game development

AppWizard
July 4, 2025
Matt Firor is stepping down as president of ZeniMax Online Studios after 18 years. He will be succeeded by studio head Jo Burba, executive producer Susan Kath, and game director Rich Lambert. Firor expressed confidence in the new leadership team, which has been involved in significant expansions for Elder Scrolls Online. The transition occurs alongside restructuring at ZeniMax, including the cancellation of an MMO project called Blackbird. Firor joined ZeniMax in 2007 and his departure signifies a major change for the studio.
AppWizard
July 3, 2025
Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of Hytale and Hypixel Studios, is attempting to reacquire the canceled adventure game from Riot Games. He is concerned that this venture could complicate his life in the short term. Collins-Laflamme is gauging community interest in the project, stating that negative feedback would lead him to reconsider pursuing it. He also noted the technical limitations of Hytale's legacy engine, which is currently exclusive to PC and not suitable for cross-platform play. Eric Barone, creator of Stardew Valley, expressed openness to engaging with Hytale's revival if opportunities arise.
AppWizard
July 1, 2025
Riot Games has decided to cease development on Hytale after more than a decade of effort. The game, which began development in 2015 by Hypixel, was intended to combine mini-games from its Minecraft server with an RPG-style sandbox experience. Despite initial excitement and Riot's acquisition of Hypixel in 2020, the project could not meet expectations, leading to unsuccessful attempts to find new investors and resulting in layoffs. Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, creator of Stardew Valley, clarified that he is not actively pursuing involvement in Hytale's revival, as he is focused on his current project, Haunted Chocolatier. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the original founder of Hypixel, has expressed interest in approaching Riot with a potential investment proposal to revive Hytale, while cautioning fans to manage their expectations regarding the project's future.
BetaBeacon
July 1, 2025
- Android gaming ecosystem has evolved significantly in the last decade, offering a wide range of gaming experiences. - Android game development has reshaped the way entertainment is consumed on mobile devices. - Android offers advantages such as device diversity, open-source flexibility, monetization freedom, robust development tools, and global reach. - Key trends shaping Android game development in 2025 include cloud gaming integration, AI-powered game design, cross-platform play, AR and VR capabilities, and the continued dominance of hyper-casual games.
AppWizard
June 29, 2025
Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of OG Hypixel Studios, intends to engage with Riot Games about reviving Hytale, a game previously canceled after generating significant anticipation and over 60 million views for its announcement trailer. Collins-Laflamme, who sold the studio and game to Riot, acknowledged the complexity of the revival process and indicated it would take months to get answers. Additionally, Eric Barone, creator of Stardew Valley, expressed a willingness to potentially intervene in the Hytale situation but emphasized the need to understand the reasons for the game's failure first.
AppWizard
June 28, 2025
Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of Hypixel Studios, expressed confidence in Hytale's potential and stated he would invest millions to complete the project. He suggested reducing the game's scope for a PC-only release and open-sourcing some components to expedite development. Collins-Laflamme reflected on his leadership from 2016 to 2019, claiming the game was two years away from release and that the team was highly productive. Former developers noted that an obsession with perfection and feature creep contributed to the game's cancellation. They suggested that an early version could have been launched, focusing on Hypixel-style minigames and a modding suite. Collins-Laflamme emphasized Hytale's unique qualities and the disappointment of its cancellation, urging fans to direct frustration towards internal issues at Hypixel Studios rather than Riot Games.
AppWizard
June 28, 2025
In 2012, Mojang began developing a Lego-themed spin-off of Minecraft called Brickcraft, which was ultimately canceled due to Lego's brand restrictions. Recently, a version of Brickcraft from June 28, 2012, was discovered and made available to players by Omniarchive. The project faced significant challenges, including disagreements over design elements, such as the inclusion of scratches on Lego bricks, which Lego opposed. Markus "Notch" Persson decided to halt the project due to frustrations with Lego's rules. Brickcraft was intended to feature expansive biomes and engaging gameplay similar to Minecraft, but it was never completed.
AppWizard
June 28, 2025
Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone has shown tentative interest in investing to revive Hytale, which was recently canceled after years of development. He requires further information about the project's initial failures and future plans before making any commitments. Hytale garnered over 61 million views on its trailer and was acquired by Riot Games, which decided to halt the project due to the team's inability to realize its full potential. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the original founder of Hypixel Studios, has suggested a buy-back from Riot Games. During development, the Hytale team faced significant financial pressures, reportedly spending as much as 0,000 a month. Collins-Laflamme had turned down "way more money" before partnering with Riot.
AppWizard
June 27, 2025
The Very Big Indie Pitch (VBIP) at PG Connects Barcelona 2025 showcased a variety of PC and console games, marking a significant milestone for the VBIP format and highlighting the indie game development scene in the city. Indie developers had five minutes to present their games to rotating panels of judges from publishing, development, and media sectors, receiving valuable feedback. The event featured dedicated pitches for PC, console, and mobile games, fostering networking opportunities among developers at different project stages. The pitching sessions are a key feature of PG Connects conferences, providing insights into global development scenes. A curated list of games presented during the event was available, with details for future participation on the Big Indie Pitch website.
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