Narrative Design
Ongoing coverage on Narrative Design.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Studio Says Cosmetics Will be “Anchored in the Game’s Narrative”
Infinity Ward has stated that all aspects of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, including cosmetics and collaborations, will be anchored in the game's narrative to ensure authenticity. The developer is seeking community feedback on cosmetic ideas. The game will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, skipping previous-generation consoles.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 – First Details on the Next Epic Call of Duty Campaign
Infinity Ward has revealed new details for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, set to launch on October 23, 2026. The campaign will feature Captain Price in a major world conflict along the North and South Korea border, with Associate Design Director Alex Norris and Narrative Director Jeff Negus discussing the narrative, new characters, and cinematic mission design. The game will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown reinvents TV storytelling for survival strategy - Narrative Notebook #3
Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown adapts the TV series into a survival-strategy game, focusing on narrative choices and resource management. Developed by Gamexcite and published by Daedalic Entertainment, the game recreates episodes through main quests, side quests, and random events, allowing players to influence the story and crew's journey home. The article analyzes how the game's framework compresses television storytelling into a systems-driven experience, often rewriting episodes to enhance gameplay and preserve emotional stakes within its interactive format.
Former Bungie dev says 'you'd be surprised how many times' expansions were pitched for a fan-favorite Destiny archvillain who's now left hanging
A former Bungie narrative designer revealed that multiple expansion concepts for the Destiny archvillain Xivu Arath were pitched for Destiny 2. Despite significant narrative investment in the character, these expansions were never greenlit, leaving her story unresolved as Destiny 2's live service development concludes. The article also touches on Bungie's struggles following Sony's acquisition and the impact on the game's future.
Destiny 2 Is Ending Just As Its Story Started To Get Good
Despite a strong narrative conclusion with The Final Shape, Destiny 2's subsequent expansions, The Edge of Fate and Renegades, have continued to deliver compelling stories. However, issues with player onboarding and potential mass layoffs at Bungie cast doubt on the future of the franchise and the resolution of its ongoing narrative arcs, such as the conflict with The Nine and the exploration of Old Chicago.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced director has teased more on cut modern-day sections - and it got me thinking
Ubisoft's upcoming remake of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, titled Resynced, will feature a new narrative for its modern-day sections, according to design director Julien Koch. While the original game's modern-day segments focused on Abstergo's search for First Civilization artifacts, the remake will explore different narrative threads, potentially delving deeper into protagonist Edward Kenway's internal struggles. The game is set to release on July 9, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Might Be Adding As Many Problems As It’s Fixing
A preview of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced reveals mixed impressions, with concerns about narrative changes and potential bugs. While the remake aims to fix issues and enhance the original story, the author notes that new cutscenes appear stiff and that some narrative alterations might detract from Edward Kenway's character arc. The preview also highlights significant technical issues encountered during gameplay.
Witcher 3's heaviest scene stunned its devs into silence, but Cyberpunk 2's associate director says it was crucial for 'understanding the craft' of quest design
Paweł Sasko, associate director on Cyberpunk 2 and former lead quest designer for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, discussed the impact of Vesemir's death scene on developers. He stated that the scene, which stunned the development team into silence, was crucial for understanding the craft of quest and narrative design. Sasko also mentioned that he enjoyed working on such impactful moments.
Hopetown Drops Gameplay Teaser And Reveals Additional Disco Elysium Alumni
Longdue has released a new gameplay teaser for their upcoming RPG Hopetown, which features investigation and publishing mechanics. The studio also announced that Olga Moskvina, a writer and editor from Disco Elysium, has joined the development team, alongside other former ZA/UM members. A limited 'Newsflash' edition of the game is available for pre-order on Kickstarter until May 29th.
Struggling Witcher spinoff brings acclaimed Destiny 2 narrative veteran onboard as new lead writer
Kwan Perng, formerly of Bungie where he served as narrative lead for Destiny 2's The Final Shape, has been hired as the new lead writer for Project Sirius, a Witcher spinoff game. Perng announced his move to CD Projekt's troubled project, which has undergone several reboots since its initial announcement. He expressed excitement about working in The Witcher universe, though details about the game remain scarce.
Looks like The Witcher 4 work isn't holding back multiplayer spinoff Project Sirius — it just picked up the narrative lead of one of Destiny 2's best expansions
Kwan Perng, formerly the narrative lead for Destiny 2: The Final Shape, has been appointed as the lead writer for CD Projekt Red's multiplayer Witcher spin-off, Project Sirius. Perng announced his new role on LinkedIn, expressing his immersion in The Witcher universe. This hiring suggests that development on Project Sirius is progressing, even as CD Projekt Red prioritizes The Witcher 4.
Narrative lead of Destiny 2's best expansion joins The Witcher multiplayer game Project Sirius at CD Projekt Red
Kwan Perng, a narrative lead on Destiny 2's The Final Shape expansion, has joined CD Projekt Red as the lead writer for the upcoming multiplayer game, Project Sirius. Perng previously worked on Destiny 2 expansions and Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons. Project Sirius is one of several Witcher-related projects in development at CD Projekt Red.
CD Projekt RED’s Project Sirius Recruits Destiny 2: The Final Shape Narrative Lead
Kwan Perng, known for his narrative work on Destiny 2: The Final Shape, has joined CD Projekt RED's Boston team as lead writer for Project Sirius, a multiplayer spin-off of The Witcher. Perng's hiring suggests potential progress for the project, which has faced development challenges and a significant reboot. While details remain scarce, his involvement indicates a renewed focus on storytelling within The Witcher universe for Project Sirius.
Still With Me, Dear Reader?
Rue Valley is a narrative-driven game that explores themes of mental health and personal tragedy through a unique time-loop mechanic, standing apart from games like Disco Elysium. Despite clunky game design, its empathetic approach to character development and its 47-minute in-game loop offer a resonant experience for players grappling with similar challenges. The article recommends the game for its strong writing and encourages players to seek mental health resources if needed.
What we've been playing - "Asking what the point of playing it is would be like asking why you should bother seasoning a meal"
Several writers share their recent gaming experiences. Victoria recounts her daughter's first Zelda dungeon completion in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom on Nintendo Switch. Bertie discusses Heroes of Might & Magic: The Olden Era and Slay the Spire 2, while Chris offers further thoughts on Mixtape for PC and Steam Deck. Connor is enjoying Directive 8020 on PlayStation 5.
6 Story Games for Players Who Don't Want to Talk | TAG
This article highlights six story-driven games that do not require dialogue choices or role-playing, catering to players seeking a narrative experience without conversational effort. Titles like Journey, Cocoon, Inside, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Return of the Obra Dinn, and Outer Wilds are discussed for their unique methods of storytelling through environment, music, and observation, with many also being compatible with handheld devices like the Steam Deck.
Steam Machine and Switch 2 aren't "massive technological upgrades," says BioShock creator – but they prove we've hit "diminishing returns" with cutting-edge graphics tech
BioShock creator Ken Levine believes that focusing on cutting-edge graphics technology leads to diminishing returns and doesn't age as well as stylistic choices. He argues that platforms like the Nintendo Switch 2 and Steam Machine are not massive technological upgrades, and that strong art direction is more important than being on the technological cutting edge. Levine also stated that his upcoming game, Judas, will prioritize narrative design over CPU intensity.
"I can only tip my hat to those guys" - BioShock creator Kevin Levine praises Baldur's Gate 3 amid fresh talk about his ambitious plans for next game Judas
BioShock creator Ken Levine praised Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 for its complex narrative engineering, drawing parallels to the challenges his studio faces with the upcoming immersive sim Judas. Levine highlighted that while Baldur's Gate 3 wasn't technologically demanding, its intricate branching narrative required immense organizational effort. He also shared his views on ultra-realism in games, suggesting that effective art direction can be more impactful than cutting-edge technology.
Should you send a distress call or warning in Directive 8020?
This guide for Directive 8020 clarifies that the choice between sending a distress call or a warning does not significantly impact the overall story outcome, only resulting in two different cutscenes. While the narrative suggests a major consequence, the decision ultimately has minimal effect on the game's progression, regardless of which characters are alive to make the call.
Morning Multiplex
This article highlights trailers for the games 'Just Eat Sushi!' and 'Life Below', alongside a developer Q&A with Rhianna Pratchett discussing narrative design for 'Life Below'. It also briefly mentions facial cues in games as discussed by Viva La Dirt League.