Apex Legends Archives

AppWizard

August 3, 2026

Steam Week in Review: Once positioned as mainstream-friendly PC gaming solutions, can Valve’s hardware survive the memory crisis?

Last week, a discussion arose regarding the decline in Steam Deck sales, as noted by PC Gamer's Andy Edser. An analysis by Boiling Steam questioned the mathematical accuracy of the sales figures, leading to concerns about Valve's hardware future. Gabe Newell's million donation to OpenAI in 2018 has been suggested to negatively impact Valve's hardware ambitions. The price of the anticipated Steam Deck OLED increased significantly in May, with the 1TB model rising from 9 to 9 and the 512GB version from 9 to 9, causing potential buyers to reconsider. The Steam Machine's projected retail price has also surged from around 0 to ,049. In gaming, Mistfall Hunter has quickly reached the third spot on the live concurrent players list. The latest Steam deep cuts ranked Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Palworld as the top three games. Despite new releases, Counter-Strike 2 remains at the top of the rankings. DragonSword: Awakening and Shift at Midnight have gained attention for their unique gameplay. A notable Steam review of Alien Kink VR expressed a darkly humorous sentiment.

Winsage

July 27, 2026

I tested this HyperX OMEN 15 gaming laptop and its RTX 5070 graphics inside, but the OLED display stole the show

The HP OMEN brand has rebranded to HyperX, introducing the HyperX OMEN 15 gaming laptop. It features a mid-range NVIDIA RTX 5050 GPU and a 120Hz OLED display. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and has 32GB of RAM. It weighs 5.02 lbs and is designed for stationary use with extensive cooling vents. Connectivity options include HDMI, USB-C, and USB-A ports, as well as an Ethernet port. The keyboard has a four-zone RGB backlight, and the audio experience is adequate but may benefit from external speakers. The OLED display achieves a brightness of 503 nits and scores 100% in color accuracy for both P3 and sRGB gamuts. In gaming performance, it averages 47 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at high settings without ray tracing, and can reach up to 111 FPS with NVIDIA's DLSS technology. The specifications include a 15.3" 3K OLED display, 1 TB SSD, and a 70WHrs battery. The pricing strategy has raised questions about its value, especially with recent discounts.

AppWizard

July 27, 2026

Steam Week in Review: A torrent of janky retail sims continues to flood Steam, and there’s no end in sight

The retail simulator genre on Steam has gained significant popularity since late 2024, with 14 new titles launched last week. "Mall Together" attracted over 1,000 concurrent players and is notable for allowing players to construct entire shopping malls. PlayWay, a major publisher, released two of last week's titles and has launched four games since July 20, with 474 products listed on Steam. Critics have labeled some titles as shovelware, but PlayWay has also produced successful games like "House Flipper 2." Smaller studios are contributing to the genre, indicating demand for well-crafted retail sims. The top sellers on Steam from July 14-21 included "Counter-Strike 2," "Palworld," and "Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced." "The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu," released on July 15, received nearly 1,500 "mostly positive" reviews.

AppWizard

July 14, 2026

Apex Legends devs dole out nearly 6,000 hardware bans in anti-cheat crackdown on “malicious bad actors”

Respawn Entertainment's anti-cheat team has issued nearly 6,000 hardware bans since the end of April, contributing to a total of 139,697 bans across all platforms for cheating in Apex Legends. The team is focusing on enforcing bans related to exploits like the "jitter aim" aim assist system and is enhancing hardware bans on console systems. Hardware bans target repeat offenders and prevent them from accessing the game, reinforcing the commitment to maintaining a fair gaming environment.

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

Steam Week in Review: Steam is flooded with liminal spaces games and I approve, but I think I’ve found the best to start with

Dreamcore explores "liminal spaces," featuring environments like indoor pools, low-poly suburbia, and children's play areas, with a notable "liminal hotel" inspired by the Backrooms meme. Liminal spaces evoke feelings of transition and emptiness and have gained popularity on platforms like Steam. Since its release in January 2025, Dreamcore has introduced a new map called Dead Mall, reminiscent of 1990s super malls. Other titles in the genre include Pools, Tainted Pools, and Liminal Waters, while games like Dream Logic offer a PS1-era twist. Dreamcore is noted for its diverse themes and well-optimized performance, allowing players to explore unsettling landscapes. Steam's sales chart from May 12 - 19 lists the top games by revenue, with Subnautica 2 leading, followed by Forza Horizon 6, Counter-Strike 2, and PUBG: Battlegrounds. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Night is expected to rise in the charts, and 007 First Light is gaining traction due to pre-orders. Librarian: Tidy Up The Arcane Library ranks eighth despite its April release. A humorous user review for Bubsy 4D received attention for its candidness.

AppWizard

May 24, 2026

Forza Horizon 6 speeds into Steam’s top 5 most played games with over 300k concurrent players

Forza Horizon 6 has over 300,000 concurrent players on Steam, making it one of the top five most played games, surpassing titles like Apex Legends. It trails only behind Dota 2, PUBG, and Counter-Strike 2. The game set records on PC before its official release and has introduced new elements such as giant mechs and kei trucks. Playground Games plans to address initial issues like AI difficulty and crash bugs. The game features a lineup of 618 vehicles. Microsoft is facing controversy related to its contracts with Israel, leading to employee protests.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

“If people are saying ‘dead game,’ that means our game is alive:” how Apex Legends is winning back players

Apex Legends has achieved its highest player count in a year and a half, particularly following the launch of Season 28, which saw a 50% increase in player counts on Steam. This resurgence is attributed to years of collaboration with the community and changes in internal processes at Respawn Entertainment. The upcoming Season 29 will introduce Axle, the first new Legend in over a year, aimed at attracting new players. Additionally, changes to the ranked mode for solo players will be implemented, placing them in slightly easier lobbies based on skill level to create a more balanced competitive environment. Apex Legends aims to reclaim its peak player count of over 620,000 from 2023 by continuing to innovate and engage its player base.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

If you’re asking why everyone’s making an extraction shooter, Escape from Tarkov is the 11th most-played game on PC according to new report, beating Overwatch, Marvel Rivals, and PUBG

Escape From Tarkov, developed by Battlestate Games, ranked 11th in overall playtime on PC for the year 2025, according to a report from Newzoo. It outperformed several established titles, including Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, PUBG, Apex Legends, GTA 5, and Diablo 4. The game was edged out for the 10th position by Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The rankings reflect overall playtime rather than concurrent or total player counts, indicating that while Escape From Tarkov may not have the largest player base, its players are highly dedicated.

AppWizard

April 28, 2026

Vampire The Masquerade Bloodhunt is officially dead. I should be sad, but instead, I’m just thankful for the memories

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt is a battle royale game set in a rain-drenched Prague, allowing players to choose their clan and engage in survival gameplay. It launched in 2022 with a peak player count of 29,475 but saw a decline to around 1,000 players before ceasing content updates in 2023. The game was announced to close in October 2025 after four years. Bloodhunt featured atmospheric representation of the World of Darkness, parkour mechanics for navigation, and character customization options that reflected clan aesthetics. However, it faced balance issues, cheating problems, and struggled to compete in a saturated market. Despite these challenges, a vibrant community remained engaged with the game, sharing memories and experiences.

AppWizard

April 12, 2026

Apex Legends reaches 20-month Steam high, proving Respawn’s communication is paying off

Apex Legends was launched by Respawn Entertainment in February 2019 with minimal fanfare. As of April 11, 2024, the player count on Steam surpassed 300,000 for the first time in 20 months, coinciding with the launch of Season 22. After experiencing a decline in player numbers following Season 25, the game has seen a 50% increase in players since the launch of Season 28 in February 2024. Respawn has actively addressed issues like cheating and server performance, implementing strict measures and maintaining open communication with the community. The recent crossover with Gundam has positively impacted player sentiment, which is reflected in favorable discussions on Reddit. Community feedback highlights Respawn's consistent quality updates and responsiveness to player concerns.