Best of GamesIndustry.biz — July 2025

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   GamesIndustry.biz·43w

   Two years after the Unity controversy, how are things going with Godot?

   Following Unity's controversial decisions in 2023, the open-source Godot game engine experienced significant growth in adoption and community contributions. While Godot still lacks some of Unity's features, it offers sufficient functionality for many indie developers and provides the crucial advantage of being open-source, meaning developers truly own their tools. The engine has improved substantially with better 3D support, Vulkan compatibility, and console support through W4 Games. Developers appreciate Godot's flexibility and the security of open-source licensing, which prevents vendor lock-in situations like Unity's runtime fee controversy.

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   GamesIndustry.biz·42w

   Dead Space creator and Sledgehammer Games co-founder admits "it's tough out there": "Maybe I've directed my last game"

   Glen Schofield, creator of Dead Space and co-founder of Sledgehammer Games, reveals the harsh realities of securing AAA game funding in today's market. After spending eight months developing a horror game proposal with a $17 million budget, publishers pushed for cuts to $2-5 million, forcing him to abandon the project rather than compromise quality. The veteran developer reflects on potentially having directed his last game as the AAA industry remains stagnant, highlighting broader challenges facing experienced developers in the current gaming landscape.

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   GamesIndustry.biz·43w

   YouTuber raided by police for reviewing retro gaming handhelds

   Italian YouTuber Francesco Salicini (Once Were Nerd) was raided by police for reviewing retro gaming handhelds with pre-loaded games. Authorities seized over 30 devices and his phone, accusing him of violating Italian copyright law. He faces up to $17,000 in fines and three years in prison. The case highlights Nintendo's intensified crackdown on piracy and emulation, with the company recently updating policies and taking legal action against various emulation sites and services.

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   GamesIndustry.biz·45w

   Stop Killing Games EU petition tops 1.2m signatories, prompting response from Video Games Europe

   The Stop Killing Games EU petition has gathered over 1.2 million signatures, advocating against the practice of making games unplayable when publisher support ends. Video Games Europe responded by defending publishers' rights to discontinue online services when commercially unviable, citing security concerns with private servers and potential restrictions on developer creativity. The movement highlights tensions between consumer rights and industry practices regarding digital game preservation and planned obsolescence.

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