World Building
Ongoing coverage on World Building.
Latest coverage
Vague Patch Notes: The struggle of expansions against MMO identity
This analysis explores the challenges and identity shifts inherent in MMO expansions, using examples like Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft. Expansions that introduce new areas can either seamlessly integrate or create a jarring tonal clash, impacting the game's overall feel and player perception.
Amazon’s Fallout: Season 3 Will Show “Some New Things in the Fallout World”, Says Todd Howard
Todd Howard of Bethesda has confirmed that pre-production for the third season of Amazon's Fallout series is underway and will begin shooting soon. He teased that the new season will explore new locations within the Fallout world, potentially surprising viewers with never-before-seen areas. The season is expected to feature new characters, with Aaron Paul reportedly joining the cast.
Analyzing Mouse: P.I. For Hire's audacious worldbuilding - Narrative Notebook #4
This analysis delves into the ambitious worldbuilding of Fumi Games' debut title, Mouse: P.I. For Hire. The article examines how the game blends a 1920s rubber hose animation style with noir and cosmic horror elements, exploring the developers' intent to create a rich narrative despite its 'boomer shooter' gameplay roots. It also discusses the game's controversial attempts to incorporate real-world political commentary, particularly concerning fascism and minority representation, and how these elements sometimes fall short.
Guild Wars 3 teases its more ‘seamless’ and ‘layered’ setting: Ancient Orr in all its glory
ArenaNet provided new details on Guild Wars 3's setting, which takes place in the 'golden age' of Orr, a thousand years before the original Guild Wars. The game will feature a more seamless and interconnected world with a focus on personal impact and evolving relationships with NPCs. The developers emphasized that newcomers will not need prior knowledge of the series to enjoy Guild Wars 3.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave's world map is partially inspired by medieval Spain, even if the Dagdan Empire setting looks much older
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, a new turn-based strategy-RPG from Intelligent Systems and Nintendo, will launch on September 17th for the Nintendo Switch. While its primary setting, the Dagdan Empire, is inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, the game's world map also draws inspiration from medieval Spain, featuring regions named after the historical Kingdoms of Aragon and Castile.
Driftland: The Magic Revival Finally Floats Onto Xbox
Driftland: The Magic Revival, a fantasy real-time strategy game originally released on PC in 2019 by Star Drifters, has now launched on Xbox Series X|S. Published by Ultimate Games, the game features unique mechanics such as moving floating islands and commanding dragons, with a price point of £16.74.
Critical Role finally releases a full-scale map of Campaign 4's main city, and I'm deeply jealous to not have their personal cartographer at my table
Critical Role has released a detailed, full-scale map of Dol-Makjar, the central city for their fourth campaign. The map, created by artists Daniel Jiménez Villalba and Andy Law, helps visualize the campaign's political intrigue and the city's rugged verticality. The author expresses envy for the production value compared to personal tabletop experiences.
Months of work later, one Pokémon Pokopia player's recreation of the original Kanto region is almost complete
A dedicated player in Pokémon Pokopia has nearly completed an ambitious recreation of the original Kanto region using the game's building tools. The player, known as starguy13 on Reddit, has shared progress on rebuilding towns and routes, adapting them to fit within the game's map constraints. This project honors the series' origins, with the game itself taking place in parts of the Kanto region.
The rumours were true, Warhorse are making an open-world Lord of the Rings RPG alongside a new Kingdom Come game
Warhorse Studios has confirmed rumors that they are developing an open-world RPG set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, alongside a new 'Kingdom Come adventure'. The studio, known for Kingdom Come: Deliverance, is working on both projects simultaneously. Details about the Lord of the Rings game are scarce, but it is expected to be separate from Amazon's Lord of the Rings MMO and will likely explore a different part of Tolkien's timeline.
Aether and Iron's Worldbuilt Intricacies
Aether and Iron is an opinion piece praising the intricate worldbuilding, art direction, and narrative of the game developed by Seismic Squirrel. The article highlights the "deco-punk" aesthetic, the compelling characters like Gia and Nellie, and the unique automotive chess combat system. It also commends the developers for their transparent development process and the artistic integrity of the game's visuals.
Control Resonant Features Multiple Factions and “Way More Creatures” to Fight, Including a Bus
Control Resonant, the sequel to Remedy Entertainment's 2019 hit, will feature multiple factions and significantly more enemy types, including a bus, within a twisted version of Manhattan. The game aims to address criticisms of enemy variety from the original Control and will launch later this year for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
'It's a Different Side to Naughty Dog': Intergalatic's Tati Gabrielle Talks Up New PS5 Exclusive
Actress Tati Gabrielle, who stars as the protagonist in the upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, believes the game will showcase a different side of developer Naughty Dog. She hinted at ambitious world-building and a unique sci-fi narrative, distinct from Naughty Dog's previous titles like The Last of Us and Uncharted. The game is reportedly planned for a 2027 release.
Naughty Dog Is Doing Something Completely Different With Intergalactic | HappyGamer
Naughty Dog is developing a new game titled Intergalactic that represents a significant departure from their previous work like The Last of Us and Uncharted. Actress Tati Gabrielle confirmed the studio is challenging themselves with extensive world-building for this new science fiction project, which is expected to leverage the capabilities of the PlayStation 5.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet brings "a different side of Naughty Dog," lead actor says, which sounds…
Lead actor Tati Gabrielle stated that Naughty Dog's upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, will showcase a different side of the studio, emphasizing its world-building and creative storytelling. This marks a departure from the studio's recent focus on The Last of Us franchise, with the game expected to be a significant creative endeavor.
Evening Interviews
Ubisoft discusses the role of video games in historical immersion and preservation. The company explores the creation of fun and plausible worlds for players, highlighting the importance of historical accuracy and engaging narratives.
Evening Multiplex
This article highlights recent official trailers for several games. It features a developer diary for Aether & Iron detailing world-building roles, a trailer for Aphelion, and gameplay footage for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies, specifically the Totenreich map.
Aether & Iron Dev Diary #7 Reveals How Its World Comes to Life
Seismic Squirrel released the seventh developer diary for Aether & Iron, focusing on how the team builds immersion through a cross-disciplinary approach. Narrative Director Tyler Whitney explains how narrative, design, art, and sound align to create a cohesive, lived-in world. The game is set in an alternate 1930s New York and is available on Steam.
Dungeon Saga Completes Mysterious Genesis Phase, Gates Opening Soon
Indie RPG Dungeon Saga has announced the completion of its "Genesis forging" phase, with gates set to open soon for whitelisted players. The game emphasizes narrative and world-building, featuring a guild system integrated into its lore. While the mysterious marketing builds anticipation, concerns remain about the lack of concrete gameplay details and the exclusivity of whitelist access.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution forgot toilet paper exists in 2027
An observant player noted the absence of toilet paper in Deus Ex: Human Revolution, highlighting how small details can impact immersion in game worlds. While the game excels at environmental storytelling and depicting a technologically advanced 2027, this mundane oversight breaks the illusion for some players. The article discusses the challenges developers face in creating believable worlds and how such details, though often overlooked, contribute to a game's charm and the community's engagement with its lore.
GTA 6: How Big Is It Really Going to Be?
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to be Rockstar Games' most expansive and immersive project to date, featuring the entire state of Leonida which is projected to be 2.5 to 2.7 times larger than Grand Theft Auto 5's map. The game will include multiple biomes, a vast increase in enterable buildings, and several major hubs including Vice City and Port Gellhorn, with a confirmed release date of November 19, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
