Bryant Francis

Batuu

Senior Editor at Game Developer

Senior Editor: @gamedevdotcom. Game Writer: Zephon, Endless Space 2. Tips & pitches: [email protected]. He/Him! 💖💜💙

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Articles

creating a 'safe,' sustainable workplace takes priority in studio leadership

2 weeks ago | gamedeveloper.com | Bryant Francis

At a GlanceHorror game studio Bloober is riding high off the critical and commercial success of Silent Hill 2. As the studio's ambitions have grown, so has its headcount. CEO Piotr Babieno says sustaining that growth is partly about prioritizing people, not just profits. Horror game developer Bloober Team stands at a key inflection point.
Nintendo Switch 2's DLSS support to be a big part of future Nintendo games

2 weeks ago | gamedeveloper.com | Bryant Francis

At a GlanceThe Nintendo Switch 2's DLSS support isn't just about improving existing games—it'll be used in first-party titles too. Game developers likely weren’t surprised last week when Nintendo rolled out the Nintendo Switch 2 without any major trumpeting of its improved processing and graphical prowess.
Design opportunities for devs from our time trying out the Nintendo Switch 2

3 weeks ago | gamedeveloper.com | Bryant Francis

At a GlanceYesterday Nintendo fully unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2, revealing the mouse and GameChat features. These features go hand-in-hand with major technical improvements on the Nintendo Switch. After hands-on with the Switch 2 at a preview event, we explore how devs could get creative with the console. The age of the Nintendo Switch 2 is nigh.
Nintendo Switch 2 shows Nintendo’s strategy for a social future

3 weeks ago | gamedeveloper.com | Bryant Francis

Yesterday's Nintendo Direct came out swinging with a surprise direction for the Nintendo Switch 2. In a break from recent tradition, Nintendo showcased only few unique hardware advancements and instead focused on a field it's been historically reluctant to dive into: online multiplayer.
SAG-AFTRA urges more non-struck game studios to sign interim agreement

3 weeks ago | gamedeveloper.com | Bryant Francis

At a GlanceSAG-AFTRA is entering its second year of striking studios under the Interactive Media Bargaining agreement. In that time, it's signed over 120 studios to the "interim agreement" that provides protections against AI voice usage. Now the union is urging all developers—even non-struck ones—to consider signing the agreement. A recent back-and-forth between Hades II developer Supergiant Games actor Marin M.
Why your next game needs a babygirl

4 weeks ago | gamedeveloper.com | Bryant Francis

Okay for this to make sense, I need you to understand what a "babygirl" is. A babygirl is, as writer and narrative designer Alexa Ray Corriea explained in her 2025 Game Developers Conference talk, a character that everyone can agree is "a little bit traumatized," but secure in their masculinity, attractive, sensitive, and vulnerable, but not weak. He's probably over the age of 25, and may have "soft reasons to make hard decisions." Corriea's example was Clive from Final Fantasy XVI. Still with me?
animate words, not letters!

1 month ago | gamedeveloper.com | Bryant Francis

At a GlanceTactical Breach Wizards creator Tom Francis argued at GDC that indie devs should animate game text on words, not letters. However you feel about text animation, it should definitely be a priority in your game. My ears perked up while lurking in the back of a Moscone West lecture hall at the 2025 Game Developers Conference.
Nintendo Switch 2

1 month ago | gamedeveloper.com | Chris Kerr |Bryant Francis

The Heritage Foundation's manifesto for the possible next administration could do great harm to many, including large portions of the game development community.
How Assassin's Creed Shadows makes environments look great up close and at a distance

1 month ago | gamedeveloper.com | Bryant Francis

All video games are, in one way or another, a giant Rube-Goldberg machine. But open world games feature some of the most complex behind-the-scenes mechanisms of them all. Games like Assassin's Creed Shadows are crafted not to let players observe the intricacy of interlocking technical systems, but to hide as many of those systems as possible so they can wander huge environments riddled with luscious detail.
Unity's CEO, CTO promise 'stability' after runtime fee debacle

1 month ago | gamedeveloper.com | Bryant Francis

What kinds of games are Unity CEO Matthew Bromberg and CTO Steve Collins playing these days? That may seem like an idle question, but when you're the leaders of an engine company serving developers across the industry, it's helpful to know what games are top of their mind. In a conversation with Game Developer at the 2025 Game Developers Conference, Bromberg said he'd spent time recently playing Camouflaj's Batman: Arkham Shadow.