Automaton Archives

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

Dead or Alive creator was once held at gunpoint by LAPD, says former colleague: ‘It was a real Dead or Alive situation’

Tomonobu Itagaki is known for creating the Dead or Alive series and Ninja Gaiden games. He had a bold approach to game design and famously stated, "Gamers who think that Ninja Gaiden is too hard are losers … just fight your best fight!" His personality was characterized by a flamboyant reputation and a fierce dedication to his work. Following his passing in October 2025, he reflected on his life as a series of battles, stating, "My life has been a series of battles. We stayed winning. I've caused a lot of trouble. I stand by my beliefs and I own them. No regrets." His contributions to gaming continue to inspire players and developers.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

If you love Diablo 4’s Necromancer, the next Titan Quest 2 update is made for you

Titan Quest 2 is an action role-playing game developed by Grimlore Games, focusing on core elements from the original game while avoiding the live-service model. The game is currently in early access, with an update scheduled for April that will introduce two major features: summons and talismans. Each mastery will include a summon skill with new passive abilities, allowing for diverse playstyles. Summons will function similarly to auras, requiring energy management, and the game will automatically re-summon fallen minions. The five current masteries and their summons include: - Storm: Wisps that unleash lightning strikes. - Warfare: War Banner that heals and buffs allies or debuffs foes. - Forge: Automaton, a customizable mechanical ally. - Earth: Core Dweller, a rock golem that deals damage. - Rogue: Shadow Clone that mirrors the player’s gear. The update will also introduce talismans for mages, replacing traditional shields and enhancing energy reserves. Additionally, there will be an overhaul of epic items, with significant buffs and reworks to improve their effects. Other enhancements include new affixes on gear and revamped implicits on staves for casters. The exact release date of the update is not specified, but it is described as "nearly ready for release."

AppWizard

March 7, 2026

Wikipedia is now a gacha card game, and I challenge you to face my ultra rare German cuisine deck

Wikigacha is a browser-based card battler game that transforms Wikipedia articles into collectible cards. Players receive a free pack every minute, with cards categorized into seven rarity tiers based on their WikiRank. The game features a sortable database for collections and includes autobattler modes, allowing one-on-one matches or five-card deck competitions. A daily Raid Battle challenges players against a boss card, with each card usable once every 24 hours. The game was developed by a single Japanese developer known as 'harusugi' and has gained popularity in Japan, expanding its player base through social media. Players are drawn to the randomness of card pulls and the excitement of collecting, including special gold packs that guarantee at least one blue 'super rare' card.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

13-year-old Decima engine allows Death Stranding team to ‘accomplish many things that would be difficult to achieve elsewhere’

Horizon Zero Dawn and Death Stranding were developed using Guerrilla Games' Decima engine, which has been in development for over 13 years. Akio Sakamoto, CTO of Kojima Productions, noted that the Decima engine offers many capabilities for building open-world games, despite some features being less user-friendly than those in commercial engines. The collaboration between Kojima Productions and Guerrilla Games, particularly for Horizon Forbidden West, has demonstrated the benefits of custom software in an industry leaning towards widely adopted engines like Unreal. Sakamoto mentioned that they have been using the Decima engine for nearly ten years, highlighting its effectiveness in achieving goals that would be challenging with other engines.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Helldivers 2’s siege of Cyberstan is the greatest galactic campaign the game has seen so far

The recent update for Helldivers 2, titled Machinery of Oppression, features an offensive on the Automaton stronghold of Cyberstan, introducing new gameplay elements such as the Bastion Tank and colossal Vox Engines. Players face challenges from Cyborg enemies and must navigate the heightened difficulty of Cyberstan, which is considered the most challenging phase of the game to date. The game's narrative involves players acting as the Empire while trying to thwart the Automaton's plans to use the 'Star of Peace' weapon. The campaign is directed by a mastermind named Joel, who enhances player engagement through a responsive order system. As of now, the lives tally stands at 97,272,293 out of 410,000,000, with over 300 million divers having perished in the current assault. Players can earn additional lives through 'Strategic Imperatives' and engage in community-driven events that shape the game's narrative. Helldivers 2 has shown significant growth and continues to attract players two years post-launch.