Larian Studios developed Baldur’s Gate 4 before deciding to discontinue the project. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Larian CEO Swen Vincke provided insights into the studio’s decision-making process and the factors that contributed to the abandonment of the highly anticipated sequel. Following the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios encountered significant pressure to continue the series. Vincke explained, “So if something is super successful, obviously everyone’s [asking] you, ‘When are you going to make the next one?” This external pressure, combined with the developers emerging from an intense development period, left the team in a vulnerable state.…
Author: Emil John
Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer, Amy Hood, has outlined a strategic vision to transition Xbox into a subscription-based business model, leveraging the success of Xbox Game Pass. This strategy follows significant revenue growth for Microsoft’s gaming division in the final quarter of the fiscal year. Recent sales data shows a remarkable 44 percent surge in Microsoft’s gaming revenue compared to the previous year. Particularly notable is the 61 percent increase in revenue from Xbox content and services. During an investor call after the financial report, Amy Hood emphasized the company’s intention to utilize its extensive content portfolio to expand its global…
The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) remains unaffected by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA game actors strike, despite Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, being involved in the dispute. GTA 6 is one of several in-development projects exempt from the labor action. The strike, initiated by game performers including voice actors and motion capture artists, is in response to concerns over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry. Negotiations between the union and major companies such as Epic Games, EA, and Activision broke down after more than a year, primarily due to disagreements on AI…
Baldur’s Gate 3 has received significant critical acclaim and numerous prestigious awards. However, this heightened recognition has presented some challenges for the development pf ongoing projects. In a recent interview with Edge, Larian CEO and Baldur’s Gate 3 director Swen Vincke discussed the impact of the game’s remarkable success on ongoing development. While the success has been truly gratifying, it has also introduced logistical obstacles for Larian Studios. Vincke explained that the substantial volume of awards has required developers to attend numerous ceremonies, taking a toll on the development team. Vincke disclosed that the frequent attendance at award shows had…
Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of the Super Smash Bros. series, recently expressed frustration over leaked cutscenes from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This incident has had a lasting impact on his approach to game development. In his recent YouTube series, “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games,” Sakurai directly addressed the issue. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, although a divisive entry in the series, remains memorable for its ambitious story mode, Subspace Emissary. This mode’s integration of cutscenes created an engaging single-player experience. However, the leak incident led Sakurai to reconsider including such a story mode in future games. The release of Super…
During a recent interview with the YouTube channel Good Vibes Gaming, Takashi Iizuka, head of the Sonic Team, expressed his interest in developing a Sonic RPG before retiring from Sega. This conversation took place during a preview of the upcoming game Sonic x Shadow Generations, where Iizuka shared his aspirations and thoughts on the future of the Sonic franchise. Iizuka revealed his long-standing interest in role-playing games, noting that it has been 30 years since Sonic’s inception, yet the franchise has not explored the RPG genre extensively. “Personally, I really like role-playing games,” Iizuka stated. “The RPG game format is…
The tourist information center on the island of Tsushima has recently introduced an engaging new feature: life-sized standees of Jin Sakai and the symbolic fox from the widely acclaimed video game, Ghost of Tsushima. Developed by Sucker Punch Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Ghost of Tsushima is an action-adventure game released in 2020. It follows the journey of Jin Sakai, a determined samurai striving to protect Tsushima Island during the initial Mongol invasion of Japan. Faced with a moral dilemma, Jin must choose between adhering to the samurai code of honor and employing pragmatic, yet dishonorable, tactics to…
Nintendo has announced that it will discontinue repair services for Wii U consoles and peripherals in Japan, citing a shortage of essential parts as the reason for this decision. This development marks the end of an era for the console, which, despite its initial potential, struggled to achieve the commercial success of its predecessors and successors. The announcement was made on Nintendo’s official support website, where they listed the hardware they are unable to repair or have discontinued repairing due to a shortage of parts. With this move, the Nintendo Wii U joins the ranks of other discontinued Nintendo hardware,…
During a recent interview, Noriaki Okamura, the producer of the Metal Gear Solid series, expressed his keen interest in collaborating with Hideo Kojima once again. The conversation took place in the inaugural episode of the Metal Gear Solid Production Hotline, during which Okamura openly discussed his aspirations and acknowledged the potential challenges associated with such a reunion. When questioned about the prospect of the original development team reuniting to work on future Metal Gear Solid titles, Okamura clarified that he was unable to speak on behalf of individuals who are no longer affiliated with Konami. He acknowledged that it was…
Insomniac Games has confirmed that they have no plans to port or remaster Sunset Overdrive for the PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5. The studio is currently focused on their upcoming project, Marvel’s Wolverine. Sunset Overdrive was one of the early exclusive titles for the Xbox One, developed by Insomniac Games at a time when the studio was not yet a first-party developer for Sony. Released at the start of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 generation, the game received positive reviews and has since garnered a cult following. Despite its popularity, Insomniac Games has clarified that they will not be…