anticipation Archives

AppWizard

August 3, 2026

Communication is the biggest puzzle piece in chill co-op game Big Walk, so don’t take any shortcuts by using Discord

In March, the author played the co-op puzzle game Big Walk with friends Tyler and Morgan, completing over a dozen puzzles in about six hours. The game fosters camaraderie among players, and much of the game’s island remains unexplored. Big Walk is set to be officially released on August 4.

AppWizard

August 3, 2026

One day Owlcat will make an RPG that’s perfect out of the box, but 3 years after launch, it’s time to get disgustingly into Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader

Owlcat Games is known for ambitious role-playing games, but their latest title, Rogue Trader, received a lukewarm 59% rating from PCG upon its December 2023 launch. The game features deep character building, allowing players to explore various builds after significant gameplay investment. The author initially created a powerful character build called the "Death World Pyromancer Psyker Blade Dancer Executioner," but found it less exciting than controlling the companion Abellard, who has a build called the "Navy Officer Warrior Arch Militant." Rogue Trader includes elements such as companion interactions, romance, skill development, planetary management, and trading, with a focus on turn-based combat and build crafting. The success of Rogue Trader has led to anticipation for Owlcat's upcoming game, Dark Heresy.

AppWizard

August 2, 2026

Stellar Blade: Blood Rain’s AI slop music video is terrible for us all

ShiftUP CEO Kim Hyung Tae has faced criticism for a promotional video for the game Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, which featured an AI-generated music composition that was deemed lacking in soul and coherence. The video showcased a surreal visual experience with the protagonist, Evie, in a skin-tight suit that raised concerns about the game's creative direction. Critics argue that the video undermines the game's narrative and visual identity, leading to disappointment among fans who anticipated a deeper narrative in the sequel. ShiftUP has a history of producing high-quality content, as seen in their previous title, Nikke, which featured a soundtrack by a seasoned composer. The backlash reflects broader concerns about the normalization of AI in creative processes within the gaming industry and its potential impact on emotional connections in games. The gaming community has expressed disappointment and reevaluated their interest in Blood Rain due to the promotional material.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

Late 90s Platformer Is Getting Remastered for Modern Consoles and PC

Argonaut Games has announced a remaster of Croc 2 Kingdom of the Gobbos, set to be released on modern consoles and PC. The remaster will feature classic platforming action with enhancements, including a triple jump mechanic and expanded gameplay options such as racing and flying. Players will explore four unique villages, rescue Gobbos, and encounter new Guardians. The remaster will also include the “Croc2pedia,” a digital museum with production materials and interviews about the game's development. It will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Windows PC via Steam and GOG.com.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

Android 17 QPR1 Beta 8 is here, and Pixel users get a much-needed audio fix

Google has released Android 17 QPR1 Beta 8 for Pixel devices, addressing a significant audio issue that caused crackling, distortion, and loud static during media playback and notifications. The update, build CP31.260623.010, focuses on improving system stability and fixing bugs ahead of the official Pixel Feature Drop in September. The audio glitch had generated over 30 reports in Google's issue tracker. The primary fix involves managing buffers within the audio framework. Beta 8 is available for eligible Pixel devices in the Android Beta Program, including the Pixel 6 series to the Pixel 10 lineup. However, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will not receive Android 17 QPR2, and the stable QPR1 release in September will be their last major software update.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

Sony Says Game Discs Not a Big Factor of Differentiation Between PlayStation & PC; Can Coexist “Peacefully” With PC

Sony has confirmed its commitment to a disc-less gaming model for upcoming PlayStation consoles. CFO Lin Tao stated that the absence of discs will not significantly influence gamers' decisions to switch to PC gaming, highlighting the strengths of curated content, a stable game environment, and affordability compared to high-end gaming PCs. Sony is proceeding cautiously with phasing out physical game discs, noting that any backlash has not negatively impacted their business. Anticipation for the PS6 includes advancements in cloud streaming technology and a new horror game, along with a patent for innovative modular controller technology featuring a touchscreen interface.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

After a year and a half of rigorous testing, Path of Exile 2 devs finally convinced Nvidia to fix a driver bug by sending it an entire PC

Players of Path of Exile 2 experienced frequent game freezes every 20 minutes since the early access launch, causing frustration and concern about character loss. A temporary workaround involved adjusting settings that reduced visual quality. Game director Jonathan Rogers identified a bug in the Nvidia driver as the root cause, which required specific reproduction steps. The release of NVIDIA Game Ready Driver 610.88 provided a fix for the long pauses during gameplay in DX12 mode, marking a resolution to the issue. This update allows developers to focus on optimizing other performance problems. The community is hopeful for a smoother experience leading up to the official 1.0 release later this year.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

Thimbleweed Park 2 is ‘not really a sequel, not really a prequel,’ but it is finally happening

Thimbleweed Park, released in 2017, is a point-and-click adventure game created by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, receiving an 84% review score. A sequel, Thimbleweed Park 2, is in early development with a projected release in early 2028, featuring the original team and will be available on Windows, Mac, and Linux through Steam and GOG. Ron Gilbert previously expressed a declining interest in 2D adventure games but has since been inspired by recent successes in the genre. Gilbert's 2022 release, Return to Monkey Island, received a 92% review score. He plans to create a development blog for Thimbleweed Park 2, and fans can wishlist the game on Steam.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

Valve finally gives Deadlock a proper ranked mode, warns that matches will be ‘very rocky’ to start

Valve has introduced a revamped ranked mode for Deadlock, featuring a new match balancing system aimed at enhancing the competitive experience. This update marks a significant transformation from the previous straightforward ranked mode, which allowed players to select heroes and compete for ranks. Players should prepare for an adjustment period as the community adapts to these changes. Additionally, there are indications that Valve may consider expanding access to Deadlock beyond its current invite-only format.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

The mod we called ‘the best Fallout game you’ll play this year’ back in 2018 just launched on GOG

Upcoming releases in the Fallout franchise include a remaster of Fallout 4, a remaster of Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 5, a prequel to Fallout 3 set in Fallout 76, and the third season of the Fallout television series. Fallout: New California, a full conversion mod for Fallout: New Vegas, has been released on GOG after nearly a decade of development. The mod features a narrative set in 2260, where players assume the role of a character from Vault 18 and make decisions that impact the New California Republic. The story includes various factions such as the New California Republic, the New Reno Mob's Bishop Family, the Shi Clans, the Enclave Leonidas Squadron, the Super Mutant Army, and the Raider Alliance. Critics have praised Fallout: New California as a significant achievement in modding. The mod is easily installable for players with Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition via GOG.