Latest game development news from across the industry
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Gamefromscratch
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2 hours, 49 minutes ago
XBox Wire
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1 hour, 28 minutes ago
XBox Wire
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2 hours, 28 minutes ago
Graphics and tools teams get the most from these drops: Babylon.js 9.28.0 improves render correctness and adds root-motion support for animation groups, while also smoothing OBJ AssetContainer and Gaussian Splatting behavior. Aseprite’s patch fixes a tilemap paste crash and layer/sprite copy issues, which matters for pixel-art workflows. Stride’s CLI and samples updates mainly reduce setup friction and keep starter content/versioning aligned for teams on newer .NET paths.
XBox Wire says Microsoft Jewel is coming to mobile with Xbox Achievements and Game Pass perks baked in. That gives a familiar puzzle game a stronger retention loop and a clearer cross-platform hook for players already invested in Microsoft’s ecosystem. For devs, it’s another sign that platform services are being pushed deeper into casual mobile play.
Ars Technica reports that the PS5 hacking scene has crossed a major threshold: the new Relapse exploit works on consoles up to firmware 13.6, not just years-old builds. For developers, the practical takeaway is that jailbreak access is now viable on far more retail units, and the exploit is dramatically faster than earlier attempts.
XBox Wire says End of Abyss launches October 1 on Xbox Series X|S, bringing a sci-fi action-adventure from Section 9 Interactive, a three-person studio formed by former Tarsier devs. The game has shifted from a top-down shooter into a slower, more atmospheric horror-metroidvania built around exploration, tension, and gear upgrades.
GameFromScratch reports that former Guerrilla Games and Crytek AI developer Jose Escribano has released htn_planner, an HTN-based planning framework inspired by AAA work on Horizon. It pairs hierarchical task network AI with domain editing tools, compilers, and dynamic bindings, giving teams a more structured way to author game behavior.
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Grasshopper Manufacture is splitting from NetEase Games and becoming independent again. CEO Goichi Suda says Romeo is a Dead Man helped sharpen the studio’s direction, and Grasshopper now plans to lean on its self-publishing experience. The move keeps the door open for future collaboration with NetEase.
GamesIndustry.biz argues indie studios need to build for volatility, not just a hit. The piece points to layoffs, rising costs, and tougher funding as reasons to keep 12–18 months of runway, validate ideas early, and avoid betting everything on a single project.
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Zynga nearly bought Supercell for $400 million in 2012, with Mark Pincus saying the all-cash deal collapsed after Zynga’s board lost confidence following OMGPop. For devs, it’s a reminder that execution risk can kill even strategic acquisitions. The hindsight sting is obvious: Supercell later posted huge profits.
GamesIndustry.biz details how Funcom is handling Dune: Awakening’s licensed production, from Jira-based approvals with Legendary to a console push that adds single-player support and deeper difficulty options. Joel Bylos also argues style matters more than photorealism, while floating a future where games borrow Hollywood’s project-financing model.
GamesIndustry.biz says Game Republic New Horizons has added Housemarque, Bithell Games, and a Nintendo developer breakfast to its 2026 lineup. For teams shipping on Switch or chasing stronger VFX and pitch strategy, the event is shaping up as a practical mix of craft talks, platform access, and funding advice.
Steamworks Development says Steam will start phasing out its manual Discounts & Events calendar in early 2027, replacing fixed promo slots with more dynamic, personalized recommendations. Valve says the test surfaced 10x more games in a day and lifted visits, wishlists, and cart adds. Existing Weekend, Midweek, and Daily Deals will still run.
GamesIndustry.biz reports that global game content revenue is forecast to climb from $204.4 billion in 2025 to $229.1 billion by 2030. S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan sees PC and Asia-Pacific doing much of the heavy lifting, while rising dev costs, pricier hardware, and cautious consumers could slow the pace.
Game Developer reports that former Dying Light franchise lead Tymon Smektała has joined Bloober Team’s horror imprint, Broken Mirror Games. The move strengthens a label already focused on genre projects, and it signals more senior production and franchise experience inside Bloober’s horror pipeline. For teams building horror, it’s another sign that established IP and specialist leadership remain a strong draw.
XBox Wire says NBA The Run’s first seasonal update is live now, adding five 2000s-era legends, new camera options, and a free batch of gameplay and customization upgrades. For teams building sports games, the patch is a useful example of how to extend launch content without splitting the player base.
Game Developer reports that Naughty Dog is already signaling new The Last of Us projects after Intergalactic wraps. For developers, the takeaway is that the studio is keeping one of PlayStation’s biggest IPs active while it shifts focus to a new original game. The exact format and team makeup haven’t been disclosed.
GDC Festival of Gaming shares a new GDC Side Quest clip with Sam Carlisle of XDS Spark, focusing on the practical line between outsourcing and co-development. For studios planning external support, the distinction matters: co-dev usually means deeper integration, shared ownership, and tighter production alignment than task-based vendor work.
XBox Wire says Xbox Insiders are getting early access to Mythic Achievements, a new layer on top of the platform’s achievement system. The feature marks games where players have cleared every original achievement, and it retroactively applies to eligible completed games, including some Xbox 360 titles.
Game Developer reports that Control Resonant director Kyle Rowley is pushing back on excessive “yellow paint” in level design. His argument is that players should feel ownership over what to do with world elements, rather than being steered by obvious visual breadcrumbs. For developers, it’s a reminder that readability and hand-holding can easily tip into over-signposting.
XBox Wire says Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is getting a PC trailer alongside tech updates. For developers, the headline is less about the reveal itself and more about the continued emphasis on platform-specific presentation and technical messaging around a major shooter launch.
GameFromScratch reports that Pixi Labs has unveiled Trexel, a new 2D app built on PixiEditor and aimed squarely at game developers. The pitch centers on seamless texturing for repeating assets, with the first beta planned for early 2027. For teams shipping stylized or tile-heavy content, that could mean a more focused texture workflow.
Game Developer reports that Arc Raiders' breakout success has left Embark struggling to keep pace without burning out its team. Aleksander Grøndal says the studio kept overshooting capacity as millions of players arrived, forcing a hard look at how to balance live demand with staff wellbeing.
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