studio director Archives

AppWizard

April 11, 2025

Neverway is a ‘nightmarish life sim RPG’ with hand drawn cuties and horrors from Celeste’s artist

Coldblood Inc. revealed its upcoming horror life simulation game, Neverway, co-founded by pixel artist Pedro Medeiros. The game features a protagonist named Fiona, who is the "immortal herald of a dead god," and includes elements like farming, fishing, crafting, and exploring dungeons. The narrative is described as rich and unsettling, with a focus on darker fantasy themes. Medeiros previously left Extremely Ok Games due to creative challenges. A release date for Neverway has not been announced, but it can be added to wishlists on Steam.

AppWizard

December 13, 2024

Thick as Thieves is instantly one of my most-anticipated games, and every Thief fan should be backstabbing that wishlist button

Warren Spector's studio is set to launch a four-player multiplayer game titled Thick as Thieves in 2026. It is a PvPvE first-person stealth game focused on competition rather than combat. The development team aims to create a unique identity for the game, learning from past titles like Hood: Outlaws & Legends and Deceive Inc. They emphasize a variety of gameplay styles, allowing players to ambush, stalk, hunt, or knock out competitors while manipulating the environment to their advantage. The game is designed to feature unpredictable scenarios and diverse player interactions.

AppWizard

October 15, 2024

Microsoft promotes Rare vet Duncan to head up Xbox Game Studios

Craig Duncan is appointed as the head of Xbox Game Studios, succeeding Alan Hartman, who will retire from Microsoft in November. Duncan has been with Rare since 2011 and has experience from Sumo Digital and Midway. He will oversee all of Microsoft's first-party game studios and report to Matt Booty. Joe Neate and Jim Horth will lead Rare following Duncan's transition. Alan Hartman, known for founding Turn 10 and overseeing the Forza franchise, has had a long career at Microsoft since 1988, contributing to projects like Age of Empires. Under his leadership, Turn 10 and Playground Games released 13 Forza titles and advanced accessibility in gaming. Xbox Game Studios continues to thrive with recent successful titles and upcoming games like Avowed, South of Midnight, and Fable.

AppWizard

September 25, 2024

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered announced for PS5, PC

Guerrilla Games announced the release of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, set to launch on October 31. The remaster includes over 10 hours of re-recorded dialogue, motion capture improvements, and graphical enhancements to meet the visual standards of Horizon Forbidden West, featuring 4K graphics and faster travel between settlements. The audio has been overhauled to support PlayStation 5's Tempest 3D Audio Tech, with hundreds of improvements for a richer experience. The game utilizes the DualSense controller's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers for immersive gameplay. It supports old save files for returning players, with pre-orders opening on October 3. Existing owners can upgrade for .99, while new players can purchase it for .99 across various platforms.

AppWizard

September 1, 2024

‘I sat with Todd Howard for about 3 months’: The Elder Scrolls Online devs talk working with Bethesda to make sure they don’t break the lore of future games

The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG nearing its tenth anniversary, known for its intricate representation of diverse continents and cultures. Unlike its mainline counterparts, which have not seen a major release in 13 years, the game has evolved with fresh content delivered at a brisk pace. The game's creative director, Rich Lambert, and studio director, Matt Frior, discussed expanding the game's lore while maintaining the established canon with Todd Howard. The game has thrived despite competition from World of Warcraft and has cultivated a dedicated community. It celebrated the release of its 43rd major update on August 19.

AppWizard

August 1, 2024

Bethesda vet Lachance tapped to head Warner Bros Games Montreal

Former Bethesda studio director Yves Lachance has joined Warner Bros. as the new Vice President and studio head of its Montreal development team. He has nearly nine years of experience at Bethesda's Montreal studio and previously spent nine years at Behaviour Interactive, where he was Senior Vice President of publishing and strategy partnerships. Lachance expressed enthusiasm for developing the next generation of games with Warner Bros.' major franchises and internal game development expertise. Ben Bell, Senior Vice President of production and studios at Warner Bros, highlighted Lachance's experience and partnership as a strategic fit for leading the Montreal studio.