PC Archives

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Amazon reportedly had a studio pivot away from a game ‘everyone was excited by’ to make something with more AI stuffed in it, then laid them all off anyway

A recent report from Eurogamer highlights the fate of Project Trident at Amazon Games, where the entire team was dismissed after being directed to shift their creative focus towards artificial intelligence integration. This incident reflects a broader trend in the games industry, as Amazon had previously laid off 14,000 employees by late 2025, indicating job insecurity in the field.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Summer Game Fest 2026 schedule and all the other summer showcases full of gaming announcements you won’t want to miss

As summer approaches, numerous video game showcases are scheduled, including the return of the PC Gaming Show. A comprehensive schedule of events includes: - Six One Indie Showcase: May 21, YouTube - Access-Ability Showcase: June 5, 8 am Pacific / 4 pm BST, YouTube - Summer Game Fest: June 5, 2 pm Pacific / 10 pm BST, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok - Day of the Devs: June 5, following SGF, YouTube - Wholesome Direct: June 6, 9 am Pacific / 5 pm BST, YouTube - Future Games Show: June 6, 12 pm Pacific / 8 pm BST, YouTube, Twitch - Xbox Games Showcase: June 7, 10 am Pacific / 6 pm BST, YouTube, Twitch - PC Gaming Show: June 7, 12 pm Pacific / 8 pm BST, YouTube, Twitch - Black Voices in Gaming: Day/time TBA, YouTube, Twitch - Women-Led Games: Day/time TBA, YouTube, Twitch Unconfirmed showcases include Sony's State of Play, typically held in late May or early June, and Nintendo Direct, which may not participate this year. There is speculation about a gameplay reveal for GTA 6 during the summer showcases, but Rockstar Games may choose to announce it discreetly after the major events.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Party Animals’ $75,000 AI video contest is a slap in the face to its creative team, and I’m not surprised it’s getting blasted on Steam

Recreate Games announced an AI video contest called the 'Golden Paw Awards' for players to create short films using generative AI tools, which has led to significant backlash from the community. The contest offers a cash prize of ,000 but has faced criticism for its reliance on AI-generated content, resulting in over 800 unfavorable reviews and a 'Mostly Negative' classification for recent reviews of Party Animals. In response to the negative feedback, Recreate Games issued an apology and proposed three options: canceling the contest, changing it to a non-AI competition, or keeping both AI and non-AI categories. The studio emphasized that they view AI as a tool for creative expression, but this explanation has not alleviated community disappointment.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

A new Far Far West update slices its grind in half, and stamps out Joker hoarding

The developer Evil Raptor has released a significant update for the team shooter Far Far West, which includes an overhaul of the Prestige system to reduce grind time by halving the required experience gains and restructuring the unlocking process for Joker and upgrade slots. Players can now prestige heroes and weapons up to level 15 and unlock an additional bonus upgrade slot, totaling six. Jokers will now be instanced per player to improve resource distribution, and players can share Jokers without triggering healing effects. The drop rate of Jokers has been adjusted based on team size. Balance changes include increased ammo for the Bow, a damage buff for Dual Revolvers, and a doubled Fire Rate upgrade for the Minigun. The Overblast modifier has been nerfed, and adjustments have been made to enemy types for better balance. The update also features bug fixes, quality-of-life improvements, and new options for players in the lobby. The update is now live, and players are encouraged to provide feedback through official channels.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Ken Levine says Steam Machine shows we’re hitting ‘diminishing returns’ with bleeding-edge graphics tech—just look at BioShock to see why art is more important

Ken Levine, the creative force behind Irrational Games, stated that his team has never prioritized cutting-edge graphics technology in their game design, focusing instead on artistic expression. This philosophy is reflected in the recent release of ReFantazio, which, while not technologically groundbreaking, showcases a unique artistic vision.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Ubisoft’s leak-a-thon continues with a dump of Assassin’s Creed Hexe info that hints at the return of a familiar ‘old man’

Fresh details about Assassin's Creed Hexe, described by Ubisoft as a "darker" addition to the franchise, have emerged from leaker "Rogue" on the GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit. The game will primarily take place in Würzburg, Germany, during the witch trials in 1625, with the city serving as the core environment for gameplay. Ubisoft recently underwent a leadership change in the Assassin's Creed team, with Jean Guesdon becoming head of content and game director Benoit Richer exiting the project. There has been little information released about Hexe, especially in light of Ubisoft's promotion of the upcoming Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Forza Horizon 6 launch times and release date in your region

Forza Horizon 6 will be set in Japan and features a new Horizon Festival with street racing, drifting, and kei trucks. The early access launch for the Premium edition will be at 12:01 AM local time for Xbox and Xbox App users, and at 9:01 PM PDT for US Pacific timezone players on May 14. Steam users will have access at 4:01 AM UTC. Global release times include: 12:01 AM EDT (US Eastern), 5:01 AM GMT (UK), 6:01 AM CEST (Europe), 2:01 PM AEST (Australia), 4:01 PM NZST (New Zealand), and 1:01 PM JST (Japan). Preloads are available, requiring 160 GB on PC and at least 135 GB on Xbox, and PC gamers must update their Gaming Services for optimal performance.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Get 21 Steam Deck-friendly games worth $250 for only $43 with Fanatical’s latest indie game bundle

Fanatical has launched the Build-Your-Own Indie Showcase Bundle for Steam Deck owners, allowing customers to select from a variety of Verified and Playable titles. The pricing structure is as follows: three to four games cost .50 each, five to six games cost .40 each, and seven or more games cost .25 each. Selecting all 21 compatible games in the bundle totals .75, an 83% discount from the original price of .71. The bundle includes titles such as Flick Shot Rogues, Caves of Lore, and TownsFolk, with some marked as Verified and others as Playable. Valve's verification system indicates how well games perform on the Steam Deck, with Verified titles expected to run seamlessly and Playable titles requiring minor adjustments. Additionally, Fanatical offers a Crazy Co-Op bundle with 13 Steam Deck-friendly games.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

The next big Arc Raiders update isn’t until October, but some serious stash relief lands next week

Embark Studios is shifting its development strategy for Arc Raiders from a monthly update cycle to biannual major updates, with the first scheduled for October 2026. This change aims to allow for deeper game enhancements while maintaining regular live updates and support. The upcoming October update, titled Frozen Trail, will introduce the largest map to date, new progression goals, enhancements to the skill tree, and a new trader at level 25 offering unique rewards and extra stash space. The update will also explore the lore of the Arc and address community inquiries.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Nuke Your City codes (May 2026)

Nuke Your City codes can be redeemed for rewards in the game. The current code available is "BOOM," which provides 50 playtime points and a crate. To redeem codes, players can launch the game, access the shop, and enter the code in the designated box or click the ABX button. If codes do not work, players should check for correct capitalization and accidental spaces, and ensure the code has not expired. To find more codes, players are encouraged to bookmark the page for updates or check the game's social media and community pages.