls Kingdom Hearts his lifelong work
Tetsuya Nomura has stated that the Kingdom Hearts franchise has become his life's work, a journey he never anticipated would be so long since its PlayStation 2 debut. He believes there is still significant potential and longevity within the series.
Naoki Hamaguchi explains why they stuck with Unreal 4 for Final Fantasy VII: Revelation
Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, explained the decision to continue using Unreal Engine 4 for the final part of the Final Fantasy VII remake series. This choice was made to maintain consistency and leverage existing development pipelines for the upcoming installment.
Something for the Weekend – 20/06/26
This week's gaming news highlights a turbulent period for Xbox, with reports of layoffs at Zenimax and uncertainty surrounding game studios. Grand Theft Auto VI preorders are set to go live on June 25th, while Unreal Engine 6 is integrating generative AI tools. Several games received reviews, including The Adventures of Elliot and Constance, and previews for Control Resonant and Hot Wheels: Infinite Rush were also featured.
Engagement Ring
CD Projekt Red's Co-CEO expressed hope that the upcoming game, The Witcher 4, will succeed in winning back players following the launch of Cyberpunk 2077. The company aims to rebuild player trust with its next major title.
Evening Interviews
Nightdive Studios' Grover discusses the development of SiN-Reloaded in a recent interview. The discussion, presented as a video deep dive, offers insights into the studio's work on the game.
CD Projekt Red Co-CEO Hopes Witcher 4 Wins Back Players After 'Heartbreaking' Cyberpunk 2077 Launch
CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski hopes The Witcher 4 can help the studio regain player trust following the difficult launch of Cyberpunk 2077. He acknowledges that the company has not yet achieved a full redemption arc but believes the upcoming title can win back fans.
Sony posts statement on how AI will evolve the PlayStation experience
Sony's annual report outlines plans to integrate Artificial Intelligence across its businesses, particularly within the PlayStation division. The company aims to leverage AI to enhance game development, improve productivity, personalize the player experience, and push visual fidelity forward, while also exploring collaborations with companies like Bandai Namco for video production.
CDPR boss hopes The Witcher 4 wins back fans still put off by Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous launch: "I'm not 100 percent convinced we went through the full redemption arc"
CD Projekt Red's joint CEO Michał Nowakowski hopes The Witcher 4 can help regain fans lost due to Cyberpunk 2077's troubled launch, acknowledging that some trust may be permanently damaged. Despite Cyberpunk 2077's subsequent success and numerous updates, Nowakowski believes the studio has not yet achieved a full redemption arc and aims to win back players with future titles.
PUBG creator's abandoned survival game Prologue is now free for all, with one final gift
PlayerUnknown Productions has made its survival game Prologue free for all players on Steam following the discontinuation of its development due to funding issues. The final update adds new trails, a weather monitor, and a waterproof spray, alongside improvements to the cooking system and visual effects. The studio has also made the game files unencrypted for modders and is offering refunds to those who previously purchased the game.
As PUBG creator's survival game gets its last update amid studio restructuring, PlayerUnknown says "I truly regret we couldn't finish the journey we began together"
Brendan Greene, creator of PUBG, announced that his studio PlayerUnknown Productions is undergoing restructuring, leading to the final update for the survival game Prologue: Go Wayback. The game is now free-to-play on Steam, with refunds available for past purchases. Greene expressed regret over not being able to complete the game's original vision due to funding challenges but remains proud of the team's accomplishments and continues development on the Melba technology with a smaller team.
As AI costs rise, there’s little evidence of major utility in game development | Opinion
The article analyzes the increasing costs and limited utility of Artificial Intelligence in game development. While AI tools offer some productivity gains, they are inconsistent, task-specific, and require significant human supervision, making higher costs difficult to justify. The initial hype surrounding AI has subsided as companies face actual expenses, leading to a more realistic assessment of its impact.
Roadmaps and Plans
EndGameLoop Games has taken over development for Hotel Galactic, with the studio also providing a roadmap and Q&A for the game. Additionally, a deep dive into the pre-release Alchemical Awakening update for Aethermancer was discussed.
Morning Multiplex
This article provides a brief update on several games, including a gameplay trailer for Age of Legacy, a developer update for God Save Birmingham, and a gameplay trailer for Jump Broke. Additionally, a demo for NEKO STATION is now available, and there is a mention of World of Warcraft: Curse of Ula’tek.
Morning Interviews
SCS Software published a blog post detailing their in-game map Quality Assurance process. The article provides an 'under the hood' look at how the development team ensures the accuracy and functionality of the game's map.
Palworld studio says 'gamers don't want' AI in their games: 'It feels like everyone who is super gung-ho about it isn't from the industry'
Pocketpair's John Buckley stated that gamers do not want AI in their games, comparing the current enthusiasm for AI to early cryptocurrency trends. He believes that those heavily promoting AI in game development are outsiders looking for quick profit, though he acknowledges AI's utility as a search tool or coding assistant. Buckley emphasized that the company prioritizes its human artists and sees no reason to replace them with AI-generated assets, especially given the potential backlash.
10 years ago, Sega said "we're done with Sonic," and it was up to Takashi Iizuka to save the series:…
Sega's Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka revealed that the company was once prepared to abandon the Sonic franchise entirely. He was tasked 10 years ago with revitalizing the series during a period of significant decline, marked by poorly received titles like Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) and Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric. Iizuka credits the dedicated fanbase and successful media like the Sonic Boom cartoon and movies for helping to restore the character's reputation.
Laura Shigihara: The Composer Who Breaks Hearts
Composer Laura Shigihara is celebrated for her emotionally resonant work in games like Rakuen and Deltarune, often evoking deep feelings of sadness and catharsis in players. The article highlights her journey from classical piano training and playing World of Warcraft to becoming a respected game composer and developer, emphasizing the importance of supporting indie creators in the industry.
Despite a ‘toxic’ and ‘dysfunctional’ work environment, Destiny 2 devs reminisce on lifelong friendships
Former Destiny 2 developers from Bungie reflect on their experiences, acknowledging a "toxic" and "dysfunctional" work environment while emphasizing the strong, lifelong friendships forged during their time on the game. Despite challenges, they recall positive moments and the importance of camaraderie in their work.