game design Archives

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Blender temporarily abandons Apple iPad app development in favor of Android

Blender has integrated with GitHub to enhance its collaborative capabilities, allowing users to share projects and collaborate in real-time. This integration enables users to track changes, merge different project branches, and engage with the community for feedback and suggestions.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

Cara Ellison, senior narrative designer on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 before Paradox switched developers, discusses her love of Troika’s original RPG: ‘Everyone on the team helped really make that maximum goth’

Cara Ellison is a narrative designer whose journey in gaming began with a BBC Micro and the 1987 game Acheton. She has worked as a games journalist for publications like PC Gamer and transitioned into game design, contributing narratives to titles such as Dishonored 2, Void Bastards, God of War: Ragnarok, and Ghost Town. Her latest project is Sleight of Hand, a deckbuilding stealth game inspired by Metal Gear Solid and Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines. She has a fondness for the original Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines, despite its technical challenges, and has logged 103 hours in Kentucky Route Zero. Ellison keeps Sunless Sea installed on both her work and personal computers, appreciating its narrative depth. For her writing, she uses Scrivener, which she utilized for Void Bastards. Her desktop is relatively tidy, featuring a mix of business and leisure icons, with a wallpaper from Vertigo.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

GDC is an opportunity to celebrate the games that defined 2025, and explore the new technology that will shape the future of gaming

The Game Developer's Conference (GDC) will take place from March 9 to March 13, 2026. GDC focuses on the intricacies of game creation and explores emerging technologies and innovative techniques in gaming. Attendees can expect potential game announcements from companies like Epic Games, Blizzard, Nintendo, and Xbox. The GDC Vault and the Festival of Gaming YouTube channel provide resources for game creators to share their design philosophies. A central theme for GDC 2026 will be the role of artificial intelligence in game development, with discussions led by developers from companies such as Google, Capcom, NVIDIA, Xbox, and Sega.

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

We polled PC gamers on how much generative AI is acceptable in games, and here’s what they said

Generative AI is increasingly integrated into video game development, with applications ranging from art assets to gameplay mechanics. A poll of approximately 1,000 respondents revealed that over 40% prefer traditional game development with no AI involvement. More than half of participants are open to generative AI to varying degrees: 20% oppose its inclusion in final products but accept its use as a productivity tool, while 21% approve of some AI involvement if disclosed. Additionally, 14% would engage with heavily AI-utilized games if enjoyable. Concerns about AI-generated code have been raised by developers, particularly regarding its quality. Despite skepticism, there is agreement on the benefits of AI-accelerated rendering techniques for performance improvements.

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

Devs behind GoldenEye, Perfect Dark and TimeSplitters are done with big shooters after getting burned by Embracer, so their next game is a Balatro-like twist on Scrabble—and you can try the demo now

Steve Ellis and David Doak, co-founders of Free Radical Design, are developing a roguelike interpretation of Scrabble titled Beyond Words. This project marks a departure from their previous work on first-person shooters, including the TimeSplitters series and Star Wars: Battlefront 3. Following the closure of Free Radical by Embracer in 2023, Ellis described the experience as "soul-crushing," leading him to prefer smaller team environments for game development. Both Ellis and Doak expressed a desire to work in more intimate settings, which influenced their collaboration on Beyond Words, initially a weekend project that gained traction among various prototypes they explored.

AppWizard

February 18, 2026

‘That is extremely stupid design’ — The Witcher story lead blasts epilogue he mostly created

Artur Ganszyniec, the lead story designer of The Witcher, shared insights during a YouTube playthrough about the game's development, particularly the epilogue chapter, which he and project lead Jacek Brzeziński worked on during late-night sessions. He also expressed frustrations with certain design challenges, referring to them as "stupid" parts that complicated the development process.

BetaBeacon

February 16, 2026

What Makes Android the Go-To Platform for Indie Game Developers?

Android remains the dominant OS in countries like India, Indonesia, Brazil, and parts of Africa, providing indie studios with a large audience eager for content and more likely to download experimental games from unknown developers.

AppWizard

February 16, 2026

“The hardest game in the world to make” – How Darkhaven hopes to rebottle Diablo 2’s lightning by channelling Minecraft

The "Necropolis" event in Darkhaven introduces a wave of undead that obstructs player waypoints and populates the environment with skeletal minions. Players can transfer characters to new worlds, facing challenges like volcanic eruptions, rising floodwaters, or ice ages. The game features modular gameplay events that can be procedurally integrated into the world. Players can interact with each other's worlds and utilize terrain deformation and building systems for strategic gameplay. Darkhaven aims to rejuvenate the action-RPG genre by focusing on organic experiences and player agency, moving away from rigid progression systems. The game emphasizes diverse loot systems and player impact on the environment, creating a living world that reflects players' actions. The development team includes veterans from the original Diablo, and they are preparing for a Kickstarter campaign.

AppWizard

February 15, 2026

Why Microsoft’s Revoked DMCA Over A Minecraft-Style Game Is Such A Big Deal

Microsoft withdrew a DMCA takedown notice against the indie game Allumeria, allowing its demo to return to digital platforms. The initial takedown was likely triggered by an automated system that flagged Allumeria for similarities to Minecraft. Microsoft's legal team recognized distinct differences that complicated potential legal action. This decision may encourage creativity among indie developers and reflects a nuanced understanding of the gaming industry's dynamics. The case highlights ongoing challenges in defining ownership over game concepts and suggests a potential shift towards a more collaborative environment in game development.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

The world’s first ‘standardized gaming test’ will see if you can beat an ’80s adventure game without a walkthrough—and it’ll even monitor you over a webcam to make sure you don’t cheat

Woe Industries has introduced the Adventure Game Aptitude Test (AGAT) to assess players' ability to solve puzzles from 1980s adventure games without modern walkthroughs. The test employs proctoring software, AutoProctor, to monitor participants via webcams and microphones for any violations. It will take place on February 28, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM EST. Successful participants will receive a diploma as a reward. A preliminary quiz is also available for those looking to practice their puzzle-solving skills.