artistry Archives

AppWizard

April 7, 2025

Cult of the Lamb audio director Johnson has passed away

Narayana Johnson, the audio director of the game Cult of the Lamb, has passed away, prompting a tribute from developer Massive Monster. They described him as a creative powerhouse whose contributions were essential to the game's unique experience. The team expressed that his absence will be deeply felt and requested kindness from the community as they cope with the loss.

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered review

The Last of Us Part 2 features a narrative that explores themes of vengeance and the moral dilemmas of violence, focusing on characters Abby and Ellie who are caught in a cycle of revenge amidst conflicts involving the military junta FEDRA, the Washington Liberation Front, and the Seraphites. The game introduces several enhancements in its recent PC release, including ultrawide support, HDR, enhanced graphics options, improved accessibility settings, and a new “speech to vibrations” feature. It also includes new gameplay modes such as a guitar-playing feature for Ellie and a roguelite mode called No Return, which emphasizes strategic resource management in randomized combat encounters. Despite its rich audiovisual presentation and engaging combat, the game has faced performance issues on PC, particularly with an RTX 3060 Ti, and its narrative has been criticized for being clichéd and for its handling of violence and power dynamics. A day-one patch is expected to address some of these performance concerns.

AppWizard

March 31, 2025

PlayStation vet Yoshida reckons Nier Automata “revived” Japanese games industry

Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida discussed the significant impact of the game Nier Automata on the Japanese gaming industry. Released in 2017, the game has sold nine million copies and shifted the perspective of Japanese developers, who previously emulated successful trends from other regions. Yoshida noted that Nier Automata demonstrated that uniquely Japanese stories could resonate globally, leading to a renewed focus on authenticity and cultural heritage among developers. This shift marked a revival in the Japanese game industry, encouraging creators to embrace their identities and enriching the global gaming landscape.

AppWizard

March 30, 2025

Get up to 85% off some of the PCs weirdest adventure games, all to benefit ‘humanitarian relief in Ukraine’

Amanita Design is hosting a sale from March 26 to April 2, offering discounts of up to 85% on its entire game catalog, with all proceeds going to humanitarian aid in Ukraine through the organization People in Need. The original Samorost is free, Samorost 2 is priced at £1.28, Samorost 3 at £2.54, and Machinarium at £5. Botanicula, released in 2012, and Creaks, released in 2020, are both available for £5. Amanita's upcoming project, Phonopolis, features a narrative inspired by Karel Čapek and George Orwell. A complete bundle of all games and soundtracks is available for just over £25.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

Kings under the Mountain! 33 Enshrouded players spent 10,000 hours to recreate this iconic location from The Lord of the Rings

Players of the early access survival sandbox game Enshrouded have recreated the dwarven city of Erebor from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. This project involved 33 players who dedicated 10,000 hours over 74 days, placing over 15 million blocks and mining 220 million blocks. Erebor, located beneath the Lonely Mountain, is a key setting in The Hobbit, known for its history and the dragon Smaug. The recreation features intricately carved canyons, walkways, and illuminated staircases, showcasing a detailed environment reminiscent of Smaug's treasure hoard.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

Minecraft’s Jack Black and Jason Momoa Reveal Which Video Games They’ve Played the Most

Jack Black and Jason Momoa discussed their different experiences with video games in an interview. Black shared his immersive experience with Red Dead Redemption Part Two, playing it for 400 hours during the pandemic, while Momoa expressed caution about gaming due to his addictive personality. He reminisced about playing Street Fighter, favoring characters Ryu and Blanka. The development of A Minecraft Movie has been lengthy, initially announced in February 2014, facing production delays and changes in directors. Originally set for a May 2019 release with a budget of 0 million, the film's progress was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal photography began in January 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand, after delays from the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. The film aims to combine live-action with advanced visual effects to create a realistic representation of Minecraft. Black and Momoa have developed a strong friendship during production, with both actors promoting the film together. A Minecraft Movie is scheduled to be released on April 4, 2025.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

Build On Your Makeup Collection with NYX’s New Minecraft Collab

NYX Professional Makeup has launched a makeup collection inspired by A Minecraft Movie in collaboration with Warner Bros. The collection features all-vegan products, including Cheeky Mob Blush Balm in three shades, Rare Highlight Balms in three shades, and Fat Oil Slick Clicks in three finishes. A 10-piece bundle is available for , along with a Minecraft-themed compact mirror. The collection is currently available on nyxcosmetics.com, with a global launch on March 24, ahead of the film's release on April 4.

AppWizard

March 7, 2025

Pantaloon rolls out publishing label

Pantaloon has launched a new publishing label that includes two titles: the narrative-driven game Sub-Verge and a Solitaire project named Occlude. The newsletter has nearly 30,000 subscribers and aims to support development partners by promoting unconventional and experimental games. The label's motto is “A home for misfits,” reflecting its commitment to nurturing creative minds in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: The Legend Continues on PC

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is developed by Square Enix and will be released on PC on October 23, 2025. The game features stunning graphics and a rich narrative, with battles that resemble cinematic events. The lighting in certain areas is inconsistent, particularly in dungeons and towns, while open-world areas are well-illuminated. The gameplay recommends using a controller, but it performs well with mouse and keyboard, despite some cumbersome controls. The game runs smoothly on an RTX 2070 Super graphics card and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, even at high settings, with minimal slowdowns.

AppWizard

December 28, 2024

Minecraft fan creates fascinating animation of a walking redstone T-Rex

User u/MythicalPingu released a 1:20 minute redstone T-Rex animation on Reddit, showcasing a T-Rex made from redstone components that walks and dispenses TNT. The video features dynamic camera angles and has gained popularity, with users expressing admiration and requesting tutorials. Another user noted the T-Rex's resemblance to the Thunderjaw from Horizon Zero Dawn, although u/MythicalPingu was unfamiliar with the game. Other notable Minecraft creations mentioned include Grazzy's three-year project recreating the entire map of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a replica of the Tower of Sauron from The Lord of the Rings, and a detailed construction of Notre-Dame de Laeken in Brussels.