Open World
Ongoing coverage on Open World.
Latest coverage
20 years later, Bully is still "unlike any other" open-world game, says Rockstar co-founder and GTA veteran…
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser reflects on Bully, a 2006 open-world game set in a New England boarding school, stating it remains unique in the industry. The game focused on teen protagonist Jimmy navigating school cliques and avoiding authority, offering a distinct tone and setting that resonated with players. Houser attributes its success to integrity, memorable characters, and a unique setting, highlighting its anti-bullying message.
PlayStation Plus Adds Free Game Trial for Hit 2026 Adventure Game
A 1.5-hour free trial for the 2026 adventure game Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is now available on PlayStation Plus Premium. The game features an open-world Gotham City, a new combat system, and local co-op, chronicling Batman's origins and encounters with various allies and villains.
FC 27 Deep Dive Schedule: Gameplay, Career Mode & Open World Dates
EA Sports has announced the schedule for its upcoming developer deep dives for EA Sports FC 27, beginning with gameplay on July 29, 2026. Subsequent breakdowns for Career Mode, Ultimate Team, and the new open-world 'The Grounds' will follow in late July and early August, ahead of the game's September launch.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Team Was “Very Mindful” About Feedback From Rebirth’s Minigames
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the game will feature numerous minigames and side content, a hallmark of the series. The development team is incorporating feedback from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, including difficulty settings and the option to skip minigames, with most rewards not impacting combat to reduce player pressure.
Far Cry spin-off cancelled in favour of new 'ambitious' game claims report
A report indicates that Ubisoft has cancelled a Far Cry universe extraction shooter, codenamed Maverick, to focus on a new, ambitious spin-off called Kodiak. Kodiak, developed by the new subsidiary Vantage Studios, is described as an open-world first-person shooter and is reportedly several years from release. The next mainline Far Cry game, codenamed Blackbird, is also mentioned as having a multiplayer component.
Another Far Cry game is in the works
A new open-world Far Cry game is reportedly in development, following the cancellation of an extraction shooter within the franchise. Further details about the project have not yet been revealed.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Wants to Avoid Open-World Fatigue By Offering More Guidance
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi discussed the game's approach to open-world design, aiming to mitigate player fatigue by providing clearer guidance. He also detailed improvements to the combat system, evolving from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's mechanics with a new FITS system for greater party role flexibility. The game is set to conclude the Remake trilogy on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered review (2018)
Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered offers a unique open-world experience centered around its groundbreaking Geo-mod destruction physics. While the driving, shooting, and story are uninspired, the ability to strategically demolish buildings remains a compelling and influential gameplay mechanic. This re-mastered edition includes reworked textures, improved lighting, and native 4K support for PC.
Final Fantasy 7 Director Kept 'Open World Fatigue' in Mind as New Remake Chapter Promises 'Bigger' World Than Rebirth
Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, acknowledged the industry's struggle with 'open world fatigue' but assured that the upcoming remake chapter will provide players with sufficient guidance. Despite promising a larger world than Rebirth, Square Enix is focused on ensuring a well-directed player experience.
FC 27 The Grounds: Open-World Details, Districts & Features
Electronic Arts is introducing "The Grounds," an open-world social hub for FC 27, marking the franchise's first foray into this game design. This mode will replace traditional menus, allowing players to explore three distinct districts, interact with mentors like Kylian Mbappé and Alex Hunter, purchase licensed apparel, and participate in mini-games and street matches. The Grounds will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, excluding last-gen consoles.
Final Fantasy VII: Revelation open world will be much bigger than Rebirth
Square Enix has stated that Final Fantasy VII: Revelation will feature a significantly larger open world compared to Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. The development team is focusing on guiding players naturally through the expansive environment to avoid overwhelming them.
Something for the Weekend – 25/07/26
This week's gaming news includes the release date announcement for God of War Laufey, a delay for Tomb Raider Catalyst, and Xbox testing advert-supported game streaming. New titles like Wreckreation 2 and Modern Warfare 4 were also revealed, alongside reviews for Splatoon Raiders, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, and Halo: Campaign Evolved.
The big Final Fantasy 7 Revelation interview
In an interview, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi discusses the evolution of the combat system, the introduction of the FITS system for character jobs, and the approach to open-world design. He emphasizes player agency and guidance, drawing lessons from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to ensure Revelation offers a balanced experience.
Wreckreation 2 utannonserat – av en nybildad studio
Wreckreation 2 has been announced by the newly formed studio When Tides Turn, which includes former Criterion employees. The game is being developed independently of Three Fields Entertainment, the studio behind the first Wreckreation. Wreckreation 2 is described as an open-world racing game focused on aggression and risk, and is currently only announced for PC with no release date.
New Code of The Savage Demo news
A new demo for the old-school open-world RPG Code of The Savage is now available. This updated demo features a fully playable opening tutorial, nine languages in a single build, a redesigned main menu, expanded NPC schedules, quicksave/quickload functionality, and significant improvements to combat, dialogue, shops, maps, journals, and overall performance. The demo includes approximately a quarter of the game's world and is still under active development.
Brand-New Hit PS5 Sci-Fi Game Already Discounted on PlayStation Store
The Planet Crafter, a sci-fi open-world survival game originally released on PC in 2024, is now available on PlayStation 5 with a limited-time discount. PS Plus subscribers can purchase the game for $21.59 until August 2. The game tasks players with terraforming a barren planet into a habitable paradise through resource gathering, base building, and crafting.
2025 PlayStation 5 Open World Game Getting Unexpected Sequel
Wreckreation 2, a sequel to the 2025 open-world racing game Wreckreation, has been announced for PlayStation 5. The new title is being developed by When Tides Turn, a studio founded by Criterion Games co-founder Fiona Sperry, and aims to incorporate player feedback into its design. The original game was developed by Three Fields Entertainment and published by THQ Nordic.
Wreckreation 2 Announced As Community Helps Shape The Future Of Arcade Racing
Wreckreation 2 has been announced by developer When Tides Turn, an open-world arcade racer for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. The game emphasizes community-driven development, with players helping to shape its features and content. The studio aims to improve upon the original Wreckreation by focusing on exciting arcade action and player creativity through robust creation tools.
Wreckreation 2 announced as an open-world arcade racer!
Wreckreation 2 has been announced by new studio When Tides Turn, formerly 3 Fields Entertainment, with THQ no longer serving as publisher. This open-world arcade racer will feature improved vehicle handling, destructible environments, and new modes like 'Accident Blackspot', reminiscent of Burnout. Wreckreation 2 is slated for a 2027 release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Wreckreation 2 in development from Fiona Sperry's new studio
Fiona Sperry, former co-founder of Criterion Games and Three Fields Entertainment, has announced Wreckreation 2 through her new studio, When Tides Turn. The sequel will shift focus from the open-world driving playground of the original Wreckreation to a more dedicated arcade racing experience with aggressive driving and risk-reward mechanics. The game is in early development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
