GDC 2026: Day 1 | It's not all up in Flames

Day 1 summary on the floor, reporting on what the buzz is.

Starting with Wildlight’s HighGuard, which drew heavy criticism for inconsistent art direction, weak gameplay choices, lack of public playtesting, poor performance, and rapidly shrinking player counts, leading to major layoffs and a much smaller remaining team. We argue modern live-service shooters face intense competition and need earlier public feedback, noting broader post-COVID overfunding has produced many failed projects and layoffs, alongside debate over what “indie” means amid publisher funding like Tencent. They compare Eastern and Western development strengths, then review Bungie’s Marathon playtest (strong gunfeel, UI/readability issues, clearer art direction improvements) and its competition with Arc Raiders. We close on Xbox leadership changes, the viability of consoles vs software-first strategies, exclusives, and industry uncertainty.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ [email protected]• 💰⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Special Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠Raymond Graham (@Wadarass) / X⁠

In this episode, we discuss EA going private and potentially some major layoffs before end of Year. Before deep diving in the state of play from the PlayStation conference.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ [email protected]• 💰⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Special Links:⁠⁠⁠Raymond Graham (@Wadarass) / X⁠

https://www.project-grail.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/iammalte/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ta-roy/Malte and Roy to discuss their journey developing "Project Grail," a retro-inspired first-person shooter. The conversation covers their backgrounds in AAA studios, the influence of classic games like Doom and Wolfenstein, the challenges of balancing side projects with full-time jobs, and the evolving landscape of game development. The guests share insights on teamwork, project management, and the importance of passion and structure in indie game creation, while reflecting on industry trends, technology, and the value of learning from both past and present.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ [email protected]• 💰⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this solo episode, I address three significant topics in the game development industry: backlash from social media posts following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the tragic death of Microsoft engineer Pratik Pandey linked to crunch culture, and the broader industry shakeout leading to significant job losses. The discussion covers the impacts of public comments by game developers on their careers, the systemic issue of overwork in the tech industry, and the uneven global recovery in the video game sector with a particular focus on job cuts in California versus growth in Europe and Asia.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ [email protected]• 💰⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Alien: Rogue Incursion - Evolved Edition | Coming Soon to PS5, PS5 Pro, Steam, Xbox, and EpicRoss De Vito | LinkedInIn this episode we have Ross DeVito, a gameplay programmer at Survios, a VR studio. Ross shares his journey from studying mechanical engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to finding fulfillment in virtual reality game development. He discusses the development of 'Alien: Rogue Incursion,' a VR game that Survios is adapting for flat screen (PC and console) gaming. Ross explains the challenges and techniques involved in transitioning VR mechanics, such as weapon systems and combat AI, to a traditional flat screen format. They talk about the differences in optimization, player control, and immersion between VR and flat screen gaming, as well as the additional features of the PSVR2, like adaptive triggers and head haptics. Ross emphasizes that the evolved edition of the game aims to offer a unique and immersive experience for both VR and flat screen players. Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ [email protected]• 💰⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we discuss the recent layoffs in the game industry and the economic challenges faced by game studios, focusing on the long development cycles and mismanagement in AAA studios like Cloud Chamber's BioShock project. We examine the role of AI in game development, highlighting its potential to assist with asset creation and coding while noting its current limitations. The conversation also emphasizes the need for effective mentorship in a remote working environment to support junior developers and sustain the industry's future talent.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ [email protected]• 💰⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Special Links:⁠⁠Raymond Graham (@Wadarass) / X

In this episode we sit down with longtime friend and industry veteran Drew Smith for a candid conversation about the evolving landscape of game development. Drew shares his journey from hustling his way into Take-Two, producing at 2K, and working on iconic titles like Bioshock and Destiny, to navigating the challenges of remote work, starting his own studio, and adapting to a rapidly changing industry.Together, they dive deep into the differences between corporate and development roles, the impact of the pandemic on studio culture, the struggles and opportunities facing both AAA and indie developers, and the importance of mentorship and fresh talent in games. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is packed with honest insights, industry stories, and advice for aspiring game creators.Tune in for a real talk about the state of the industry, the future of game development, and what it takes to survive—and thrive—in games today.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ [email protected]• 💰 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(1) Drew Smith | LinkedInhttps://thedrewsmith.substack.com/

In this roundtable episode, the crew dives into Bungie’s upcoming "Marathon," dissecting its art style, gameplay, and what it signals about the state of AAA game development. We discuss industry layoffs, the decline of Western studios, and the challenges facing big-budget games, while reflecting on the future of game development and the rise of smaller, more agile teams.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ [email protected]• 💰⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Special Links:⁠Raymond Graham (@Wadarass) / X

About this episode:hristopher Stone is a dynamic Studio General Manager who has played a key role in some of the industry's most notable AAA titles. Currently, he's leading work on Ready or Not, while his impressive portfolio also includes high-profile projects such as Callisto Protocol, Days Gone, Call of Duty, and Dead Space. In this episode, Christopher shares his journey through groundbreaking game development, the challenges of steering large-scale projects, and his opinions for the future of gaming.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ [email protected]• 💰 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ready or Not on SteamExperience | Christopher Stone | LinkedInVOID Interactive