game designer Archives

AppWizard

October 6, 2026

Exclusive: Frosthaven digital reveals the PC board game’s frosty final character

Frosthaven Digital will release its full 1.0 version on October 15. The game has been enhanced with new features, classes, and missions to align closely with the original board game. Team Wargamer awarded it a 10/10 rating. The digital format allows players to complete scenarios in about 30 to 40 minutes, compared to two to three scenarios in five hours for the physical version. A "custom save" feature will enable players to edit saves and import campaigns from physical to digital formats. The 1.0 version is 99% mechanically accurate to the board game, with some minor visual adjustments. Players can unlock a new hero, the Shattersong, late in the game, which plays a supportive role. There are 137 missions in total, with 64 as the main story and many side quests available. The onboarding process will include a three-mission tutorial and a four-mission prequel.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

Tim Cain: ‘Among other things that Steve Jackson Games didn’t like about Fallout was Vault Boy’

The Fallout video game was initially developed with the intention of using the GURPS (Generic Universal Role-Play System) license from Steve Jackson Games. However, misunderstandings led to the dissolution of the licensing agreement, which Steve Jackson learned about from a press member rather than Interplay directly. Jackson's objections were primarily due to creative differences, particularly regarding the violent opening cutscene, character design, and the whimsical style of the mascot, Vault Boy. After extensive discussions, Jackson threatened legal action if Interplay continued with Fallout in its current form, prompting Interplay to abandon the GURPS license. This decision significantly impacted the future direction of the Fallout franchise.

BetaBeacon

August 17, 2026

Dawnfolk Is Out Now on iOS & Android

Dawnfolk is a mobile game set in a world consumed by darkness where players rebuild civilization one tile at a time. The game features minimalist strategy, exploration, and survival mechanics, with a focus on approachable gameplay and meaningful depth.

Winsage

August 14, 2026

Microsoft Defender vs. VLC: Which is causing MP3s to take 30 seconds to load?

Jonathan Blow expressed frustration on social media about delays in opening MP3 files in VLC Media Player, which he claimed could take over 30 seconds. A community note suggested that Microsoft Defender might be contributing to the delay. VideoLAN, the organization behind VLC, responded to the discussion, while Blow maintained that VLC should address the issue, despite acknowledging a faulty AMD graphics driver as a factor. Users on Reddit indicated that adding VLC's folder as an exception in Microsoft Defender resolved the delay. Steps to create this exception include navigating to Windows Security, selecting Virus & threat protection, managing settings, and adding an exclusion for the VLC folder. After creating the exclusion, the time to open an MP3 file decreased from approximately five seconds to under one second.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla director comes back to Ubisoft to be game director for the entire brand

Eric Baptizat has returned to Ubisoft as the game director for the entire Assassin's Creed series after a brief hiatus. He previously served as the lead game designer on Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and as the director of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Baptizat has a 16-year tenure at Ubisoft, contributing to key titles such as Black Flag, Origins, and Valhalla. He left Ubisoft in 2021 to work at EA Motive, where he directed the Dead Space remake and was the game design director on Battlefield 6. His return is viewed positively and may signal a revitalization for Ubisoft.

AppWizard

August 4, 2026

I desperately need this TTRPG to become a videogame—it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen

10,000 Swords Against Heaven is a tabletop role-playing game created by JK Saavedra, characterized as a "dark science fantasy cultivation RPG." The game features a narrative focused on violent resistance against a "magofascist" ruling class and incorporates elements of southeast Asian culture and history. Players encounter characters such as Aswang assassins and Fangshi, and the game critiques the Neoliberal World Order. While it offers an immersive experience, some fans express a desire for a video game adaptation due to challenges in finding a community of players.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

Path of Exile is ripping up the rulebook, and nothing is “untouchable” – but don’t get your hopes up for a campaign skip

Path of Exile 3.29 introduces significant changes, including the removal of socket colors, a rebalancing of over 100 skills, and the addition of underwater combat. Game Director Mark 'Neon' Roberts and Game Designer Christopher 'Octavian' Laferriere discussed the decision to remove socket colors, emphasizing the importance of flexibility in game design. They oppose allowing players to skip the campaign, believing it diminishes emotional investment in characters. The expansion will introduce a third ascendancy for the Scion class, called the Luminary, focused on managing mercenaries. Upcoming content includes a new pinnacle boss related to Breach, accessed through an item named Zorath's Eye of Malevolence. Path of Exile 2 is set to launch at the end of the year, with the team confident in their development progress. Exilecon is approaching, generating excitement for community feedback.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Don’t expect the Death Stranding movie to retell the story of the games, as its director says the film will be set in his ‘own corner of the world’

The cinematic adaptation of the video game Death Stranding has been in development since its announcement in 2022. Director Michael Sarnoski is currently writing the script and is collaborating with A24, which has expressed excitement about the project. Hideo Kojima has reacted positively to Sarnoski's script, recognizing film references within it. Additionally, a film adaptation of Elden Ring is in progress, with an expected release in 2028, and recent leaks suggest that Conwy Castle in North Wales may be used as a stand-in for Stormveil Castle from the game.

AppWizard

June 2, 2026

The League of Legends MMO adds another World of Warcraft vet to its team

Brian Holinka, a former lead combat designer for World of Warcraft at Blizzard Entertainment, has joined Riot Games as a principal game designer for the League of Legends MMO. His appointment was announced on LinkedIn, marking his first official day at Riot. The League of Legends MMO project has been under development since its announcement in December 2020, and Riot has also hired Raymond Bartos, a former lead producer for World of Warcraft, and Orlando Salvatore, a former lead software engineer from World of Warcraft, to enhance the development team. Greg Street, the former vice president of Riot Games who initially led the MMO project, has taken on a new role in the gaming industry that does not involve an MMO.

AppWizard

June 1, 2026

In 1997, Warren Spector told us the upcoming PC classic Deus Ex was inspired by Final Fantasy, Miyamoto, and ‘the console guys’

A friend gifted the 1997 PC Gamer US "Holiday Extravaganza" issue, which contains 456 pages of content related to PC gaming. Gary Whitta was the editor-in-chief, and he reviewed the game Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight with a score of 94%. The issue features an interview with game designer Warren Spector, who discusses his move to Ion Storm and the development of Deus Ex. Chris Norden, the lead programmer for Deus Ex, expressed concerns about the Quake engine's limitations for their project, stating that choosing Unreal over Quake was crucial for the game's development. The interview was originally published in PC Gamer Vol. 4 #12, December 1997.