game creators Archives

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Xbox announces ‘a generative AI model for gameplay ideation’ called Muse, but don’t get too excited: Machines aren’t about to make games for you just yet

Microsoft announced its latest generative AI model, Muse, developed in collaboration with Microsoft Research and Ninja Theory. Muse is described as a "world and human action model (WHAM)" trained on Ninja Theory's Bleeding Edge. Microsoft aims to enhance the gaming experience by using AI to enrich player engagement and support game developers' creative processes. The company emphasizes that AI is intended to empower human creativity rather than replace it. A report in Nature provides insights into Muse's technical aspects, highlighting the importance of human agency in the creative process and identifying key capabilities for AI development. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella envisions AI's capabilities extending to interactive environments like video games. However, some experts, like Dr. Michael Cook, caution against overhyping Muse, noting that the research focuses more on human interaction with AI tools than on generating gameplay. Despite reservations, Cook acknowledges AI's potential as a design tool. Microsoft has promised further announcements on how AI will enhance experiences for game creators and players. Muse will debut in Copilot Labs, signaling new immersive AI gaming experiences.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

Valve releases Team Fortress 2 source code

Valve has released the complete client and server code for Team Fortress 2 (TF2) as part of its Source engine Software Development Kit (SDK), allowing developers to create game modifications. The SDK enables fans to "change, extend or rewrite" the TF2 experience, but all modifications must be non-commercial and offered free of charge. TF2 mods can be published on the Steam Store as new games. Valve emphasizes the importance of respecting community contributions and encourages mod creators to integrate community-driven content with the new modifications while honoring the work of Workshop contributors.

AppWizard

December 13, 2024

Big Screen Heroes coming to Pocket Gamer Connects London 2025

Big Screen Heroes will participate in Pocket Gamer Connects (PGC) London 2025 on January 20-21, 2025. The conference will expand its focus beyond mobile gaming to include PC, console, and cross-platform innovations. PGC London 2025 will feature live demonstrations of various games, keynote talks from industry leaders, networking opportunities with hardware manufacturers and publishers, and a celebration of the Top 50 UK Game Makers. Tickets are currently available for attendees.

AppWizard

December 12, 2024

Xbox PC app beefs up Steam-competing storefront with hundreds of new games

Microsoft is enhancing its Xbox PC app by adding nearly 400 new games to strengthen its position in the gaming market. The acquisition of Activision Blizzard highlights its commitment to expanding its digital presence. Xbox's content curation manager, Chris Charla, mentioned that the initiative aims to bring all PC games with Xbox features into the Xbox app, with popular titles like Shovel Knight Treasure Trove included. Over 100 of the new titles will support the Xbox Play Anywhere feature, allowing players to enjoy games across both Xbox console and PC. Plans to introduce Android games and microtransactions to the Xbox app have been delayed due to recent court rulings, but Microsoft continues to focus on expanding its offerings.

AppWizard

December 11, 2024

Microsoft wants to make the Xbox app the home of PC gaming

Microsoft is enhancing the Xbox app on Windows by introducing nearly 400 previously unavailable PC games and a revamped user experience. This update includes contributions from Japanese studios like Kemco and Kairosoft, as well as notable titles such as The Invincible by Double 11. Over 100 of these games are classified as Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing seamless play across Xbox consoles and PCs. Features like universal Xbox ownership, cloud saves, and cross-play capabilities are emphasized to improve the gaming experience. Microsoft has lowered its revenue share from 30 percent to 12 percent to attract game developers to its Windows-based store. Future updates regarding the Xbox app are expected at an upcoming game developers conference in March, which will also introduce a new home UI showcasing featured content and a “jump back in” section for quick access to recent gaming sessions.

AppWizard

November 12, 2024

Capcom vet Itsuno heading up new Lightspeed studio

Hideaki Itsuno has been appointed to lead the newly established Lightspeed Japan Studio, which will focus on creating triple-A titles in Tokyo and Osaka. Jerry Chen, president of Lightspeed Studios, expressed enthusiasm about Itsuno's involvement, marking the studio's launch as a significant moment in the company's expansion. Itsuno described this venture as "an exciting new chapter," emphasizing Lightspeed's development capabilities and global network while inviting game creators to collaborate on original triple-A action games.

Winsage

October 3, 2024

Windows 11 2024 update boosts file copying by up to 94% — ReFS and Block Cloning transition from Windows Server to mainstream Windows | Tom’s Hardware

ReFS Block Cloning is a feature introduced in the Windows 11 2024 Update, initially exclusive to Windows Server operating systems. ReFS, or "Resilient File System," debuted in Windows 11 in July within Build 25276 of the Windows Insider Program Dev Channel. Launched in 2012, ReFS is designed as a modern alternative to NTFS, focusing on stability and scalability for developers and server operators managing multiple drives. The Block Cloning feature improves file copy speeds by a minimum of 18% for 1MB files, 94% for 1GB files, and 92% for 10GB files. ReFS also includes automatic backups, integrity checks, and the ability to isolate and remove corrupted data while preserving the integrity of remaining files. It enhances performance in multi-drive environments by organizing storage into "Performance" and "Capacity" tiers. Transitioning from NTFS to ReFS requires thorough reformatting of drives intended for ReFS use.

BetaBeacon

October 1, 2024

Epic Games announces shift in game royalties for Unreal titles

Epic Games announced at Unreal Fest that they are reducing their royalty rate for games built using Unreal Engine from 5% to 3.5%, starting on January 1, 2025.