Open World
Ongoing coverage on Open World.
Latest coverage
The Witcher 4 is 'targeting' a 2028 release
CD Projekt RED co-CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that The Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release window. He described the game as their biggest, boldest, and most ambitious to date, featuring a large open world and impactful story. The company is working with over 500 developers on the project.
CD Projekt Red is "targeting" a 2028 release date for The Witcher 4, per a new update from the developer
CD Projekt Red is targeting a 2028 release for The Witcher 4, describing it as their most ambitious game to date. Over 500 developers are working on the new RPG saga, which will feature a large open world and impactful story. The developer also provided an update on The Witcher 3's upcoming DLC, Songs of the Past, which will be shown at Gamescom and star Geralt.
Corepunk brings point capturing warfare to the open world with its latest update
Corepunk's latest update introduces a new open-world mechanic where players can capture randomly spawning points. Holding these points requires fighting off waves of enemies and potentially other players, with rewards including chests and leaderboard points. The patch also includes item and ability tags, class adjustments, and various other quality-of-life improvements.
Gangstar Mirage City Online Brings the Series Back with a New Open-World PvP Title
Gameloft's Gangstar series returns after a nine-year hiatus with Gangstar Mirage City Online, a new open-world PvP title published by Level Infinite for Android. The game features heists, garages, street clashes, and a reputation system within the fictional Mirage City. Players can engage in co-op heists, explore the neon-lit streets, run underground businesses, and participate in casual PvP battles and races, with a Notoriety system impacting gameplay when players engage in player-versus-player combat.
OK, Vice City does look pretty damn impressive from the air
Recent leaked gameplay footage of Grand Theft Auto 6 showcases the city of Vice City from an aerial perspective, highlighting its immense scale and detailed environment. While the legitimacy of the clips is unconfirmed, they offer a glimpse into the game's open-world design and the level of detail expected from Rockstar Games. The article also touches upon the lack of a confirmed PC release date and mentions other games the author enjoys.
15 Massive Gamescom 2026 Announcements That Could Steal the Show
Gamescom 2026 is set to feature major announcements from various publishers and developers, including Xbox, Nintendo, and Bandai Namco. Anticipated reveals include potential updates for Final Fantasy 7 Remake, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Cyberpunk 2077, Metro 2039, and a rumored Xbox sequel.
"I think one of the reasons GTA was so well received was the amount of detail," reflects an original dev: "No one ever said no, or that something couldn't be done"
This article delves into the development history of the Grand Theft Auto series, focusing on the early contributions of DMA Design and key figures like Paul Farley and Mike Dailly. It highlights the evolution of the open-world concept, level design challenges, and the creative freedom that defined the franchise's early entries, from the original Grand Theft Auto to Grand Theft Auto 3 and beyond.
Crimson Desert’s Update Have Made Changes That Imply Nautical Theme For DLC – Rumor
Recent updates to Crimson Desert by Pearl Abyss suggest an upcoming DLC with a nautical theme, indicated by new underwater seaweed and sandy coastlines. The developer is also targeting a 2026 release for the DLC and the first half of 2027 for a Nintendo Switch version, while also working on improvements for the PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S versions.
GTA 6 cars need gas? OK, I'm finally on board
This opinion piece discusses the potential for Grand Theft Auto 6 to incorporate deeper simulation mechanics, inspired by Red Dead Redemption 2's life-like systems. The author expresses excitement over leaked gameplay showing a gas meter for vehicles, hoping for more immersive elements like managing hunger, working out, and dealing with debts to enhance the player's connection to the game world.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope DLC Review – Return to the Zone
The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl expansion, Cost of Hope, offers a non-linear experience with reimagined classic locations and improved gameplay systems. While it delivers on atmosphere and emergent AI behavior, the narrative and NPC depth fall short of their potential. Performance on PC is strong, making it a worthwhile addition for both new and returning players.
GTA 6 leaks show a game that looks like more GTA, but not a revolution
Leaked gameplay footage for Grand Theft Auto 6 suggests the game will offer more of the detailed open-world experience expected from Rockstar Games, rather than a revolutionary shift in gameplay. While the clips showcase interactive elements like basketball, the core gameplay loop appears similar to previous titles. The article speculates on how the official reveal will be received if the game doesn't introduce unprecedented innovations.
Ananta Will be Showcased at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026
Ananta, formerly known as Project Mugen, will be showcased at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 on August 25, with Geoff Keighley promising a fresh look at the urban open-world game. Developed by NetEase for PC, PlayStation 5, Android, and iOS, Ananta features traversal mechanics inspired by Marvel's Spider-Man and combat similar to Sleeping Dogs. The free-to-play title has garnered significant pre-registration interest.
Ragnarok Online-inspired MMO Torebia is taking requests for its ‘biggest playtest yet’ on August 21
Indie MMORPG Torebia: Island Odyssey, developed by Twin Studios, is preparing for its largest playtest yet, starting Friday, August 21st. The open playtest will stress servers and is accessible by requesting access on Steam. The game draws inspiration from Ragnarok Online, featuring a classless system, a shared world, and open item trading.
Mortal Shell 2 Review – A Bigger, Better Sequel, Clearly Inspired by Elden Ring
Mortal Shell 2 offers a refined Soulslike experience, drawing clear inspiration from Elden Ring's open-world design and progression systems while maintaining its own identity. The game features a more interconnected world, expanded Shell mechanics, and a satisfying combat system that blends traditional weaponry with firearms and status effects. Despite some noticeable bugs and a less impactful narrative, Mortal Shell 2 is a strong sequel that builds upon its predecessor's foundation.
Respawn Monday #12: Why Beast of Reincarnation Felt Rough at the Start — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
The author found the initial hours of Beast of Reincarnation, developed by Pokémon studio Game Freak, to be rough due to a jumbled story pacing and an identity crisis stemming from its inspirations. Despite these issues and awkward boss fights, the author plans to continue playing the game, which is available on PC Game Pass.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope DLC – Everything You Need to Know
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope, an expansion for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, is set to release on August 20, 2026, for all major platforms. This expansion will add dozens of hours of new content, featuring new areas like the Iron Forest and the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and will run parallel to the main story, allowing players to make choices that impact the narrative and the conflict between the Duty and Freedom factions.
GTA 4 producer Leslie Benzies wanted NPCs "to have their own lives," former Rockstar lead says, but "it ended up being so problematic" and didn't "really matter that much"
Former Rockstar Games producer Leslie Benzies envisioned Grand Theft Auto 4's NPCs having individual lives and schedules, but technical lead Obbe Vermeij stated the feature was too problematic and ultimately didn't significantly enhance the player experience. Vermeij suggested that players are generally accepting of less complex NPC behavior and that realism isn't always the primary goal in game design.
The Witcher 3 lead says designing for player curiosity "really came to haunt us" when making sure it felt like…
CD Projekt Red quest designer Philipp Weber discussed how early design choices for NPC schedules in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, focused on realism, created unexpected challenges. The team prioritized simulating believable daily routines over immediate player reactions, leading to humorous situations like NPCs dropping babies. Weber noted that creating such detailed NPC behaviors was more difficult in earlier development stages compared to current practices.
Revisiting Grand Theft Auto 2: Anywhere City And The Sequel That Fixed Everything Except Itself
This article revisits Grand Theft Auto 2, highlighting its improvements over the original, such as a save system and refined gameplay mechanics. Despite these enhancements, the author finds the game's retro-futuristic setting and inconsistent art style unappealing, especially when compared to contemporary titles like Driver.
Aniimo Sets September 15 Launch: A Free Open-World Creature-Collector With Zelda And Animal Crossing Vibes
Aniimo, a free open-world creature-collecting RPG from Pawprint Interactive, is set to launch on September 15 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, iOS, and Android. The game features real-time combat and an open-world map, drawing comparisons to Pokémon, Palworld, The Legend of Zelda, and Animal Crossing. Special editions with bonus in-game items are available for pre-order.
