RealityScan 2.0 AI 🤖, Ubisoft Unions ✊, Studio Camelia Shutdown 💼
🎮 Gaming Industry Insights
JRPG Developer Studio Camelia Closes After Kickstarter Success
Studio Camelia, creator of the Kickstarter-backed JRPG Alzara Radiant Echoes, has shut down just one year after raising nearly €300,000 from over 5,000 backers. Despite a playable demo and half the funding secured, the studio couldn’t attract additional investment amid a funding crisis impacting the industry. The project is now indefinitely paused, with backers unable to claim refunds as the studio enters liquidation.
Ubisoft Halifax Workers Push for Union to Secure Voice and Stability
Employees at Ubisoft Halifax, developer of Assassin’s Creed Rebellion and Rainbow Six Mobile, are unionizing with CWA Canada to gain job security and a meaningful voice amid industry turbulence. A majority of the studio’s 60-person workforce has signed union cards, with a secret ballot vote forthcoming. The union aims to reinforce the studio’s culture of inclusion and equity while protecting workers’ rights without opposing Ubisoft’s vision. This move reflects a broader wave of unionization across game studios in North America.
🎨 Mastering 3D Art
Mastering 3D Portraits: Caleb Zhang’s Artistic and Technical Workflow
Character artist Caleb Runqiu Zhang shares his streamlined approach to creating realistic 3D portraits using ZBrush, Marmoset Toolbag, and Arnold renderer. Highlighting techniques from skin texturing to lighting inspired by Rembrandt, Caleb emphasizes that 3D art blends technical skill with timeless artistic principles. His experience demonstrates how modern tools enable artists to express creativity efficiently while honoring the enduring essence of art.
Crafting Realism: Yanely Villanueva’s 3D Environment Inspired by East Asian Architecture
Discover how 3D artist Yanely Villanueva combines her passion for traditional art with digital tools to create “Echoes in the Mountain Shrine,” a realistic environment inspired by East Asian architecture. Yanely shares her detailed creative process—from modeling and sculpting complex architectural elements to texturing and lighting to set a moody atmosphere. Her journey highlights the challenges and rewards of pushing technical skills while embracing cultural and artistic storytelling.
🌐 Upcoming Events and Innovations
Introducing GodotFest: A New Annual Godot Convention in Munich
GodotFest joins the Godot event lineup as a new annual convention specially tailored for professionals. Taking place in Munich each November, it offers workshops, talks, networking, and game pitches in a modern venue. Tickets are now available with early discounts through June, and submissions for talks and exhibits are open until mid-July. This addition broadens Godot’s community reach, complementing the existing GodotCon events worldwide.
RealityScan 2.0 Unlocks Smarter Photogrammetry with AI Masking and LiDAR
RealityScan 2.0 revolutionizes photogrammetry workflows by introducing AI-powered masking that automatically separates objects from backgrounds, saving artists valuable time. The update also enhances model precision with improved image alignment and aerial LiDAR support, enabling seamless integration of diverse data sources. Plus, its new quality analysis heatmaps reveal incomplete scan areas, helping you perfect your models efficiently. Best of all, RealityScan remains free for students, educators, and small developers.