art Archives

BetaBeacon

August 14, 2026

KONKR Pocket Advance Review: A Superb $89 Starter Android Handheld

- KONKR Pocket Advance specifications include a 3.5" LCD display, MediaTek Helio G90T CPU, 3GB or 4GB RAM, 32GB or 64GB storage, 4,000mAh battery, active cooling fan, Android 12, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, microSD card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, dual speakers, rotor vibration motor, gyroscope, and available in navy, coral, and grey colors. - The device is designed to resemble the original GAME BOY Advance with modern enhancements while maintaining a nostalgic design. - The display is a 3.5" LCD with a resolution of 960 x 640 and an aspect ratio of 3:2, suitable for upscaling GBA games by 4x. - The device has a textured matte feel, no metal or glass, and features soft, quiet buttons with a premium feel. - The Pocket Advance has a large Micro SD card slot, two speaker grills, USB-C charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and volume wheel. - The device runs on Android, offers good emulation performance for consoles like PlayStation 1, GAME BOY Advance, SEGA Game Gear, and SEGA Mega Drive. - Battery life ranges from 4 to 10 hours, with an average of around 6 hours. - The KONKR Pocket Advance is compared to the RG34XX and Pocket Air Mini, offering a competitive price, good build quality, and performance for retro emulation.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

The ‘father of Master Chief’ doesn’t like the new Halo’s new halos

Marcus Lehto, the art director of Halo: Combat Evolved, has expressed concerns about the remake, Halo: Campaign Evolved, particularly regarding the portrayal of the Halo rings. He believes the rings appear overly polished and lack the character that comes from centuries of conflict, describing them as resembling "shiny new toys." Lehto criticized the main menu ring as "the most offensive thing we see every time we boot up the game," stating it should convey scale and mystery but instead looks like it was built recently. He emphasized the importance of detail, suggesting the rings should feel like "ancient tombs." Despite his critiques, he acknowledged improvements in gameplay, cinematics, and visuals, praising the lighting and movement mechanics while remaining optimistic about the overall experience.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

This spy game is a dream come true if you love spending time in character creators

Legion Was Here offers an immersive character creation experience, allowing players to customize avatars with extensive options, from facial features to expressions. The character creator is central to gameplay, pushing players to master character design for success in the game. A poorly crafted character can lead to challenges in survival, adding pressure to the creative process. Players can either replicate familiar faces or create new personas, with every detail impacting their character's fate.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

Starship job simulation game Contact Protocol launches in spring 2027 for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC

Kinetic Publishing has partnered with Cold Zephyr Games to release the starship job simulation game Contact Protocol on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC via Steam, with a planned release in spring 2027. The game places players in the role of a security officer aboard the starship Pale Horse, requiring them to assess the intentions of approaching ships and make critical decisions that can have significant consequences. Key features include investigating incoming data, multitasking under pressure, and making choices that affect relationships and narratives. The game offers unique procedural encounters and a visually striking science-fiction world. A video and screenshots showcasing the game have been released.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Dawn of War 4 has been delayed: ‘We saw an opportunity to further enhance Dawn of War 4 and deliver the quality of experience we’ve always envisioned’

King Art Games has delayed the release of Dawn of War IV from September 17 to December 3. The Commander Edition will offer early access on November 30, featuring free updates with new maps, the return of Crusade mode, additional commanders, and a mission editor. Two story expansions are also in development.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Non-linear ghost story adventure game Remaining Grace announced for PC

ambedo studios, led by Quintin Pan, is developing a non-linear ghost story adventure game titled Remaining Grace, set to release on PC and Mac via Steam. The game explores themes of chosen family and human connections through the narrative of Grace Tao and spans three distinct time periods. Players will experience the story through a diverse cast, unraveling the mystery of Grace's death and her relationships with various characters, including her immigrant parents and childhood friends. The game features a unique pencil sketch art style and is set in an alternate-history version of North America called Turtle Island, where colonization never occurred. A trailer and screenshots for the game have been released.

BetaBeacon

August 12, 2026

Dave the Diver gets an Android and iOS release date (and a new Heartopia crossover)

Dave the Diver, a popular game character, is set to be released on Android and iOS devices on September 17. Two DLC packs will be available at launch, with additional content to enhance the gaming experience. Gyro controls for tea making and fast travel in the Sea People's Village will be included in the mobile version. Dave will also make a special appearance in a crossover event with the game Heartopia.

Winsage

August 12, 2026

Smart PC users are upgrading to Windows 11 Pro while it’s only $10

Windows 11 Pro is available for .97, reduced from its regular price of 9, until August 20. The operating system features a modern user interface, enhanced multitasking, improved security with BitLocker, virtualization capabilities with Hyper-V, integration with Azure AD, and an AI-powered Copilot.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

This week’s most compelling new Steam game is Horse Magnifier, which is about magnifying horses

In 2026, Steam's Popular New Releases section features several notable titles, including "Shelves & Sorcery," a new entry in the sortslop genre, and "Landscaper Simulator," which focuses on landscaping. The reissue of "The War in the North" appeals to fans of classic gameplay, while at least two incremental games indicate a slight shift in player preferences. The most talked-about release is "Horse Magnifier: The Full Horse," where players magnify horses, accompanied by a visually striking trailer and a nostalgic drum 'n' bass soundtrack. The game has received mixed reactions, described by user Toasterban as "beautiful," "confusing," "horrifying," and "horse." A launch discount is currently available for "Horse Magnifier."

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Star Wars Zero Company is a very safe XCOM descendant, but its most interesting parts are found in its Midnight Suns DNA

Star Wars Zero Company features turn-based combat and soldier management, drawing comparisons to the XCOM series. Developed by Bit Reactor, founded by former Firaxis staff, the game offers a tactical experience but lacks some depth found in XCOM 2. Early gameplay reveals concerns about its mechanics, with instances of frustrating misses during combat. The game emphasizes teamwork, with classes like astromech droids providing support roles. However, it lacks elements like fog of war and diverse combat arenas, and the enemy variety is limited. While inspired by Midnight Suns, the execution does not reach the same depth, and the game's base is smaller. Players can disable permadeath, and squad management systems allow for creative builds. Overall, while enjoyable, Zero Company has not yet met expectations for evolution in the tactics genre.