Pixel Art Unity 🎨, Witcher 4 Animations 🏃♂️, Epic vs Apple 💥
🎨 Innovations in Game Art and Design
Transforming 3D into Pixel Art: Red Giraffe’s Custom Unity Pipeline
Artist Red Giraffe has developed a custom Unity render pipeline that converts 3D scenes into stunning pixel art. Using a blend of downsampling textures, quantization, and custom render passes for colorful shadows, this technique redefines pixel art aesthetics in a modern 3D environment. The project is evolving with a sub-texel camera system, making it a must-follow for developers and artists passionate about pixel art and Unity innovation.
Unreal Engine’s Control Rig Physics Powers The Witcher 4 Animations
Epic Games reveals how Unreal Engine’s Control Rig Physics drives impressive animation advancements in The Witcher 4, from realistic horse movement to slope-aware foot placement. CD Projekt Red integrates these tools to streamline complex rigging, adding polish to NPCs and creatures alike. Although the game won’t release until 2027, these behind-the-scenes insights highlight the engine’s powerful impact on next-gen animation workflows.
🔨 Streamlining Game Development
OpenVAT: Blender Add-On for Streamlined Vertex Animation Textures
Discover OpenVAT, a powerful Blender add-on by Luke Stilson that encodes Vertex Animation Textures directly from animated geometry. Designed for real-time engines like Unreal, Unity, and Godot, it supports advanced features including Geometry Nodes, normal texture outputs, and high-quality PNG or EXR exports. With automated preview setup and cleanup, OpenVAT simplifies creating optimized vertex animations for your game projects.
Why DevDuck Made the Switch from Unity to Godot
In this engaging video chat, DevDuck shares his reasons for switching from Unity to Godot, focusing on Godot's lightweight design and superior 2D capabilities. He discusses the frustrations with Unity’s frequent updates and the simplicity of Godot’s GDScript. If you’re debating which engine to use or looking for tips on streamlining your workflow, this conversation provides valuable insights into choosing the right tool for your game development projects.
📈 Navigating the Game Business Landscape
Epic vs Apple Ruling Sparks Mobile Game Monetisation Revolution
April 30, 2025 marked a turning point for mobile games as the Epic vs Apple ruling barred Apple from restricting links to third-party storefronts. Developers, from indies to AAA, are rapidly exploring new monetisation models outside Apple’s 15-30% cut. Notably, Marvel Snap’s webshop incentivizes purchases with exclusive rewards, demonstrating the power of direct sales. With global ripple effects and platforms like Steam potentially evolving, game creators now have unprecedented freedom to innovate their revenue strategies.
Mastering Operational Excellence: How Game Studios Can Stand Out Today
With powerful tools now universally accessible, game studios face fierce competition and complexity beyond just making games. Riad Djemili highlights how operational excellence—embracing agile principles and mastering project management—is key to unifying diverse teams, managing growth, and improving the odds of success. A well-designed, flexible toolchain that supports collaboration and adaptability is essential for studios navigating today’s hit-driven market and complex development-process landscape.