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  • Gears of War 6: The Coalition Is Hiring for Upcoming Title img Mar 03, 2023 Benjamin Carter Gears of War 6: The Coalition Is Hiring for Upcoming Title The Gears of War franchise is one of Microsoft’s most beloved franchises, having been around since 2006. The last release was Gears Tactics in 2020, with the last mainline title being Gears 5 in 2019. Now, it looks like The Coalition, the developers behind the franchise, is hinting at a new project. Rumors have been circulating since February 2021 that The Coalition has canceled two projects to focus on what is assumed to be Gears of War 6. Now, new job listings from The Coalition and Microsoft’s career page indicate that the team is looking for a Senior Gameplay Designer for a Gears of War game. The job listing asks for experience in Character, Camera, and Controls (3Cs) as well as AI systems.  This isn’t the first job listing from The Coalition for a Gears of War game, either. They were looking for a Gameplay Designer in July 2022. All of this points to the fact that the team is indeed working on a brand new Gears of War title. But what form will it take? Some have speculated that the team is working on a Gears of War Remastered Collection, which would be an interesting take on some of the franchise’s earliest entries. Others are hoping that it’s a brand new Gear of War title, a true sequel to Gear 5. It’s still too early to tell, but all signs point to the fact that Gears of War 6 is indeed in the works. At the end of the day, what fans really want is something new. Whether it’s a full-fledged sequel or a remastered classic, we can’t be sure until The Coalition officially reveals the game. But with the amount of evidence being put forward, it’s safe to say that it won’t be too long before we get more information on this hotly anticipated title. Read More
  • Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Inspirations: Escape from Tarkov as an Ingenious Multiplayer Design img Mar 02, 2023 Benjamin Carter Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Inspirations: Escape from Tarkov as an Ingenious Multiplayer Design Gaming fans were thrilled when, today, Elden Ring's creator Hidetaka Miyazaki sat down for a chat with IGN, and even more excited when the announcement of a 2023 expansion was made. While talking to IGN, Miyazaki revealed that one of the games he has been looking to for inspiration recently is Escape from Tarkov, and he even went on to explain why this particular title has caught his eye.  When Miyazaki was asked what trends, ideas, or technology he finds inspiring, he responded that he has been keeping a close eye on how other developers are approaching multiplayer network design and game design. He went on to explain that he has been observing the changes as both a creator and a fan of the game and mentioned how players are now being used as a resource for the game's design itself. It is worth noting that the Souls series' multiplayer has been a major part of its experience for quite some time, so Miyazaki's interest in Tarkov is only to be expected.  Miyazaki's admiration for Escape from Tarkov could be associated with the challenge of completing an area only with the help of a full squad of players. It may also have something to do with the harsher consequences for dying to an enemy invader. Miyazaki’s quote about “using players as a resource for the game” is also reminiscent of other games, such as EVE Online, where players can influence the game world. The implications of Miyazaki's comments could potentially be seen in the upcoming Elden Ring expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree.  In conclusion, it has been confirmed that Elden Ring's success will not be influencing Hidetaka Miyazaki's upcoming projects, and he won’t be swayed by its remarkable popularity. The development team at FromSoft plan to keep on creating the games they want, and it appears that one aspect they have taken a particular interest in is multiplayer design. Tarkov's ingenious multiplayer design caught Miyazaki's eye, and it remains to be seen what kind of implementations will be made in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Read More