creative vision Archives

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

“Make games and die. That’s my plan”: Coincidence’s Zach Barth on making games about making things, a year of teaching, and being in it for the long haul

Kaizen: A Factory Story is an upcoming video game set in 1980s Japan, described as "an open-ended puzzle automation game" where players create products that lead to further production. The game is developed by Coincidence, a new collective formed by the original Zachtronics team, following its disbandment in late 2022. Zach Barth, the creative director, has a passion for games focused on production lines and emphasizes a more fluid company structure in Coincidence. The game's narrative, crafted by Matthew Seiji Burns, features a Japanese American protagonist navigating Japan's business landscape during its economic bubble, evoking nostalgia for iconic products of the era, though actual products like the Sony Walkman and Nintendo Game Boy will not be included due to licensing issues.

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

Remedy “hoped for a better launch” for FBC: Firebreak

Remedy Entertainment's latest title, FBC: Firebreak, launched on June 17th and attracted one million players in its first nine days. The game peaked at 1,992 concurrent players on Steam, which is considered an important metric for the game's success. Despite the initial player engagement, the launch did not meet the team's expectations, prompting them to implement significant changes in patch 1.2 during the launch week. Remedy plans to develop and release free post-launch content, emphasizing the importance of player feedback while maintaining their creative vision. The game's design philosophy encourages players to engage with the game periodically rather than requiring daily logins.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

After a weekend packed with game reveals, I can’t stop thinking about Clockwork Revolution’s time-traveling shenanigans

Clockwork Revolution is a steampunk RPG shooter developed by inXile Entertainment, known for titles like Wasteland 3 and Torment: Tides of Numenera. The game features a blend of humor and innovative gameplay mechanics, set in a visually striking steampunk world. The release window is unspecified, but excitement is high among gamers and industry watchers.

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

Six new Android features just dropped, and you can try them out today

Android 16 introduces several new features, including enhancements to RCS group chats, a redesigned Google Photos editor, and improved functionality in the Google Home app. RCS group chat updates allow users to customize group chats with unique icons and names, check RCS status of friends, and mute notifications for specific groups. The Google Photos app features a new image editor with AI-driven suggestions, a Reimagine feature for creative expression, and an Auto frame function for better image cropping. The Google Home app now includes device-specific shortcuts for easier management of smart devices and an upgraded Safety Check feature for scheduling check-ins. WearOS smartwatches can now tap city transit cards even when the Google Wallet app is closed, provided the feature is activated.

AppWizard

June 9, 2025

Star Trek Beyond writer Jung to helm Mass Effect show

Doug Jung has been appointed as the head writer and showrunner for the upcoming Mass Effect TV series. He will also serve as an executive producer alongside Dan Casey and Michael Gamble. Amazon Studios announced the greenlighting of the series in November 2024, but no official release window has been provided.

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

Lighthouse Games lands additional funding from Tencent

UK-based developer Lighthouse Games has received another round of funding from Tencent, although the exact amount is undisclosed. Founded in 2023 by Gavin Raeburn, the studio aims to accelerate the development of its inaugural title with this investment. This funding follows an earlier investment from Tencent in the same year, indicating a growing partnership. Lighthouse Games plans to enhance its operations in Leamington Spa to explore innovative creative avenues for their debut title in the driving genre.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Amplitude secures $13.6m in funding

Developer Amplitude Studios has secured €12 million (.6 million) in funding from a Series A round led by Griffin Gaming Partners, which contributed €10 million. The funds will be used for developing projects like Endless Legend 2 and expanding the studio's capabilities. This funding follows Amplitude's management buyout from Sega. Amplitude CEO Romain de Waubert de Genlis emphasized the studio's commitment to its indie identity and creative vision, while Griffin partner Frankie Zhu highlighted the studio's success in creating strategy-based franchises.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Obsidian vet Carrie Patel has joined Netflix

Carrie Patel, former director of Avowed, has joined Night School Studio, a subsidiary of Netflix, as game director. She previously worked at Obsidian Entertainment for nearly 12 years, contributing to titles like Pillars of Eternity, The Outer Worlds, and Avowed. Night School Studio was acquired by Netflix in 2021 and is known for the game Oxenfree. In February 2025, Netflix announced layoffs at Night School Studio amidst broader changes, including the closure of its Blue studio and leadership reshuffling.

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

Take-Two boss Zelnick assures investors GTA6 delay is “worthy investment”

Straus Zelnick, CEO and chair of Take-Two, announced that the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 has been postponed from 2025 to May 26, 2026, to allow Rockstar more time for refinement. He stated that the game's development began in earnest in 2020 and that it is the most anticipated entertainment property of all time. Zelnick emphasized that the ambition and complexity of Grand Theft Auto 6 surpass previous titles, and he believes the additional time is a worthy investment to ensure an extraordinary experience for players. He reassured stakeholders that the timeline is unlikely to change again, citing the company's historical success in meeting set release dates.

AppWizard

May 16, 2025

Chargers Detail Viral Minecraft Schedule Release Video, Included 500+ Hours In-Game

The Los Angeles Chargers released their schedule through a creative video made in Minecraft, which took over 500 hours to produce. The video features 15,000 entities, 22 mods, and a map covering 48.750 million blocks, showcasing matchups and including hidden easter eggs related to rival teams and iconic stadiums. This innovative approach aims to blend pop culture with sports, appealing to both gamers and football fans. The Chargers are looking to build on their playoff return from last season in the upcoming year under coach Jim Harbaugh.