Games Archives

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Helldivers 2 dev cracks down on ‘suspicious super credit activity’, though it would help if earning premium currency wasn’t so boring to begin with

A segment of players in Helldivers 2 has found ways to exploit super credits, prompting developer Arrowhead to address the issue. Arrowhead acknowledged player frustrations regarding cheating and announced plans to implement changes to tackle the problem. The current method of earning super credits is seen as tedious, as they can only be obtained from a limited number of points on the map, and the most efficient way to accumulate them is by playing on easier difficulty levels. Arrowhead has sold over 20 million copies of the game and is considering introducing new side objectives or combat challenges to enhance the super credit earning process. The studio has been responsive to player feedback, leading to a shift in Steam reviews from mostly negative to predominantly positive in a couple of months.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Black Flag Resynced certainly scratches my nostalgia itch, but do you know what else does? Assassin’s Creed Black Flag

Ubisoft's Black Flag Resynced features enhanced visuals and quality-of-life improvements but raises questions about the essence of the original game. The revamped stealth mechanics allow players to crouch anywhere, eliminating fail conditions from stealth missions and diluting the sense of accomplishment. The original game's combat retains its fluidity with a classic control scheme, while Resynced departs from this style. The movement and climbing mechanics in the original require thoughtful navigation, whereas Resynced allows for a more reckless approach. The ship combat in Resynced is improved with new firing modes and officer upgrades, making naval battles more challenging. The narrative of the original remains compelling, with new quests in Resynced feeling lacking in comparison. Modern additions like an in-game shop and a battle pass mechanic create dissonance between old and new elements. Overall, players driven by nostalgia may prefer the original Black Flag over Resynced.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Console-exclusive Silent Hill game finally gets PC release 14 years later

Aleksey Shevchenko, a Russian developer, has announced an unofficial PC port of Silent Hill Downpour, originally released in 2012 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This port will feature enhanced graphics with resolutions up to 1440p and support for 60 frames per second, along with improved lighting and shadow effects. It will include both controller and keyboard/mouse support, quick-save and quick-load options, and the ability to skip cutscenes. The port will also restore previously cut content, including deleted cutscenes, dialogues, notes, quests, 3D models, weapons, and a teased deleted boss fight. A specific release date has not been provided, but it is expected to launch in autumn. Players will need to own the original game to access the port. The original Silent Hill Downpour received mixed reviews, with criticism of its combat mechanics and technical issues but praise for its character depth and storytelling.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Valve has rewired Counter-Strike 2’s bomb to make it more spectacular, but potentially less deadly

The recent updates in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) include the introduction of volumetric smoke grenades, which provide true 3D smoke cover, and a reimagined bomb mechanic that creates an explosive wave of destruction impacting the entire map post-detonation. Valve YouTuber Gabe Follower has showcased gameplay footage of the new bomb technology, which includes a shockwave effect. Additionally, there is a private testing feature for a console command that allows players to remotely detonate grenades by shooting them. Counter-Strike 2 remains the most popular title on Steam, while its predecessor, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, has also seen a resurgence, attracting tens of thousands of players despite not being featured on the Steam store.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Tempest Rising’s elusive third faction will get its own singleplayer campaign as a paid expansion, and you can play the demo right now

Tempest Rising, a successor to the Command & Conquer series, features three factions: the Global Defense Force (GDF), the Tempest Dynasty, and the Veti. The Veti faction, previously AI-controlled, will receive its own campaign in a paid expansion titled The Veti's Wrath, which includes 11 new campaign missions. The Veti are inspired by Ancient Egyptian aesthetics and have unique gameplay mechanics focused on conversion and sacrifice, allowing players to resurrect fallen enemy soldiers as "enlightened" units. A demo is currently available, featuring the first two missions of the Veti campaign. The Veti will be a free multiplayer faction, while single-player gameplay will require a purchase. Tempest Rising is currently available at a 30% discount, retailing for £21, with the promotion ending tomorrow.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Two PC freebies are the perfect weekend night spooks to complete in one night

Indie developer Crux Game Studios is offering two free games, Within and Decrypt, available for download on Itch.io until July 13. Within is a 30-minute game where players control Maya, who confronts nightmarish foes to rescue her brother, Nikil. Decrypt is a sci-fi survival-horror game that takes about an hour to complete, where players investigate a missing cargo ship and uncover a sinister reality.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Weekend PC Game Deals: GTA, Borderlands, Kingdom Come, Stray and more

The Epic Games Store is offering two free titles this week: Nova Lands and Tattoo Tycoon, available until July 16, when Echo Generation and Luto will replace them. The July Humble Choice lineup includes eight games: Sea of Stars: Sunset Edition, TUNIC, Neon White, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, Drop Duchy - Complete Edition, Sledders, Dicefolk, and Our Adventurer Guild, available for purchase until August 4. Additionally, Humble has released two game bundles: the Narrative Bundle, featuring 12 games, and the Squad Goals bundle, which includes cooperative titles. The GOG store has ended its DRM-free summer sale but continues with standard promotions. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Obsidian game director is sick of hearing bad takes about the state of the studio: ‘The through line from KotOR2 to our current games is pretty clear’

Microsoft has restructured Xbox, resulting in significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees and the disbanding of four game studios, including Double Fine and Compulsion Games returning to indie status, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs were sold. Obsidian Entertainment, initially thought to be unaffected, also faced layoffs but is reportedly developing a new Fallout game with Josh Sawyer as director. A member of Obsidian's leadership, Adler, expressed frustration over misconceptions about the studio's evolution, emphasizing that key figures from its past successes remain. He reassured fans that the core essence of Obsidian is unchanged, despite recent challenges. Adler acknowledged the emotional toll of the layoffs and expressed support for departing employees. Anticipation for Obsidian's new Fallout title is growing.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Microsoft filing shows total ZeniMax layoffs at 379, with over half coming from Elder Scrolls Online studio that’s lost at least 60% of its staff in the past year

ZeniMax Online Studios and ZeniMax Media have undergone significant restructuring, resulting in the layoff of 379 employees—213 from ZeniMax Online and 166 from ZeniMax Media. There is no separate notice for Bethesda Game Studios, suggesting that some layoffs may include Bethesda personnel. The ZeniMax Online Union's membership has declined from 461 to approximately 186 employees, indicating a reduction of about 40% in workforce over a year and a half. Despite The Elder Scrolls Online generating substantial monthly revenue for over a decade, the decision to reduce the workforce raises questions about the strategic direction of ZeniMax Online.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Roughly 192 Subnautica 2 players have drowned every minute since launch

Players of Subnautica 2 have collectively logged over 58 million hours of gameplay in under two months since its early access launch. During this time, players have recorded a staggering number of drownings, exceeding the average annual unintentional drowning deaths in the United States (4,083) by a factor of 3,829. Many players are equipped with oxygen tanks and exploring areas with breathable oxygen bubbles.