PC Archives

AppWizard

October 20, 2026

Lucasfilm wants to do more Star Wars games like Zero Company and Galactic Racer: ‘We’ve tried to be more flexible about who we’re willing to take pitches from’

In 2026, two new Star Wars games were released: Zero Company, a tactical game developed by Bit Reactor, and Galactic Racer, an arcade racing game by Fuse Games. Both received positive acclaim, indicating a shift towards unconventional Star Wars games from smaller studios. Douglas Reilly, vice president of Lucasfilm Games, emphasized the value of diverse ideas in game development. Lucasfilm Games was revitalized in 2021 after a decade-long partnership with Electronic Arts, which did not meet expectations. Upcoming titles include Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, a new chapter in the Knights of the Old Republic series, a third installment of the Star Wars Jedi series, and Quantic Dream's Star Wars: Eclipse, along with ongoing work on the KOTOR remake.

AppWizard

October 20, 2026

Star Wars Zero Company adds new difficulty options that can bring it closer to XCOM

Star Wars Zero Company has released its 1.2 patch, introducing a granular difficulty system that enhances gameplay with tactical adjustments rather than just increasing enemy stats. The patch includes options to eliminate the injury system, adjust the injury threshold before permadeath, reduce or remove health scaling, and restrict the respec function. The default difficulty is now more engaging than the original hard mode, and incorporating these options can significantly change gameplay dynamics. Player feedback indicates that those who found the game too easy will appreciate the update, though there are concerns about the visibility of the entire map and enemy locations. Developer Bit Reactor has begun to reinstate furloughed employees following the game's success.

AppWizard

October 20, 2026

Moonlighter studio won’t host a public playtest of its next game due to rampant AI-led cloning: ‘We know we’re not the only developers feeling this way’

Digital Sun Games has decided not to conduct a public playtest for their upcoming title, ReVamp, due to concerns about reverse-engineering and cloning of their game. This decision follows a trend of hastily produced clones appearing on platforms like Steam and Roblox, exacerbated by the rise of AI-driven tools that facilitate game replication. Other developers, such as those behind Drunken Goddess Reflux, have also canceled public demos for similar reasons. The number of demos available during the recent Steam Next Fest increased significantly, highlighting the issue of rapid cloning in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

October 19, 2026

Xbox Game Pass will lose eight games 31 at the end of October

Microsoft will remove eight titles from Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass on October 31, 2025. The departing games are: - Day of the Tentacle Remastered - Deep Rock Galactic - Dead Static Drive - Full Throttle Remastered - Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris - LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga - Wartales - Wildgate Players will need to purchase these titles separately to retain access after their removal. Completion times for achievements in the outgoing titles vary, with Day of the Tentacle Remastered and Full Throttle Remastered taking about three hours each, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris around 15 hours, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga between 80 and 100 hours, Wartales approximately 150 to 200 hours, and Deep Rock Galactic between 300 to 500 hours. There is insufficient data for Wildgate and Dead Static Drive.

AppWizard

October 19, 2026

5 Best Video Games Like Doom

"Doom," released in 1993 by id Software, is a groundbreaking first-person shooter that influenced the gaming industry and inspired many games in the '90s. Its sequel followed a year later, along with various ports and spin-offs. "Wolfenstein 3D," released in 1992, was id Software's earlier success that laid the groundwork for first-person shooters with its maze-like level designs and fast-paced action. "Heretic," created in 1994 by John Romero and Raven Software, introduced a medieval dark fantasy theme and a more complex inventory system, expanding the boundaries of first-person shooters. "Duke Nukem 3D," released in 1996, transformed the titular character into a first-person shooter icon, known for its crude humor and explosive gameplay. "Quake," launched by id Software in 1996, emphasized multiplayer gameplay and introduced true 3D graphics, redefining the possibilities for 3D shooters. "Serious Sam: The First Encounter," released just before "Halo: Combat Evolved," features protagonist Sam Stone battling extraterrestrial foes with a focus on over-the-top action and competitive multiplayer modes.

AppWizard

October 19, 2026

Beyond These Stars | | PAX Australia 2026 Preview

Beyond These Stars is a city-building game where players construct settlements on the back of a space whale named Kewa. Players manage resources, build pathways, and maintain the whale's health and happiness. A demo at PAX 2026 included a tutorial and gameplay focused on expanding settlements and nurturing the relationship with Kewa. The game features a charming aesthetic with 3D modeling and a hexagonal grid layout, making resource identification and navigation intuitive. Beyond These Stars is set to launch on October 17, 2026, on Steam.

AppWizard

October 19, 2026

23 devs teamed up to make a free game of ‘innovative yet questionable volume sliders,’ and it feels like browser-based WarioWare

Volume.art is a free online collection of 29 microgames that explore the manipulation of volume sliders. The gameplay includes "A man named Bow" by Alice Bottino, where players aim a bow and arrow to achieve a perfect volume level; "What's This About" by Akuma Kira, which involves navigating dialogue choices to persuade a potato character; and "Ctrl+Alt+Date" by Iodine, a parody of dating games with emotional dialogue options. One game, "In the Zone," takes players to a 3D environment inspired by the STALKER series, where they follow a Geiger counter to find the highest volume. The entire experience takes about an hour to complete and offers a nostalgic and innovative approach to gaming.

AppWizard

October 18, 2026

Frozen Trail finally puts the ‘raid’ in Arc Raiders

Arc Raiders has introduced two new raid-style activities: the Frigate and the Fallen Emperor. The Frigate features a team of 15 players battling flying robots on a flying fortress, emphasizing teamwork and strategy, while allowing players to upgrade their outpost and craft powerful weapons. The Fallen Emperor offers a more solitary experience with randomized encounters, puzzles, and hazards. There is a growing demand for a PvE-only mode to enhance enjoyment and reduce frustration from PvP elements. The community is excited about the potential for future content and epic raids.

AppWizard

October 18, 2026

Should you limit your FPS in games? Here’s when it makes sense

Capping in-game frame rates (fps) can enhance GPU performance, reduce screen tearing, and lower GPU load, leading to quieter fan operation and decreased power consumption. It is generally advisable to cap frame rates to maintain stable performance and minimize screen tearing, especially when using a Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) monitor. Setting a frame rate cap prevents in-game action from exceeding the monitor's refresh rate, which can reduce latency. Screen tearing occurs when a new frame is sent to the monitor before the previous one is fully displayed, causing visual disruptions. To cap frame rates, users can utilize built-in fps limiters in games, NVIDIA Control Panel for NVIDIA users, AMD Adrenalin for AMD users, or third-party software like Guru3D RTSS RivaTuner. The recommended cap is typically three or four frames below the display's maximum refresh rate. V-Sync synchronizes the game's frame rate with the monitor's refresh rate to eliminate screen tearing but introduces input lag, which varies by refresh rate. Fast V-Sync is an alternative that reduces lag while maintaining a tear-free experience, though it may not be compatible with all games.

AppWizard

October 18, 2026

Dark Souls 2 dataminer shows off massive prototype coliseum level from early development

Unused levels from Dark Souls II were discovered by dataminer Doneda, indicating a more ambitious vision for the game that was ultimately not realized. These levels were discarded early in development and suggest an interconnected area, with some elements possibly linked to the final game's Undead Crypt. The discovered locations include a grand coliseum zone, adventurous mines, a peculiar underground tower designed as arenas, and a crypt section contributing to the game's dark lore. Doneda has previously showcased other early iterations of Dark Souls II content. The development of Dark Souls II faced challenges, including a divisive new combat system and significant story rewrites, while Hidetaka Miyazaki was focused on Bloodborne. The final game also received backlash for downgraded lighting compared to early trailers, highlighting the tumultuous development process.