Player Feedback
Ongoing coverage on Player Feedback.
Latest coverage
Building a sound effects library around player feedback in indie games
This guide explains how to build a functional sound effects library for indie games by focusing on player feedback and repeated actions. It emphasizes organizing sounds by gameplay functions like rewards and warnings, giving movement abilities distinct audio identities, and supporting cues with visual and controller feedback. Testing sounds during normal gameplay is crucial to ensure clarity and avoid listener fatigue.
Civilization 7's game changing update was 'personally challenging' for its creative director, as being able to play as a single faction 'wasn't part of the original vision'
Firaxis Games has reintroduced an optional single-faction mode to Civilization 7 via the 'Test of Time' update, a decision that was personally challenging for creative director Ed Beach as it deviated from the game's original vision. This change addresses player feedback, particularly from veteran fans, who were divided by the initial age-transition mechanic. The studio is also preparing for the launch of the game's first DLC, Earthrise.
Blizzard finally sees sense and caves to Diablo 4 players, increases Prime Evil Splinter stack size by 9900%
Blizzard Entertainment has increased the stack size for Prime Evil Splinters in Diablo 4 from 1 to 99, a 9900% increase, following significant player outcry. While the change is seen as a reversal by many, the Diablo 4 subreddit largely views the adjustment as too little, too late, with many players having already expressed dissatisfaction.
‘It is clear that we missed the mark on this’: RuneScape halts its Reignited character plan
Jagex has canceled its 'Reignited' character plan for RuneScape following significant backlash from long-time players. The studio acknowledged missing the mark and will instead focus on previously planned updates like an adventure guide UI and early level remastering. The company will still honor promised subscription benefits.
Jagex cancels RuneScape Reignited less than two weeks after it was announced, due to "a ton" of player feedback
Jagex has cancelled RuneScape: Reignited, a new game mode intended to attract new players, less than two weeks after its announcement. The decision came in response to significant negative player feedback regarding the potential to split the playerbase and its separate economy. The company cited past mistakes of not listening to player feedback as a reason for the cancellation.
Call of Duty is Getting a New Sub-Franchise After Modern Warfare 4, Says Chief Marketing Officer
Activision's Chief Marketing Officer Tyler Bahl revealed that a new Call of Duty game is in development to establish a new sub-franchise, aiming to innovate beyond the legacy of Modern Warfare and Black Ops. This announcement follows criticism of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's rapid release and confirms that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will conclude the current Modern Warfare storyline. Sledgehammer Games is speculated to be leading development on the new sub-franchise.
Welp, all of you RuneScape folks who hate Reignited have gotten your wish, as the controversial MMO rejig has been cancelled
Jagex has cancelled RuneScape Reignited, a controversial new character type and economy intended to revitalize the MMO. The decision came after significant negative feedback from the existing player base, with Jagex stating they would not repeat past mistakes of ignoring player input. The company will instead focus on releasing the Adventure Guide and Remastered Journey, alongside other improvements.
Jagex cancels MMO reset RuneScape Reignited after player backlash: "The last time we didn't listen to player…
Jagex has canceled its controversial RuneScape Reignited project, a plan to soft-reset the MMO with forked servers and fresh economies, following significant player backlash. The developer acknowledged that the plan alienated its existing community by potentially forcing players to abandon their accounts and pay for new memberships. This decision comes after Jagex previously faced criticism for the Evolution of Combat update, which led to the creation of Old School RuneScape.
Arc Raiders devs had the same debates players are currently having over PvE mode, but the "dad gamers" pushed…
Embark Studios is testing a PvE-only mode for Arc Raiders, a decision that mirrors internal debates and addresses player feedback, particularly from "dad gamers" seeking a less frustrating experience. While the test aims to gather data on player needs, the studio acknowledges potential challenges with loot economy and difficulty tuning.
Looking back on 10 years of Overwatch, the promises kept, and where Team 4 goes from here
Overwatch celebrates its 10th anniversary, reflecting on its journey as a live service game. Despite past challenges like content droughts and the disappointment surrounding Overwatch 2's PvE, the game is now considered to be in its best state, with developers Aaron Keller and Alec Dawson highlighting the team's passion, commitment to player feedback, and a renewed focus on the core experience. The developers are planning content years in advance, aiming to keep the game fresh and engaging for its dedicated player base.
"You don't listen to the loudest people in the room" - World of Warcraft: Forever boss discusses how to approach a deluge of feedback
World of Warcraft executive producer Holly Longdale discussed how Blizzard Entertainment approaches player feedback for the upcoming World of Warcraft: Forever. She emphasized the importance of not solely listening to the loudest voices and highlighted the team's selective approach to incorporating community suggestions, balancing them with data-driven research to maintain the game's core vision.
"Years of building, pitching and raising for games made the same failure painful to watch" – Why GameDataCore wants to find out how players feel
Brighton-based startup GameDataCore has launched a new platform designed to analyze Steam reviews and provide game developers with deeper insights into player sentiment and feedback. The platform aims to help studios understand player feelings, identify areas for improvement, and even inform future game development decisions by classifying review snippets by topic, emotion, tone, and motivation.
World of Warcraft Forever devs have learned "you don't listen to the loudest people in the room"
Blizzard Entertainment executives Holly Longdale and Clay Stone discussed the development of World of Warcraft Forever at PAX Australia, emphasizing a new direction that retains core values while expanding horizontally. They highlighted the massive engagement in the beta and the lesson learned to not solely listen to the loudest voices, but to research player feedback trends to create a complete experience.
Throne and Liberty promises updates to hit chance, skill cores, and ‘the fun of farming’ in November
Throne and Liberty developers are addressing player feedback regarding recent MMORPG updates, particularly concerning farming and item drops. Upcoming patches in November will increase high-level gear drop rates and introduce new skill cores to improve build diversity. Adjustments to hit chance and dagger synergy are also planned, alongside difficulty reductions and schedule changes for the Vegamor colossus fight.
Celebrate Delta Force’s 2nd Anniversary With New Ways to Play, Exclusive Rewards, and More
Delta Force is celebrating its second anniversary with the launch of Season Reorientation, introducing new gameplay features, exclusive rewards, and a focus on player feedback. Game Director Shadow Guo highlighted changes aimed at improving the player experience, such as enhanced matchmaking, streamlined loadout systems, and new map content like Layali Grove 2.0 and Polaris Patrol. The anniversary celebration, starting September 26, will also feature daily tasks for limited-time tickets and new cosmetic items, alongside the continuation of its esports scene with RISE Series Season 2 and the Delta Force Invitational.
EA Sports NHL 27 Interview – Connected Franchise, Player Feedback, Post-Launch Plans, And More
EA Sports discusses NHL 27's Connected Franchise mode, acknowledging player feedback regarding the absence of CPU-controlled teams and outlining plans for future updates. The developers also detail the team AI, goalie tuning, and presentation enhancements, while confirming target resolutions and frame rates for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
‘We are not done with Destiny’: Bungie resolves to unvault legacy content and ‘build its future’
Bungie has announced plans to unvault legacy content for Destiny 2 and "build its future" after previously stating the game was moving into maintenance mode. The studio acknowledged player feedback regarding past decisions and committed to rebuilding trust through action. Bungie also provided an update on its upcoming game, Marathon, indicating it will evolve into a deeper survival experience.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is planning New Game Plus, as Rebel Wolves studies your feedback
Rebel Wolves is considering a New Game Plus mode for The Blood of Dawnwalker, according to Game Director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz. The studio is actively analyzing player feedback for improvements and new features, with New Game Plus being a confirmed feature in development, though no release window has been provided.
Valheim devs finally get around to reading 5 years of player feedback, let you remap dodge key
Valheim developers have implemented a highly requested feature allowing players to remap the dodge key, addressing feedback from the game's five years of early access. The update also includes options to rebind radial wheel and hotbar items, disable the intro cinematic, and various bug fixes, including improvements to the cheat-flagging system.
Marathon Overhaul Planned as Bungie Pivots to PvE
Bungie is overhauling its extraction shooter Marathon, shifting focus towards permanent PvE experiences and implementing a progression reset. This change comes after player feedback highlighted a need for more depth and variety. The studio is also moving away from strict seasonal schedules to allow for more flexible development and testing of major features.
