Generative AI Will Allow Bigger, More Immersive Worlds, Says EA, and Developers Were ‘Hungry’ for It

Around three weeks after the beginning of public testing, indie developer Iron Gate released the long-awaited Valheim Ashlands update on live servers. However, the Microsoft Store and Xbox versions have been delayed due to unforeseen issues:

Shortly after generative AI became the hottest topic in pretty much every industry, Inworld started making headlines in 2023 with its Character Engine technology that was first implemented in a series of PC games (Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Grand Theft Auto V) by modder Bloc.

Following Xbox's decision to close down three studios (Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Games) and roll Roundhouse Studios into ZeniMax Online, Jeff Grubb's rumor that the Perfect Dark reboot was in rough waters made things look even more dire for Xbox fans.

At its recent earnings call, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said during the Q&A session that he believes game development will take longer, and get more complex as time goes on. Questions during the Q&A session largely revolved around the successor to the Nintendo Switch.

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced a number of their studios were being shuttered, including Arkane Austin (Prey, Redfall), Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within, Hi-Fi Rush), and Alpha Dog Games, while Roundhouse Studios will be absorbed into ZeniMax Online Studios to work on The Elder Scrolls Online. This follows nearly 1,900 layoffs earlier in the year, largely from Microsoft’s newly-acquired Activision Blizzard teams. Unfortunately, it seems this isn’t the end of the pain.

Electronic Arts (EA) CEO Andrew Wilson has said the use of advanced generative AI would make game development «more efficient» so the company can make games «on a global basis at a faster rate».

Today, Finnish developer Remedy Entertainment decided jointly with Tencent to cancel the cooperative multiplayer game they were developing.

In a press release published on the Polish financial website Bankier.pl, CI Games confirmed to have reached an agreement with Microsoft to bring Lords of the Fallen and Sniper: Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 to Game Pass.

Sony will add a new feature to PS5 later this year, allowing users to invite others to a multiplayer game by generating a shareable link on the console or via the PlayStation App. This link can then be shared on social media or via direct message, allowing AFK, offline, or even players you aren't friends with (yet) to secure a spot.

The Earth Defense Force franchise might not be the most pristine or mainstream gaming property around, but it’s picked up a sizeable and dedicated fanbase over the years, one that’s filled with players who’re all too happy to get fresh doses of its pulpy bug-shooting action once every few years. If you’re in that group, you’ll soon be getting another helping of the series’ offerings.

For all long as the Fallout franchise has been around, it has never been set outside of the United States. Of course, its over-the-top, retro-futuristic Americana satirization is a core aspect of what makes Fallout, Fallout, but on new few occasions, large chunks of the series’ fanbase have wondered how locations outside of the US are faring in Fallout’s post-apocalyptic setting, and whether they could fare as suitable settings for a future Fallout game.

As excited as some may be for new ship-building options or city maps in Starfield, there’s the ever-present question of when official mod support will go live. Director Todd Howard confirmed it would be this year, previously stating the sci-fi RPG would be a “modder’s paradise.” As it turns out, some new information will be dropping soon.