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Solo dev Jason Priskomatis on his horror debut Friday Night: “Keep pushing your comfort zone”

PreMortem.Games

Jason Priskomatis , the solo developer behind EJETA Studios, always enjoyed playing video games, ever since he was young. It was always my escape, a comfort place, he says. While studying Information Technology in Athens, Greece, he created a small game for his thesis. It was nothing special, but it was enough to make me fall in love with the process of creating something that other people can play and enjoy.

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Myst developer Cyan Worlds has laid off half of its workforce

Game Developer

'Our sincere hope is to continue to be around.

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Webinar Recap: How Mobile Game Developers Are Using IP Collaborations to Enhance LiveOps

Game Refinery

From PUBG x Dragon Ball to Goddess of Victory: NIKKE x Nier: Automata and State of Survival x Resident Evil , collaboration events with renowned franchises have consistently demonstrated their ability to significantly enhance mobile game performance. These events can drive UA by tapping into an existing fanbase, potentially bringing in thousands of new players who might not otherwise have considered hitting the download button.

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Awesome Free Game Development Tools

Game From Scratch

GameFromScratch.com Awesome Free Game Development Tools Today we look at some of the amazing free game development tools available in 2025. We start of quickly with the most commonly used applications, then we move into perhaps more obscure but no less awesome and FREE tools available to game developers. In the video we also mention to The post Awesome Free Game Development Tools appeared first on GameFromScratch.com.

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Godot XR update - March 2025

Mircosoft Game Dev

In the second half of February 2025, the Godot XR Community held their latest Godot XR Game Jam. It was organised by Bastiaan Olij and Malcolm Nixon acting in their roles as representatives of the general Godot XR Community. This was a week-long event in which developers had to create an XR application using the theme Enchanted. XR has great potential on this topic, whether you interpret this as physical spell casting, a magical environment, or something else, and the entries did not disappoint.

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On the topic of horror, how do you make a grim subject matter feel silly spookville experience instead of actually scary? For example, the Luigi Mansion games, the Disney Haunted Mansion ride, the Medevil games, etc?

Ask a Game Dev

The counter to anything terrifying, off-putting, or grim is cuteness. This is done by exaggerating certain features that humans typically find endearing and downplaying the features that humans find alarming, while keeping the visual recognizable. This works with animals. It works with the undead. It works with just about anything. Humans tend to look at a few things to determine cuteness - the main two being proportion and the removal or masking of traits that we find scary or off-putting.

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Godot Tactics RPG – 15. Turn Order

The Liquid Fire

7thSage again, welcome back to part 15 – Turn Order. Up until this point, units have taken turns one after another, with no consideration for speed or any variation. In a tactics game such as Final Fantasy Tactics, units get their turn based on their individual speed, which can also be affected by things such as slow and haste. In this lesson we’ll be creating a controller class that will be able to handle cases such as those.

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Blockbench Easy 3D Modelling

Game From Scratch

GameFromScratch.com Blockbench Easy 3D Modelling Today we revisit Blockbench (we first reviewed this application back in 2020) a powerful, but completely free and open-source 3D modelling application for Mac, Windows, Linux and even the Web. It is one of the easiest to use 3D modelling applications in existence and in addition to modeling also is The post Blockbench Easy 3D Modelling appeared first on GameFromScratch.com.

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From Concept to Completion: Navigating the Game Art Production Pipeline 

iXie gaming

Ever marvelled at the breathtaking landscapes of The Witcher 3 or the striking character designs in Hollow Knight? Behind every immersive world lies a meticulously crafted game art pipeline, a process where raw ideas evolve into interactive, polished assets. Game art isnt just about making things look good. It sets the tone, drives immersion, and enhances storytelling.

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The EU has just banned virtual premium currencies in video games that represent, requiring the games use the actual currency amounts. Thoughts on this new law?

Ask a Game Dev

For those who do not understand this change, in the EU any in-game purchase that can be made for paid/premium currency must display the actual cost in local currency to players. Here is my MS Paint mockup of how such a thing would look as required. The new regulation also requires the conversion rate of premium currency to real money at the baseline exchange rate (e.g. buying the smallest pack of premium currency).

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Unity vs. Unreal Engine: Which is Better for Android Game Development?

Big Games

The mobile gaming industry has exploded recently. Earlier in 2020, it was estimated at US$71.9B, but now it is expected to grow at 11.5% of the CAGR to reach US$1535B by 2027. Developers are constantly seeking the best tools to create engaging, high-performance games that can run smoothly on a wide range of Android devices. Two of the most popular game enginesUnity and Unreal are the top choices for Android game development.

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Ubisoft spins off new subsidiary for three of its biggest franchises in partnership with Tencent

Game Developer

The publisher is spinning off a new subsidiary for its Assassin's Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry brands, with a major investment from Tencent.

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Ucupaint – Turning Blender into Substance Painter

Game From Scratch

GameFromScratch.com Ucupaint – Turning Blender into Substance Painter Ucupaint is a completely free and open-source add-on for Blender that when combined with Blender’s existing painting tools adds a Substance Painter like experience. This enables you to easily texture your 3D objects directly inside Blender, with new more sophisticated layering tools and more.

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AWS GDC 2025 Highlights

AWS Games

Nearly 30,000 attendees were welcomed to the March 2025 Game Developers Conference (GDC) at the Moscone Convention Center with an official ribbon cutting by the Mayor of San Francisco. Games industry professionals, executive and enthusiasts visited the Amazon Web Services (AWS) for Games GDC booth to witness how the cloud, AI, and real-time streaming are transforming the games industry.

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Is Gameplay Programmer some form of specialization? I always see people who work as gameplay programmer have some secondary skill, like tools, graphics, etc. In order to create a game you need these guys, but when it comes to layoffs, are they considered high-priority?

Ask a Game Dev

Yes, Gameplay Programmer is a specialization. Gameplay Programmers are the engineers who work directly with designers to make the designs actually work in game. This primarily means writing code to make the systems and rules that the designers come up with work. Gameplay programmer goals tend to be building systems that allow designers to create new content.

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Why More Parents Are Choosing Online Coding Classes—And What Sets RP4K Apart

Real Programming

The world our kids are growing up in doesnt just include technologyit is technology. From the apps they swipe to the AI tools theyll one day manage (or build), tech is no longer optional. So, it makes sense that one of the fastest-growing extracurricular activities today isnt basketball or pianoits coding. But heres the twist: this boom isnt happening in traditional classrooms or weekend workshops.

Code 52
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Embracer studio Eidos-Montreal has laid off 75 employees

Game Developer

The Deus Ex developer explained the cuts were made with one of its mandates coming to an end.

Studios 274
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Unity Finally Start Developing Games

Game From Scratch

GameFromScratch.com Unity Finally Start Developing Games One common request of the Unity development team is that they start developing games in-house, like their rival Epic Games does with Unreal Engine. This dog fooding will help them discover issues and pain points that developers using their tools daily commonly encounter. Back at GDC 2022 with the announcement The post Unity Finally Start Developing Games appeared first on GameFromScratch.com.

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Tencent invests $1.25bn in new Ubisoft subsidiary focused on Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six

GamesIndustry.biz

Ubisoft has "accelerated its transformation" by developing a new operating model and subsidiary following a $1.25bn cash "injection" from Chinese megacorp Tencent.

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Previously, you’ve explained that even with all the high-profile flops recently, lifestyle games with a big investment up-front and ongoing revenue are still the most financially viable projects. Would there be a tipping point in the market where that changes, and smaller and more experimental projects become the more viable strategy?

Ask a Game Dev

Sure. If spending on the smaller and experimental projects severely eclipses the spending on the mega franchises, the publishers would take notice and you'd see a lot more of the former. The gaming industry is, unfortunately, very hit-driven. The top 10% of earning games take in ~90% of the total revenue for the entire industry. Work horse franchises like Call of Duty, Pokemon, Grand Theft Auto, Madden, Fortnite, Monster Hunter, etc. generally out-earn the experimental and new games by orders of

Dev 59
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VR Can Improve Your Skills

Played with Fire

How Virtual Reality (VR) Enhances Reflexes and Coordination Virtual Reality (VR) is revolutionizing the way we train reflexes and coordination. By immersing users in dynamic, interactive environments, VR offers an innovative platform for improving motor skills, reaction times, and hand-eye coordination. This article explores how VR enhances these abilities and its real-world applications across various fields.

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SAG-AFTRA urges more non-struck game studios to sign interim agreement

Game Developer

'It's an illusion to think that we don't impact each other, that's not how the industry works.

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Godot + Toon Boom = Jump!

Game From Scratch

GameFromScratch.com Godot + Toon Boom = Jump! Toon Boom, the creators of the Toon Boom Harmony (and other) 2D animation packages have just announced a new product in beta format, Toon Boom Jump! Toon Boom Jump! takes the animation tools they are known for, but integrates the open-source Godot game engine. Toon Boom already offering a gaming The post Godot + Toon Boom = Jump!

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Yoko Shimomura to receive BAFTA Fellowship

GamesIndustry.biz

Japanese composer and pianist Yoko Shimomura will be awarded a BAFTA Fellowship at the BAFTA Game Awards on April 8, 2025.

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Action RPGs vs. Traditional RPGs: A Deep Dive

Game Wisdom

Action RPGs vs. Traditional RPGs: A Deep Dive Josh Bycer josh@game-wisdom.com Role-playing games (RPGs) have long captivated gamers with their immersive worlds, complex narratives, and deep character progression. However, within the RPG genre, two prominent subgenres stand out: Action RPGs (ARPGs) and traditional RPGs. The distinction between these two styles of … The post Action RPGs vs.

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✨Kristala Enemy AI Update Pouncing on Steam April 1st!✨

Astral Clock Tower Studios

Ailurs chosen, prepare yourselves! Our next impactful content update is dropping on Steam on April 1st! This action-packed baby will bring you a ton of new features, enemy AI refinements, and highly requested improvements to combat, enemy behavior, and the games core combat and stealth systemsall based directly on your feedback!

AI 52
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'Redesigned from the ground up:' The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on June 5 for $449

Game Developer

Nintendo's next-generation device features a larger 7.9 inch LCD display, upgraded dock with 4K support, brand new voice chat functionality, and more.

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Babylon.js 8 Game Engine Released

Game From Scratch

GameFromScratch.com Babylon.js 8 Game Engine Released The popular 3D game engine/framework for the web, Babylon.js just released Babylon 8. This release comes a year after the release of Babylon 7, so this annual release is absolutely jam packed with new features. Highlight features of Babylon.js 8 include: IBL Shadows Image-Based Lighting is a computer graphics lighting The post Babylon.js 8 Game Engine Released appeared first on GameFromScratch.com.

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ZeniMax union "overwhelming" votes to authorise strike if Microsoft contract negotiations break down

GamesIndustry.biz

ZeniMax Workers United has "overwhelmingly voted" to authorise a strike against Microsoft.

Media 109
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Cybersecurity Innovations in Online Casino Websites

Game Wisdom

Cybersecurity Innovations in Online Casino Websites Josh Bycer josh@game-wisdom.com Transforms in the digital gambling field continue during recent times to better protect operational security. Millions of daily players who share their information with online casino platforms have shifted security from a technical mandate to an essential operational requirement that … The post Cybersecurity Innovations in Online Casino Websites appeared first on Game Wisdom.

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Building A Full-Stack Online Game Framework

Cocos

This comprehensive course is designed to teach you the fundamentals of Go while guiding you through the creation of a full stack web application.

Build 52
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Want to know the best way to gain attention on Steam? Add a demo.

Game Developer

'Valve was saying, in not so subtle terms, that everyone needs to make a demo.

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Folklands is now available!

Indie DB

Cozy settlement builder Folklands is now available in Early Access.

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Azra Games appoints PlayStation's former co-head of mobile, Kris Davis, as CBO

GamesIndustry.biz

Azra Games has appointed PlayStation's former co-head of mobile, Kris Davis, as its chief business officer.

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Maximizing Fun with Social Casino Welcome Bonuses

Game Wisdom

Maximizing Fun with Social Casino Welcome Bonuses Josh Bycer josh@game-wisdom.com The primary goals of social casinos are entertainment, community engagement, and, of course, enticing bonuses! A well-structured sign-up bonus can help you take full advantage of what the site offers, including free coins and exclusive game benefits. But how can … The post Maximizing Fun with Social Casino Welcome Bonuses appeared first on Game Wisdom.

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No Foolin' Here - Kristala's Enemy AI Update is LIVE MEOW on Steam ⚔️

Astral Clock Tower Studios

Greetings, Kristalans!No jokes over here! The newest Kristala update is officially LIVE MEOW on Steam, bringing a host of major improvements, new content, and impactful gameplay refinements to make your journey across the dark-fantasy world of Ailur more intense, immersive, and rewarding than ever before.And to celebrate this exciting milestone, were launching our biggest discount yet40% off Kristalas Early Access release!

Fantasy 52
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Dredge wasn't originally going to be a narrative game, but then it became one of 2023's best

Game Developer

Inside the building of Dredge's dialogue-based narrative system

Build 257