Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
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Gears of War: E-Day Technical Director Explains How Unreal Engine 5’s Tech Helped in Development
The Coalition's technical director Kate Rayner detailed how Unreal Engine 5's features, such as MegaLights and dynamic geometry, were crucial in rebuilding Gears of War: E-Day from scratch. The game, developed for PC and Xbox Series X/S, aims to accurately portray the chaos of Emergence Day with enhanced lighting and destructible environments, running at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X.
Sony Confirms Exclusivity On Single-Player Experiences for PlayStation, Live-Service Titles To Get PC Releases
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino has outlined the company's strategy for platform exclusivity, indicating that single-player titles developed in-house will remain exclusive to PlayStation. However, live-service games with online components may receive PC releases to broaden their audience. This approach contrasts with Xbox's strategy, suggesting a renewed focus on console exclusivity in the industry.
Epic's plans for their big store revamp over the next year sound like they'll at long last meet the bare minimum
Epic Games has revealed plans for significant improvements to the Epic Games Store over the next year, addressing long-standing criticisms about its lack of basic features. Upcoming additions include patch notes, improved navigation, user reviews, and personalized homepages. The company also mentioned generative AI integration in Unreal Engine 6, though this was met with skepticism.
How Ninja Theory Paved A Way For The Elden Ring Movie
Despite potential closure, Ninja Theory's legacy in game development and its influence on filmmaking are highlighted, particularly its collaboration with Alex Garland on titles like Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and DmC: Devil May Cry. This experience is credited with Alex Garland's approach to writing and directing the upcoming Elden Ring movie adaptation.
Instead of wishlisting its game, the developer of my favorite Next Fest demo wants you to play anyone else's: 'There are some genuinely great creators in this fest who deserve the attention'
The developer of the "fishing mystery game" About Fishing, The Water Museum, is encouraging players to try other demos during Next Fest instead of wishlisting their own game. Developer Kevin stated that there are many talented creators in the fest who deserve attention, and suggested players explore other titles. About Fishing has already garnered 100,000 wishlists and is set to launch later this year.
"Hell or high water": the System Shock remake's co-director on the sneaky step taken to get the game made
Nightdive Studios' co-director Daniel Grayshon revealed that a secret internal group called 'La Résistance' was formed to ensure the System Shock remake's completion after the project ran out of funding in 2018. Grayshon himself learned Unreal Engine 4 to rebuild Citadel Station for the game, which ultimately stayed faithful to the original while incorporating necessary design changes.
EverQuest Legends tweaks spell and weapon upgrades as OG EverQuest makes its 2023 expansion F2P
EverQuest Legends is introducing a new Spell Upgrade System during its beta phase, allowing players to invest motes to enhance spell scaling for mana costs, cast times, damage, and more. The weapon upgrade system will be reverted, and some Berserker Stance functionality will be restored. Separately, the original EverQuest has made its 2023 Laurion's Song expansion free-to-play.
Sony Finally Speaks on PC Cancellations, Wants to Enhance Value of PS5
Sony PlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino stated that the company's decision to release games on PC is determined by each title's characteristics. While first-party single-player games will focus on enhancing the PlayStation 5 experience, live service games will continue to be released on both PlayStation 5 and PC to maximize player reach.
'There's No Ambiguity in Sony's Strategy': Trusted Journalist on PS5's Exclusivity Approach After Wishy-Washy CEO Statement
Journalist Jason Schreier stated there is no ambiguity in Sony's strategy to keep single-player PlayStation games exclusive to its platform, citing internal communications from Hermen Hulst. PlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino's recent comments to Famitsu were carefully worded, suggesting PC releases will be considered on a case-by-case basis for individual titles, while live service games will continue to launch on both PlayStation 5 and PC.
Unreal Engine 5.8 Rendering Could Enhance Switch 2 Games - NintendoFuse
Epic Games has released Unreal Engine 5.8, introducing features like Mesh Terrain and Lumen Lite global illumination, which could significantly improve performance for Nintendo Switch 2 games. This update is particularly beneficial for titles utilizing UE5, potentially enhancing visual quality and frame rates on the upcoming console. Epic Games is now shifting focus to Unreal Engine 6.
Sony's Forgotten Multiplayer PS5, PC Game Gets Final Update as Developer Moves On
Velan Studios has released the final planned update for its multiplayer shooter Midnight Murder Club, which was published by Sony for PlayStation 5 and PC. While servers will remain active, the developer will no longer provide further post-launch support for the game, which launched in August 2025 and struggled to find a large audience despite its unique premise.
Vampire Survivors dev may nix Fortnite collab in light of Epic’s ‘central role’ stance on AI in game dev
The developer of Vampire Survivors is considering canceling a potential collaboration with Fortnite due to Epic Games' stance on the central role of AI in game development. This decision stems from disagreements over Epic's policies regarding artificial intelligence integration in the industry.
Dispatch tackles Nintendo's Switch censorship requirements with a brilliantly named HR Violations update and an oozing jam donut where the dong should be
AdHoc has released an 'HR Violations Pack' update for its game Dispatch on Nintendo Switch, addressing Nintendo's censorship requirements. Players can now choose to enable or disable various visual elements, though some audio censorship remains. The game, which has sold over 1 million copies, will also receive these options on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox.
A small band of Nightdive rebels united to make the System Shock remake after it 'ran out of money' midway…
The development of the System Shock remake faced significant challenges, including running out of money in 2018. A dedicated team at Nightdive Studios, led by producer Daniel Grayshon, formed a small group to ensure the game's completion. Despite using Unreal Engine 4 with limited experience, they successfully delivered the acclaimed remake, which released in 2023 after an eight-year development cycle.
Yes, it's okay to get very excited about a small new look at GTA 6's stunning Vice City
Rockstar Games has released new artwork and a brief visual clip for Grand Theft Auto 6, showcasing a detailed view of Vice City. The update follows the confirmation of the game's November 19, 2026 release date and precedes the upcoming pre-order launch on June 24. This new glimpse highlights the immersive world and potential for player interaction within the game's expansive setting.
After Epic outline a genAI focused Unreal Engine 6, Vampire Survivors studio Poncle say they're "reviewing" their Fortnite collab
Following Epic Games' announcement of generative AI integration in Unreal Engine 6, Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reviewing its collaboration with Fortnite. Poncle expressed concern over Epic's plans to use AI for asset creation, including Fortnite characters, and is assessing if their upcoming Fortnite collaboration will proceed. The studio aims to ensure no assets involved in the collaboration were created using generative AI.
'I've been making Sonic games and been with Sonic longer than I've been with my own children' — Sonic Team head looks back on the franchise for its 35th anniversary
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka reflects on his long career with the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise as it celebrates its 35th anniversary. He expresses pride in the series' broad appeal across generations and his commitment to continuing its development, acknowledging the pressure to meet fan expectations.
"One view of the future is that Roblox grows and eats gaming" - Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney delivers impassioned speech about the future of gaming
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney delivered a speech at the State of Unreal event, expressing concern over the rising costs and failing audiences in the AAA game business. He highlighted the growing importance of social gaming experiences and user-generated content platforms like Roblox, suggesting they represent a significant shift in the industry's future. Sweeney also discussed Epic's vision for a connected ecosystem powered by Unreal Engine, despite the company itself facing layoffs.
Palworld lead on generative AI: Gamers don't want it
Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, does not use generative AI in its games because players do not want it, according to communications director John Buckley. He stated that while some companies may use AI to save time, its prominence in the industry may not last. Buckley also noted that some developers are proactively clarifying their games are human-made, which he finds a concerning trend.
My quick test of Lumen Lite shows that it's probably good news for ray-traced gaming on handheld PCs, but I suspect that it will be used everywhere because of the pressure developers are now under
Epic Games has introduced Lumen Lite in Unreal Engine 5.8, a scalable ray-traced global illumination feature designed to improve performance on hardware like the Nintendo Switch 2 and PC handhelds. While the feature offers significant performance gains with minimal visual compromise, the author expresses concern that its ease of use might lead developers to rely on it as a quick fix rather than implementing more thorough, hardware-specific optimizations.
