Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Game Development.
Latest coverage
Sonic Team boss says AAA studios can learn a lot from indies
SEGA has announced Sonic Pico Park, a new indie-style Sonic game developed by Tecopark, inspired by their game Pico Park. Sonic Team boss Takashi Iizuka stated that AAA studios can learn valuable lessons from independent developers, particularly regarding the challenges of large budgets in game development.
Xbox Game Studios Head Craig Duncan & Chief of Staff Louise O'Conner leave Microsoft
Xbox Game Studios Head Craig Duncan and Chief of Staff Louise O’Conner are leaving Microsoft. Duncan, who previously led Rare for 13 years, stated his purpose was to serve the studios and teams, highlighting successful game launches. O'Conner also had a long tenure at Rare, contributing to titles from Conker's Bad Fur Day to Everwild. Their departures come amid rumors of upcoming layoffs at the end of June.
Xbox reportedly shutting down South of Midnight dev Compulsion Games
Xbox is reportedly shutting down Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight and We Happy Few. This closure, which could affect over 90 employees, comes amid broader financial challenges and restructuring within Xbox's gaming division under CEO Asha Sharma. The report suggests an official announcement is imminent.
Pudgy Party Halts Development, Focuses on Pudgy World Project
The development of Pudgy Party has been halted as its creators shift focus to enhancing Pudgy World, which will serve as the flagship game for the Pudgy Penguins universe. This decision prioritizes Pudgy World due to its scalability, storytelling potential, and player asset ownership, despite Pudgy Party having over one million downloads. Details on server shutdowns and player transitions have not yet been disclosed.
"Do you want a new game or not?": Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet skipping State of Play is fine, former The Last of Us dev says, because making a trailer costs 4 months of work
Former Naughty Dog artist Del Walker explained that studios like Naughty Dog skip events like State of Play to avoid losing development time on trailers, which can cost up to four months of work. He suggests players must choose between seeing game footage or receiving finished games sooner. The article also touches on speculation regarding The Last of Us 3.
Take a look at some of the animation work done on Jack Emmerts’ cancelled Warhammer 40K MMO
Former animator for the cancelled Warhammer 40,000 MMO developed by Jackalyptic Games has shared animation work from the project. The game, which was set during the Horus Heresy and had writing contributions from Graham McNeill, had its funding pulled by NetEase. The shared animations include a Space Marine firing a heavy bolter and various character movement cycles.
Capcom Says Betting On Teams Instead Of Visionaries Changed The Company
Capcom attributes its recent success to a shift from individual-driven development to a team-first mentality. This change, implemented after examining responsibilities to shareholders, involved rebuilding titles from the ground up with a team-based approach, leading to significant transformation despite potential temporary sales dips. This strategy contrasts with creator-driven games, which can be tied to the ideas of a single person.
Nightdive's remaster of cult FPS SiN gets a gameplay trailer and Steam demo, three years after the project was indefinitely put on hold
Nightdive Studios has released a gameplay trailer and a Steam demo for SiN: Reloaded, a remaster of the 1998 cult classic first-person shooter. The project, which was previously put on hold, is now back on track and scheduled for release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC before the end of 2026. The remaster will feature updated visuals up to 4K resolution at 144 FPS, improved controls, and includes the original game along with its Wages of SiN expansion.
BioWare's co-founder fought to make Baldur's Gate 3 for over a decade, then Larian did it instead: 'I…
BioWare co-founder Trent Oster discusses the long and difficult journey to get Baldur's Gate 3 made, with multiple studios like Black Isle, Obsidian, and Beamdog attempting and failing to secure funding over two decades. Beamdog, led by Oster, pitched a version to Wizards of the Coast but ultimately could not secure the necessary $20 million budget, leading them to pursue other projects. Oster reflects on Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3, acknowledging their greater capital and ability to execute their vision at a high scale.
As Xbox eyes layoffs, Microsoft's CEO says its videogames aren't monetised enough—so it's not the cancelled games or $68.7 billion deals or AI overspending, then
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that the company's video games are not sufficiently monetized, suggesting this is the core issue rather than cancelled projects or large acquisitions. This comes amid layoffs at Xbox, with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma calling for a "reset" to better meet fan expectations. The article also touches on the rising costs of game development and the industry's struggle to find sustainable monetization models.
Dead by Daylight Roadmap Includes New Killers and Killer Graphics
Behaviour Interactive celebrated the 10th anniversary of Dead by Daylight with a broadcast revealing the game's roadmap. The plans include new killers and graphical enhancements for the asymmetric survival horror title.
Roadmaps and Plans
The developers of Voice of Belldona have released a message to players addressing feedback, expressing gratitude, and outlining future plans for the game. This communication aims to keep the community informed about the game's ongoing development and direction.
Morning Interviews
This interview features developer Anthony Anselmo discussing his work on the games School Quest and College Quest. The conversation is part of the Matt Chat series, episode 574.
Xbox Game Studios head leaves after less than 2 years: "I'm proud to say we delivered many flawless…
Craig Duncan has departed from his role as head of Xbox Game Studios after less than two years, capping a longer career at Microsoft. He announced his exit in a memo to staff, highlighting the delivery of "flawless launches" during his tenure. Louise O'Connor, who also had a long history with Rare, is leaving as well. The teams will report to Xbox CCO Matt Booty until a replacement is found, amidst ongoing rumors of an "Xbox reset" including potential layoffs and restructuring.
Microsoft Boss Wants Xbox to Start Pulling Its Weight Financially
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that the Xbox division needs to become more profitable, acknowledging that the company has been subsidizing entertainment rather than monetizing it effectively. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is tasked with reassessing the division's strategy to ensure economic sustainability in game development and hardware.
Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios boss steps down after less than two years, amid major changes for the platform
Craig Duncan has stepped down as head of Xbox Game Studios after less than two years, with chief of staff Louise O'Connor also departing. Duncan, formerly head of Rare, oversaw numerous studios during his tenure. Matt Booty will temporarily lead the studios until a replacement is found, amidst broader leadership changes at Xbox under Asha Sharma.
Microsoft CEO says Xbox must become 'sustainable' as it reportedly considers major spinoff
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that Xbox must become a 'sustainable' business, implying it has been subsidized rather than profitable. This follows reports that Microsoft is considering spinning out Xbox into a standalone unit, potentially to sell it or find a partner. The company also aims to speed up development for major franchises like Halo and The Elder Scrolls, while addressing challenges like memory chip price increases driven by AI companies.
Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan and Chief of Staff Louise O'Connor step down
Xbox Game Studios leader Craig Duncan and Chief of Staff Louise O'Connor have stepped down from their roles. Duncan, who previously led Rare, oversaw numerous internal studios, while O'Connor was an executive producer at Rare. Their departures coincide with reports of potential job cuts and a business 'reset' at Xbox.
Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan and chief of staff Louise O’Connor to depart
Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan and chief of staff Louise O’Connor are departing the company. Duncan served in his role for over 18 months, while O’Connor served for over 11 months. Both previously held leadership positions at Rare. Their departures follow a period of successful game launches overseen by Duncan.
Xbox Game Studios leadership Craig Duncan and Louise O’Connor resign
Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan and chief of staff Louise O’Connor have resigned from their positions. Duncan, who led the division for 20 months, and O’Connor, who joined Microsoft after working at Rare, are leaving the company. Their responsibilities will be temporarily handled by Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty.
