development team Archives

AppWizard

August 30, 2026

A Star Wars Galaxies community server was allegedly hacked with AI assistance by a Reddit moderator harboring a primeval grudge

A hacker known as levarrishawk has decrypted the game assets of the Star Wars Galaxies Legends community server, raising concerns among developers and players. The Legends team confirmed that he used AI tools to access client-side game asset files, which include unique content from the server. Levarris has offered these decrypted files to other servers, and the team warned that any Legends-exclusive content appearing elsewhere may have originated from their assets. Levarris claims his motivations stem from a dispute regarding the use of development tools obtained through a "honeypot" scheme related to the original game. He criticized the Legends project for not sharing these tools with other developers in the community. Reactions within the community have been mixed, with some expressing disappointment in Levarris's actions.

AppWizard

August 30, 2026

New Roguelikes & Roguelites in September 2026: The Monthly Update

- Serious Sam: Shatterverse was released on August 31 for PC (Win). - Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault was released on September 2 for PC (Win), PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox. - Cosmo Tales entered Early Access on September 3 for PC (Win). - Rutrum was released on September 3 for PC (Win). - Mewgenics was released on September 8 for PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series. - Wanderburg entered Early Access on September 8 for PC (Win). - Ex Sanguis entered Early Access on September 10 for PC (Win). - Roguecraft DX was released on September 10 for PC (Win). - Forsworn was released on September 10 for PC (Lin, Win). - Fresh Tracks VR was released on September 10 for PC VR. - Shroom and Gloom entered Early Access on September 11 for PC (Mac, Win). - Dunebound Tactics was released on September 14 for PC (Win). - Cloudbreaker was released on September 15 for PC (Lin, Win). - Fleetbreakers entered Early Access on September 15 for PC (Win). - Sublight was released on September 15 for PC (Win). - Two Sides of Hell was released on September 17 for PC (Win). - Furyball: Rogue Revenge entered Early Access on September 23 for PC (Win). - Stick It to the Stickman was released on September 23 for PC (Win).

AppWizard

August 29, 2026

Valve assures Deadlock players hungry for its next big update that it will notify them, ‘or order a ton of pizza’, when it’s ready

Deadlock, a hybrid MOBA-shooter in pseudo-early access, has generated significant anticipation among players. The recent Old Gods, New Blood update introduced six new heroes and other enhancements. Valve hinted at a large content update and two smaller updates focused on ranked mode and item adjustments. However, a communication from developer representative Yoshi indicated delays in the anticipated update due to playtesting and iteration processes. Despite being invite-only, Deadlock has evolved over the past year, with signs pointing toward a potential transition to open beta. The development team is responsive to community feedback, suggesting a commitment to the game's future.

AppWizard

August 29, 2026

Rockstar considered having four protagonists in Grand Theft Auto 6, but the studio ‘worried about diluting the amount of player time’ with each character

Rockstar has reduced the number of playable characters in Grand Theft Auto 6 from three to two, prioritizing a more intimate narrative experience. The decision was influenced by concerns about diluting player connection with characters if more were introduced. The focus on two protagonists aims to foster a strong emotional bond and chemistry between them, enhancing player engagement. The game features a world three times larger than Red Dead Redemption 2 and a nuanced honor system, but the central partnership between the two characters is expected to define this installment.

AppWizard

August 25, 2026

Iconic Retro Horror Game ‘Sanitarium Enhanced’ Coming to PC and Consoles

Ziggurat Interactive has announced two upcoming titles: Sanitarium Enhanced and Cosmi: Forbidden Forest & Beyond. Sanitarium Enhanced, a psychological horror game, will be available on PC (Steam, GOG), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Nintendo Switch. It is a modernized version of the 1998 cult classic, featuring full controller support, widescreen presentation, and additional bonus content. Cosmi: Forbidden Forest & Beyond will be released for PC (Steam, GOG), Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5. Both announcements were made during the Pixel Arcadia showcase. A specific release date for Sanitarium Enhanced has not yet been provided.

AppWizard

August 23, 2026

EverQuest Legends dev says ‘I’m sure we would’ add new classes, races ‘in the longer-term vision of the game’

EverQuest Legends is set to undergo significant changes, including the introduction of new classes not found in the original EverQuest. David Youssefi, executive producer at Daybreak, mentioned the possibility of adding additional races and classes in the long term, although he indicated that it may not happen by the upcoming expansion Kunark. Eda Spause, CEO of Game Jawn, supported this vision for new content. The game has already introduced unique playable races and revamped zones, and the addition of new classes could enhance gameplay by allowing for diverse builds and playstyles. Players are eager for more information on potential new classes.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Gladio Mori launches on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on 16 September

Oulu, Finland, will see the full launch of Gladio Mori on September 16, 2026, after its successful Steam Early Access period. The game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, developed by Plebeian Studio. It features unique combat mechanics that track damage through injuries rather than health bars, with a focus on strategy and precision. Players can utilize a move editor to create personalized attacks or access a community gallery for user-generated moves. The game supports online matches for up to four players and has received a Very Positive rating on Steam since its Early Access launch on November 26, 2024. Full crossplay functionality will be integrated at the full release. Plebeian Studio is a one-person development team, and the game is published by Bonus Stage Publishing, with plans for release in China by Korgi Digital.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Riot is ending development of its 2XKO fighting game

Riot Games has decided to cease active development of its fighting game, 2XKO, six months after significantly reducing its development team. This decision follows a layoff of approximately 80 developers due to the game's failure to generate the necessary momentum for long-term support. Despite attracting a considerable number of players and fostering a vibrant community, 2XKO did not achieve a sustainable player base. The game, which was officially confirmed in 2019 and released in January 2026, struggled to engage the broader fighting game community, despite being well-received by diehard tag fighter enthusiasts. Riot had previously expressed commitment to the game's future but has now acknowledged the need to conclude active development due to a lack of meaningful, sustained change in player engagement. The studio plans to provide a roadmap for remaining updates and support for the community.

AppWizard

August 19, 2026

Dishonored co-creator Harvey Smith launches a new studio and it literally has the word ‘Immersive’ in the name

Harvey Smith, former studio director at Arkane Austin, has founded a new studio called Black Pony Immersive with executive producer Ben Horne. The studio aims to create imaginative first-person action RPGs with a focus on emergent game systems. The development team includes talent from companies like Arkane, Insomniac, Epic, Avalanche, and Volition. Black Pony Immersive's mission reflects a commitment to immersive storytelling and gameplay, inspired by the legacy of Looking Glass Studios. The closure of Arkane Austin in 2024 followed the poor performance of Redfall, but there is hope that some creative ideas from that period may be revived at Black Pony. Specific details about their first project are not yet disclosed, but hints are available on their website.

AppWizard

August 19, 2026

Subnautica 2’s latest 1.2 update is friend focused—finally adding the key mechanic to any great multiplayer game

Proximity chat will be introduced in Subnautica 2, allowing players to engage in local voice chats with audio quality that degrades as they move apart, enhancing communication and adding tension during exploration. The update will also include new player emotes for expressing emotions, improved inventory sharing that notifies players when their backpack is accessed, and a player revive feature that allows teammates to restore incapacitated players. These enhancements aim to enrich player interactions and provide a more immersive multiplayer experience.