Activision Archives

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Minecraft has redesigned its baby mobs to be even cuter, and I need you to stop and look at them because they’re just too precious

Minecraft is introducing a new update that adds eight baby animals to the game, enhancing the farming experience. The new baby animals include rabbits, wolf pups, kittens, calves, piglets, chickens, ocelots, and lambs, each designed to reflect their infancy more accurately than previous scaled-down models. The update features unique sounds for each baby animal to enhance immersion. Players can access these updates through the snapshot functionality and the Bedrock beta/preview. Additionally, Microsoft is planning a Minecraft spinoff in collaboration with Activision Blizzard.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

It’s not weird to want a generative AI disclosure on games

The rising costs of RAM have delayed a PC upgrade for the author, who reflects on the implications of technology in gaming. Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, criticized Steam's generative AI disclosure requirement, comparing it to revealing haircare routines. The author supports Valve's perspective, viewing the disclosure as a safeguard against issues related to generative AI, which has been accused of automating plagiarism and using copyrighted material. The energy demands of AI data centers are also a concern, drawing parallels to collective environmental damage. Transparency in AI usage in gaming is deemed essential, with Activision's vague statement about generative AI in Call of Duty raising questions. The author believes that if AI enhances games, developers should explain their creative processes. As AI-generated content becomes more common, there may be a trend for developers to announce their lack of AI involvement, though the prospect of creativity driven by algorithms is seen as disheartening.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

Welcome to the FPS vibe shift

The FPS landscape is transforming, with trends indicating a shift away from high skill ceilings and expensive cosmetics in multiplayer FPS games. Gamers are expressing dissatisfaction with overpriced cosmetics, leading franchises like Call of Duty to reconsider their strategies. Activision announced that Black Ops 7 will not carry over skins from previous games, focusing instead on thematic cosmetics. Competitive shooters are broadening their appeal to casual audiences, with games like The Finals, Rainbow Six Siege, Splitgate 2, and Overwatch 2 introducing new modes that reduce competitive intensity. Purely co-op shooters, such as Helldivers 2 and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, continue to thrive, demonstrating lasting player engagement. Additionally, titles like Battlefield 6 and Black Ops 7 are being developed as premium products, indicating that gamers are willing to pay for complete, high-quality experiences rather than free-to-play models that lack content.

AppWizard

December 18, 2025

Analyst firm says the games market is expected to reach a record-breaking $197 billion by the end of 2025, ‘driven primarily by stronger-than-expected performance on PC and mobile’

In 2025, the global games market is projected to reach 7 billion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 7.5%, driven by strong performances in PC and mobile gaming. The mobile gaming sector is expected to generate around 8 billion, accounting for approximately half of the total revenue, while the PC gaming market is projected to grow by 10.4%. Activision and Microsoft have announced a strategic shift away from releasing consecutive titles in the Call of Duty franchise. Despite a lukewarm reception, Black Ops 7 ranks seventh in total sales across consoles and PC. Titles like Monster Hunter Wilds and Civilization 7 continue to perform well in sales rankings despite challenges. Established live service games such as Counter-Strike 2, Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite, and Valorant dominate player engagement, with a newcomer, Peak, also gaining attention for its social interaction aspect.

AppWizard

December 17, 2025

Six Xbox Game Pass titles to dive into during the holidays

The text describes a cozy holiday atmosphere enhanced by gaming, highlighting six games suitable for the festive season: 1. Fallout 4: An award-winning RPG set in a post-apocalyptic Boston where players can build settlements and explore a vast open world. 2. Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor: A game where players control a dwarf miner, gathering resources and battling aliens, featuring a unique path-carving mechanic and a rich progression system. 3. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7: The latest installment in the franchise, offering three game modes and over thirty multiplayer maps for co-op campaigns and competitive play. 4. Age of Mythology: Retold: A reimagining of the 2002 classic real-time strategy game, featuring mythological heroes and significant gameplay improvements. 5. Abiotic Factor: A survival game where players are stranded scientists dealing with a paranormal outbreak, focusing on resource scavenging and teamwork, nominated for PC Game of the Year. 6. Diablo 4: A loot-driven game with engaging mechanics, featuring roguelike events and character customization, set in demon-infested zones.

AppWizard

December 13, 2025

The 9 biggest no-shows at The Game Awards 2025

The Game Awards featured announcements of several games, including Divinity, Fate of the Old Republic, and Exodus. Blade, the 16th most anticipated game, was notably absent, with ongoing legal issues related to Knights of the Old Republic 2 DLC for the Switch. Saber Interactive is reportedly working on a remake of KotOR 2, codenamed Juliet, while Mad Head Games is developing the KotOR 1 remake. CD Projekt co-CEO Michał Nowakowski stated there would be no updates on The Witcher 4, but the company is working on Cyberpunk 2 and a remake of The Witcher 1. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered was released earlier this spring, utilizing technology similar to Fallout 3 and adapted to Unreal Engine 5. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced received a PEGI rating but was absent from the Game Awards.

AppWizard

December 10, 2025

Following Black Ops 7 woes, Call of Duty finally sees sense and says no more back-to-back series releases

Activision announced that it will no longer release back-to-back titles of Modern Warfare or Black Ops games, aiming to deliver a unique experience each year. The company acknowledged that the Call of Duty franchise has not fully met player expectations and promised to improve in the future. Black Ops 7 has underperformed, leading to this strategic shift, although Activision emphasized its commitment to providing significant post-launch support for the game. The multiplayer experience of Black Ops 7 is regarded as one of the best since Black Ops 4, despite criticisms of its content and similarities to previous titles.

AppWizard

December 9, 2025

7 Greatest Blizzard Games of All Time

Blizzard Entertainment has produced several iconic games that have significantly impacted the gaming community. 1. Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness - Released a year after the original Warcraft, it refined multiplayer real-time strategy gameplay and solidified Blizzard's reputation in the genre. The expansion, Beyond the Dark Portal, enhanced the experience. 2. Hearthstone - Launched with over 100 million players by 2018, it has become a staple in digital card games despite criticisms of its monetization strategies. 3. Overwatch - Originating from the shelved Titan project, it became a phenomenon in the hero shooter genre with nearly 10 million players in the open beta, although it faced loot box controversies. 4. StarCraft - A cultural phenomenon, it established itself as a national sport in South Korea and set new standards for balance in competitive play with its innovative design. 5. Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos - Known for its compelling narrative and rich lore, it laid the groundwork for the MMO genre and inspired the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre. 6. World of Warcraft - With a peak player count of 12 million in 2010, it is the best-selling MMO of all time, generating billions in revenue and continuing to thrive with new expansions. 7. Diablo 2 - Following its Lord of Destruction expansion, it became the fastest-selling PC game and defined the action RPG genre, influencing many subsequent games.

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

Sometimes, an FPS really is better with a controller

The text discusses the ongoing debate between using a mouse and keyboard versus a controller in first-person shooters (FPS). The author reflects on their experiences with various games, noting that gameplay dynamics can differ significantly based on the input method. In particular, they found that while playing Halo with a mouse and keyboard was enjoyable, it lacked the immersive intensity experienced with a controller. The design of Halo's enemies is noted to complement controller use, enhancing combat engagement. The author also mentions their experience with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, where they found the controller more intuitive due to design choices favoring controller users, such as analog movement and aim assist. They express surprise at how well classic titles like Doom adapted to controller play, leading to a reevaluation of input preferences in FPS games.

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

Classic text adventure Zork is going open source, but I’m side-eyeing Microsoft’s announcement about it hard

Microsoft has announced that the classic text adventure game Zork and its sequels are now available as open source software under the MIT License. This initiative follows Microsoft's acquisition of the Zork license through its purchase of Activision, which had previously acquired Infocom. The collaboration involves Microsoft, the Xbox Team, Activision, and digital archivist Jason Scott from the Internet Archive. Zork, Zork 2, and Zork 3 have been available on GitHub for several years, and Microsoft has officially submitted upstream pull requests to historical source repositories. The decision to make Zork open source highlights the game's celebrated writing and narrative depth.