PC Archives

AppWizard

October 11, 2026

Squadron 42 has a Steam page

Game director Chris Roberts announced that Squadron 42, the single-player component of Star Citizen, will be released in Q2 2027 to avoid clashing with Grand Theft Auto 6. A dedicated Steam page for Squadron 42 has been created, listing the game’s system requirements and indicating an install size of 150GB. The game does not reference modern features like ray tracing or DirectX 12. High-profile actors Gillian Anderson and Henry Cavill will appear in cutscenes.

AppWizard

October 11, 2026

Steam Machine Verified vs Steam Deck: 47 vs 38 Games [2026]

Valve has revealed that as of October 5, 2026, the Steam Machine has 47 verified games, surpassing the Steam Deck's 38 verified games. Three games—Dragon’s Dogma 2, Control Resonant, and The Blood of Dawnwalker—were upgraded from Unsupported on the Steam Deck to Verified on the Steam Machine. The Steam Machine's verification standard requires a resolution of 1080p at 30 frames per second, while the Steam Deck requires 800p at 30 frames per second. The Steam Machine is powered by hardware comparable to an AMD Radeon RX 7600M, while the Steam Deck uses a custom RDNA 2 APU. The analysis of the top 100 best-sellers shows that 38 games are Verified on Steam Deck and 47 on Steam Machine, with 28 playable on Steam Deck and 23 on Steam Machine. There are 19 Unsupported titles on Steam Deck and 15 on Steam Machine. Valve's compatibility documentation states that any game verified on Steam Deck is also guaranteed to be verified on Steam Machine.

AppWizard

October 11, 2026

Technical difficulties will prevent Grand Theft Auto VI from running on PC using emulators.

The gaming community is discussing the potential emulation of Grand Theft Auto VI on PCs, with its release scheduled for November 19th. Users are considering emulators like KytyPS5, SharpEmu, and RPCSX, but experts warn against downloading unreliable software such as PCSX5. The main challenge for emulation is the console's multi-layered security system, requiring developers to find vulnerabilities in the console's kernel and hypervisor. Current emulators can only handle basic games, and significant code optimization may take months to years. Legal challenges from Rockstar Games and Sony complicate efforts to distribute unauthorized game dumps. A stable PC port is seen as a distant goal, with the best experience expected on official consoles at launch.

AppWizard

October 11, 2026

GTA 6 leaker threatens to upload a build with ‘full story mode’

Cyberleek has been sharing footage of Grand Theft Auto 6 since August, with a recent 25-minute video featuring co-protagonist Jason. The game's official release is on November 19 for console players. Cyberleek is offering to leak a playable build of the game if their memecoin reaches a million market capitalization. They claim the build will include the full story mode and are inviting requests for specific content. This situation puts Take-Two Interactive in a difficult position regarding their response. Previous Xbox streaming attempts have not met expectations, and gamers are looking forward to other releases like The Blood of Dawnwalker and Hellraiser.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

Nivalis Nights might not have any combat, “but that doesn’t mean it’s a cosy game,” so says its lead writer

The game Nivalis Nights is designed to be intentionally overwhelming at the start, reflecting the stress of a cyberpunk world without traditional elements like player death or boss fights. Players navigate a chaotic environment where every app demands attention, mirroring modern life's pace. The game allows for various paths to success, including unconventional achievements, and emphasizes the complexity of relationships through its dating mechanics, aiming for authenticity and unpredictability. The game's narrative explores themes of technological advancement and societal pressures, inviting players to actively engage rather than passively receive rewards.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

The advent of first-person shooters introduced a wild frontier of unregulated video game level packs, and it ended in a lawsuit that changed copyright forever

In the 1990s, level packs emerged as a unique category of content for early first-person shooters like Duke Nukem 3D and Quake, sold as boxed products. Notable level packs included Duke Caribbean: Life's A Beach and Duke It Out in DC, which were well-received. Designer Wiederhold, recruited by Sunstorm Interactive after a LAN tournament, contributed to these packs alongside Robert Travis. The period was characterized by a lack of industry structure, allowing for creative exploration. However, some level packs, like Duke Assault, suffered from poor curation. The Nuke It series led to a legal battle over copyright infringement, with a 1998 court ruling favoring FormGen, establishing that video game mods are derivative works. This ruling curtailed unregulated FPS mission packs and clarified the distinction between official expansions and unofficial mods. Despite this, the mapping scene for iconic shooters continues to thrive today.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

The studio behind Star Wars Zero Company is hiring back some of its furloughed staff

Bit Reactor, the developer of Star Wars Zero Company, placed over 80% of its workforce on furlough before the game's launch due to sales uncertainties. Recently, the company announced a gradual return to normal operations, with payroll rebounding to over half of pre-furlough levels. The decision to furlough employees was made independently by Bit Reactor and did not involve its publisher, EA. Despite initial challenges, Star Wars Zero Company became a best seller on Steam and received positive reviews from critics.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

Deadlock surpasses Team Fortress 2’s all-time concurrent player count peak as it adds a chess wizard

Valve's game Deadlock, currently in invite-only testing, has reached a peak concurrent player count of 262,145, surpassing Team Fortress 2's previous record of 253,997. This milestone coincided with the release of six new community-chosen heroes. The game's success reflects its popularity in the MOBA genre and highlights Valve's ability to innovate in game development.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

Be warned: Nivalis Nights may not be the cozy game you expect: ‘If you want a cozy existence in this city, you’re going to have to earn it’

Nivalis Nights is a user-generated tag on Steam that is described as a cyberpunk shop/life simulation game, with elements of management and relaxation. However, the game presents an overwhelming volume of quests and notifications, creating a chaotic experience that contrasts with traditional notions of coziness. Lead writer Thomas Welsh acknowledges that the game reflects life in a capitalist society, where players face burdensome debt and bureaucratic challenges. Despite its harsh world, the game includes decorating and management elements, visually stunning graphics, character narratives, and a hint of romance. The initial overwhelm from the quest log and constant notifications contributes to the subjective interpretation of coziness in gaming.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

Triple-A Minesweeper is a gleeful send-up of blockbuster gaming’s worst habits, from yellow paint to characters who talk too much

Triple-A Minesweeper is a parody game developed by Mike Lacher that critiques the excessive guidance in triple-A games. It begins with unskippable title cards featuring third-party software and developers, followed by an introduction to the character Sweeper and his predicament explained by Nora. The game features a yellow diamond marker that directs players where to click, satirizing modern gaming's overzealous assistance. The Sweeper vocalizes his thoughts during gameplay, adding humor. The game is designed to be completed in about five minutes and offers a light-hearted critique of gaming conventions.