Features

Our featured stories about the latest game development technology, trends, and business practices, as well as developer interviews, deep dives, industry analysis, and more.

A screenshot from SiN Reloaded

Changing acquired studios' core identity consistently leads to doom, says Nightdive Studios CEO Changing acquired studios' core identity consistently leads to doom, says Nightdive Studios CEO

byBryant Francis

Oct 27, 2026

5 Min Read

The Innersloth sloth leans on a planet.

Innersloth co-founder warns devs: 'there are some very bad deals out there'Innersloth co-founder warns devs: 'there are some very bad deals out there'

byBryant Francis

Oct 20, 2026

4 Min Read

Co-dev case study: How Blackbird Interactive and Secret Mode helped Escape the Backrooms ride the Backrooms hype wave

Co-dev case study: How Blackbird Interactive and Secret Mode helped Escape the Backrooms ride the Backrooms hype wave

bySteven Messner,Director of Comms and Audiences

A soldier takes cover behind a rusted vehicle as a large, four-legged machine scans the area

'We were constantly overshooting our capacity:' Arc Raiders exec says success resulted in burnout

'We were constantly overshooting our capacity:' Arc Raiders exec says success resulted in burnout

byChris Kerr,Contributor

The Nex Playground (a small cuboid device with a camera) on a countertop

'We want to keep it very simple:' How Nex Playground is beating expectations during a hardware crisis

'We want to keep it very simple:' How Nex Playground is beating expectations during a hardware crisis

byChris Kerr,Contributor

A player holds a controller against a backdrop of a digital globe.

Why does this prominent Washington state politician think video games can be 'soft power?'

Why does this prominent Washington state politician think video games can be 'soft power?'

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

The sign for Riot Games outside its Santa Monica headquarters.

Riot Games is considering making premium titles, says co-founder

Riot Games is considering making premium titles, says co-founder

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

Characters from different factions look upon a brightly lit wasteland

Paradox Interactive's Afterworld wants to entice new players to grand strategy with tasty RPG hooks

Paradox Interactive's Afterworld wants to entice new players to grand strategy with tasty RPG hooks

byAlessandro Fillari,Contributor

A screenshot of No More Room in Hell 2 in which the player is confronting a group of zombies with a sledgehammer

Panic refunds tariff fees, 1047 Games pivots from Splitgate, and Gamescom Dev grows - Patch Notes #67

Panic refunds tariff fees, 1047 Games pivots from Splitgate, and Gamescom Dev grows - Patch Notes #67

byDiego Argüello,Contributor

The protagonist in Warlock, a pale woman with a dark black pixie cut wearing magic armour

Warlock's magic system was built on game-bending player choices

Warlock's magic system was built on game-bending player choices

byChris Kerr,Contributor

Key art from Slumber Realm, with colorful characters and dice

How you (yes, you) can benefit from 1-on-1 synchronous playtesting

How you (yes, you) can benefit from 1-on-1 synchronous playtesting

byDanielle Riendeau,Contributor

A character in a cloak looks out expectantly

CD Projekt Red has The Witcher 4 running on all target platforms after Cyberpunk 2077 lesson

CD Projekt Red has The Witcher 4 running on all target platforms after Cyberpunk 2077 lesson

byNicole Carpenter,Chris Kerr

Saber exec: The game industry must look beyond North America and dilute risk

Saber exec: The game industry must look beyond North America and dilute risk

byChris Kerr,Contributor

Gamescom banners hanging from a crowded hall in the Koelnmesse

'Each event has to feel local and relevant to its market:' Gamescom wants responsible expansion after record-breaking year

'Each event has to feel local and relevant to its market:' Gamescom wants responsible expansion after record-breaking year

byChris Kerr,Contributor

The characters of Peak help each other on a difficult climb

EA staff worries over Saudi buyout, Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks, and Peak's last major update - Patch Notes #66

EA staff worries over Saudi buyout, Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks, and Peak's last major update - Patch Notes #66

byDiego Argüello,Contributor

A low-poly haunted house, looming against an eerie sky

How Forbidden Solitaire brought solitaire games to the forefront

How Forbidden Solitaire brought solitaire games to the forefront

byKhee Hoon Chan,Contributor

Scabby versus Sharma, Twitch's GenAI admission, and Netflix shutters more studios - Patch Notes #65

Scabby versus Sharma, Twitch's GenAI admission, and Netflix shutters more studios - Patch Notes #65

byChris Kerr,Contributor

A photograph of the UNC Greensboro campus featuring a clocktower in the foreground, green lawn peppered with pathways, and buildings in the distance

UNC Greensboro game preservation project back on track after Trump funding cuts

UNC Greensboro game preservation project back on track after Trump funding cuts

byNicole Carpenter,Contributor

A shadowy road and the logos for Critical Reflex, Black Lantern Collective, and Dread XP.

Three indie horror publishers faced sexual harassment claims: what comes next?

Three indie horror publishers faced sexual harassment claims: what comes next?

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

A city with towering skyscrapers and mining apparatus

Pushing the limits in Simulating a City, One Page at a Time

Pushing the limits in Simulating a City, One Page at a Time

byDanielle Riendeau,Contributor

EA taken private by Saudi Arabia, GTA marketing jumps the shark, and Devolver's huge mistake - Patch Notes #64

EA taken private by Saudi Arabia, GTA marketing jumps the shark, and Devolver's huge mistake - Patch Notes #64

byChris Kerr,Contributor

Protagonist Simon against a foggy background

How Silent Hill: Townfall gets deep into its protagonist's headspace

How Silent Hill: Townfall gets deep into its protagonist's headspace

byAlessandro Fillari,Contributor

Double Fine cuts staff, Xbox's revenue decline, and Leon Kennedy pays off - Patch Notes #63

Double Fine cuts staff, Xbox's revenue decline, and Leon Kennedy pays off - Patch Notes #63

byDiego Argüello,Contributor

Narrative Notebook #5: UNBEATABLE's music video vibes can't be beat

Narrative Notebook #5: UNBEATABLE's music video vibes can't be beat

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

Poinpy key artwork

The truth behind the resurrection of Poinpy

The truth behind the resurrection of Poinpy

byChris Kerr,Contributor

A burning book that has been tossed on the ground

If knowledge is power, why are game companies setting it alight?

If knowledge is power, why are game companies setting it alight?

byNicole Carpenter,Contributor

A black and white photograph of arms in handcuffs on a green background

'I have been hunted down by HR reps, lawyers, and comms people:' Developers discuss the pain and prevalence of side work clauses

'I have been hunted down by HR reps, lawyers, and comms people:' Developers discuss the pain and prevalence of side work clauses

byChris Kerr,Contributor

Saudi-led EA buyout receives EU approval, Xbox trials ad-supported game streaming, and Poinpy is eternal - Patch Notes #62

Saudi-led EA buyout receives EU approval, Xbox trials ad-supported game streaming, and Poinpy is eternal - Patch Notes #62

byChris Kerr,Contributor

Players cling onto a vehicle in Human Fall Flat

'Human Fall Flat 2 is cancelled. We are making Human Fall Flat 3:' No Brakes Games founder looks back on a defining decade

'Human Fall Flat 2 is cancelled. We are making Human Fall Flat 3:' No Brakes Games founder looks back on a defining decade

byChris Kerr,Contributor

Zelda looks over a majestic kingdom

What developers can learn from this generation of game criticism

What developers can learn from this generation of game criticism

byTim Brinkhof,Contributor

Labor unions challenge Xbox, GameStop CEO says physical game sales are 'irrelevant,' and Glen Schofield retires - Patch Notes #61

Labor unions challenge Xbox, GameStop CEO says physical game sales are 'irrelevant,' and Glen Schofield retires - Patch Notes #61

byChris Kerr,Contributor

Spore image with colorful creatures

'The goal of design is to efficiently communicate ideas'

'The goal of design is to efficiently communicate ideas'

byDanielle Riendeau,Contributor

Own goal specialist Xbox rifles another into the roof of the net - Patch Notes #60

Own goal specialist Xbox rifles another into the roof of the net - Patch Notes #60

byChris Kerr,Contributor

A selection of card artwork from in-development title The Arab League of Misfits

A risk-averse video game industry is failing marginalized developers

A risk-averse video game industry is failing marginalized developers

byNicole Carpenter,Contributor

A black and white photograph of a medieval stock in a dungeon

Opinion: Welcome to the house of pain, brought to you by Xbox

Opinion: Welcome to the house of pain, brought to you by Xbox

byChris Kerr,Contributor

Daily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inbox