PC Archives

AppWizard

June 21, 2026

Doom And Duke Nukem 3D Composer Bobby Prince Dies At 81

Bobby Prince, a significant figure in classic PC gaming, passed away at the age of 81. He was a composer and sound designer known for his work with Apogee/3D Realms and id Software, contributing music to iconic games such as Doom, Wolfenstein, Duke Nukem, and Commander Keen. Originally trained as a lawyer, he transitioned to video game music after connecting with Scott Miller from Apogee. His work on Doom, characterized by heavy riffs and innovative sound design, earned a place in the Library of Congress for preservation. Prince also composed music for Duke Nukem 3D and was recognized as a pioneer in game music, sharing his expertise through articles and presentations at gaming conferences.

AppWizard

June 21, 2026

Epic Games Store Roadmap Promises 5x Faster Boot Times, User Reviews, and More

The Epic Games Store is undergoing a significant transformation, with a roadmap for new features and a redesign of its digital storefront. Upcoming updates include Fortnite chunked installation, third-party patch notes, pre-registration for free-to-play games, storefront rearchitecture, and library management improvements. Additional features like player profiles, user-written reviews, publisher-funded coupons, and enhanced search capabilities are planned for a later phase. The store, launched in 2018, has faced challenges in competing with platforms like Steam and has not yet achieved profitability. A "ground-up rebuild" of the launcher is expected to improve performance significantly.

AppWizard

June 21, 2026

The team behind bullet hell FPS Luna Abyss just got laid off, less than a month after the game’s release

Luna Abyss, a game that blends first-person shooters with bullet hell mechanics, has faced significant challenges following the announcement of layoffs affecting its entire development team. The news was shared by Hollie Emery, CEO of Kwalee Labs, on June 16, stating that the decision was beyond their control. As of now, the game has a concurrent player count of 43 and a peak of 317 players since its release on May 21. Despite its innovative gameplay, the layoffs have overshadowed its potential success.

AppWizard

June 21, 2026

Crysis 2 had problems, but it got one thing right: destruction

Crysis 2 features a narrative centered around Alcatraz, a U.S. Marine caught in an alien invasion, guided by Prophet from the original Crysis. The game emphasizes destruction, transforming New York into a chaotic battleground, although it suffers from simplistic AI, a convoluted narrative, and clichéd characters. The nanosuit's functionality is reduced compared to its predecessor, limiting active abilities and creativity in gameplay. Players can use stealth and engage in direct combat, with standout moments during defensive missions where they assist civilians and demolish buildings to disrupt enemies. However, the final mission is anticlimactic, leaving players unsatisfied with the conclusion. Despite its limitations, Crysis 2 showcases moments of brilliance and potential for innovation in gaming.

AppWizard

June 20, 2026

The videogame market is as big as ever, with PC leading growth—global games revenue surpassed the $200 billion mark in 2025

The global games market closed 2025 at 1.6 billion, reflecting a growth of 9.1% year over year, marking the first time it has crossed the 0 billion threshold. This growth occurred despite underwhelming performances from key players like Nintendo and a modest growth trajectory in the console market. The industry is currently experiencing significant consolidation and layoffs, alongside rising hardware prices.

AppWizard

June 20, 2026

The creator of Ultima is reportedly reclaiming the series’ rights back from EA, and it could happen as soon as next year

Ultima is a significant franchise in PC gaming, originally created by Richard 'Lord British' Garriott, known for its influential roleplaying series and spinoffs like Ultima Underworld and Ultima Online. The rights to the series have been held by Electronic Arts (EA) since 1992, following Garriott's sale of Origin Systems. Despite some releases, the series has largely been inactive under EA, with unsuccessful attempts at revival in 2010 and 2013. Recent developments indicate that Garriott may soon reclaim the copyright to Ultima in 2027 due to U.S. copyright law, although the trademark will remain with EA. Garriott has expressed interest in potentially creating a new title, possibly titled "Lord British's Ultima." He has attempted to revive the series multiple times during EA's ownership but has faced challenges in those discussions.

AppWizard

June 20, 2026

This GTA 5 filmmaker is livestreaming every step of machinima production, from location scouting to live debugging when the game inevitably crashes

Filmmaker Jordy Veenstra has been involved in Grand Theft Auto machinima for over a decade. He recently hosted "Machinima Dev Streams" on YouTube and Twitch, showcasing the production process of GTA 5 films, including challenges like location scouting and technical troubleshooting. Veenstra used tools such as Menyoo and ScriptHookVDotNet during the streams and encountered issues like game crashes that required restarts. He aims to expand future streams to share broader creative insights and experiences from his machinima projects.

AppWizard

June 20, 2026

Weekend PC Game Deals: Cyberpunk 2077, Split Fiction, Sonic Racing, and more

The Epic Games Store is offering Robobeat and Citizen Sleeper for free until June 25. Humble has introduced two bundles: the June 2unes bundle for rhythm game enthusiasts, starting at a low price, and a VR bundle featuring Among Us 3D: VR and Zero Caliber VR. Valve's Next Fest is showcasing gameplay snippets from upcoming indie titles until June 22, along with free events for Stellaris, Two Point Museum, Dead by Daylight, and MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries. The Steam Summer Sale is approaching, prompting publishers to offer discounts. GOG has launched its own summer sale with various highlights.

AppWizard

June 20, 2026

Rockstar Games Launcher 2026: 18.3M Players, GTA 6 PC Signals

As of January 2026, the Rockstar Games Launcher has 18.3 million monthly active users engaged with Grand Theft Auto V. A software update on March 31, 2026, introduced support for Windows 11 and various performance improvements. The anticipated launch of GTA 6 is scheduled for November 19, 2026. Since its launch in September 2019, the launcher has focused exclusively on Rockstar titles, facing competition from platforms like Steam and Epic Games Store. As of March 2026, GTA Online recorded 17.9 million players across major platforms, with 4.2 million daily active users. In 2026, PC players accounted for 42% of GTA V's global player base, translating to approximately 7.7 million monthly active PC players. The March 2026 update included enhancements such as an upgraded embedded browser and a new Discord Social SDK. Players in Brazil faced restrictions on purchasing through the launcher due to local consumer protection laws. The GTA+ subscription service had 878,284 active subscribers as of early 2026.

AppWizard

June 20, 2026

2027 Video Game Release Schedule

A list of upcoming game releases for 2027 includes: - Fable (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 23 - Erosion (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – To Be Announced - Exodus (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – To Be Announced - Ill (PlayStation 5) – To Be Announced - Join Us (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – To Be Announced - Senua (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – To Be Announced - The Lift (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – To Be Announced - Zoopunk (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – To Be Announced