backers Archives

AppWizard

May 31, 2026

Before Mina the Hollower, Yacht Club paused a 3D Shovel Knight game that’s ‘not far from being showable’ and a possible next project

Sean Velasco, co-founder of Yacht Club Games, discussed the pricing and significance of their upcoming title, Mina the Hollower, which is positioned as a pivotal moment for the studio. He mentioned challenges faced during its development that may influence future projects. The studio is currently focused on supporting and marketing Mina the Hollower, a top-down homage to the Zelda franchise. Velasco indicated a potential return to the Shovel Knight series, noting that a 3D version was considered but the team chose to focus on the 2D adventure. Yacht Club Games follows a one-at-a-time approach to game development and Velasco expressed optimism about their future release schedule. Early backers are eagerly anticipating Mina the Hollower, which received a 90% review score from PCG contributor Kerry Brunskill.

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

Star Citizen reaches $1 billion in lifetime funding, 14 years after the project was first announced — game still in early access with no release window, including ‘Squadron 42’ campaign

Star Citizen was launched as a crowdfunding campaign on October 10, 2012, and has since surpassed billion in total funding, though a definitive release date is not yet available. The game is currently in an alpha state, with ongoing updates and numerous bugs. Over 1,000 employees are involved in its development, which has spanned three console generations. Chris Roberts has suggested a potential release window of 2027-2028, depending on the launch of Squadron 42, which is targeting a release in 2026. The game has transitioned from CryEngine to a proprietary engine, StarEngine, and features like Persistent Entity Streaming and Server Meshing have been introduced. Star Citizen is the most expensive crowdfunded game ever, and it has been covered by Tom's Hardware since late 2012.

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

Star Citizen blasts through $1 billion in player funding, as its developer lists a new $5,000 spaceship for sale that is ‘not yet ready to play’

Star Citizen has surpassed billion in player funding, accelerated by a free play period during the annual DefenseCon event. This surge in funding has positioned it among games with budgets over billion, alongside titles like Monopoly Go and rumored games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Grand Theft Auto 6. Cloud Imperium Games is offering exclusive invites for the Anvil Odin battlecruiser, which is not yet playable but is available as a limited vehicle concept pledge for ,000. Buyers must apply to join the Odin Founders Club to purchase the ship and will receive a loaner vehicle until it is ready. The single-player component, Squadron 42, is tentatively set for a 2026 release, while Star Citizen itself may have an endpoint around 2028.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

Steam’s New Minecraft PC Rival Needs Your $1 Support

Bonobo Software is developing a crafting RPG called Taival, which is inspired by Minecraft and features a co-op adventure for up to four players. The game has a Kickstarter campaign with a fundraising goal of £1. Taival aims to enhance community involvement and has received over 10,000 wishlists and participation from over 3,000 playtesters. Backers can pledge £1 for no strings attached, £20 for a digital copy and credits, or £900 for inclusion in the game. The developers plan to release Taival on Steam in early access later this year, with a full launch expected in 2027 or later, and potential releases on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms.

Winsage

May 15, 2026

Lilbits: A RISC-V router (crowdfunding), an E Ink color dev kit, and Windows 11 taskbar customization

Microsoft is reintroducing the option to reposition the taskbar in Windows 11, currently available only to Windows 11 Insider Preview program members using an experimental build. Additional customization options for the Start Menu are also being rolled out to Insiders. A crowdfunding initiative has launched for a WiFi router powered by a RISC-V processor and a modified version of OpenWrt, featuring a SpacemiT K1 RISC-V processor, 4GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage, priced at 9, with no delivery guarantee. M5Stack has launched a development kit with a 4-inch E Ink Spectra 6 color display, priced at , which includes a 1250 mAh battery, microSD card reader, speaker, microphone, and buttons. GEEKOM has upgraded its mini PC lineup with the A9 Max 2026 Edition, featuring a Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 chip for improved AI and CPU performance compared to the HX 370. Pine64 has warned of a defect in a batch of its PinePower V2 power supplies, which may display a 0V output under certain conditions, assuring users that the issue will be fixed in the next production batch.

AppWizard

April 2, 2026

Open-world crime game Samson had to be pared back mid-development, which led to its unusual structure: ‘It’s become more unique’

Samson is a game set to launch on Steam and EGS on April 8, where players must meet daily financial targets while managing limited action points. The game emphasizes strategic hand-to-hand combat, having removed gunplay to enhance engagement. Players navigate the city of Tyndalston, utilizing the environment for escape and exploration. Driving mechanics are designed to reflect realism and spontaneity. The development team at Liquid Swords has faced challenges in securing funding and acknowledges the pressure of the upcoming launch, emphasizing their commitment to quality despite potential bugs.

AppWizard

March 31, 2026

Nightdive’s Larry Kuperman retires after 25-year career in games: ‘We never looked at games as products’

Larry Kuperman, Vice President of Business Development at Nightdive Studios, has announced his retirement from full-time work after a 25-year career in the gaming industry. He has held various roles, including publisher at Stardock and retailer at GameStop, but is notably recognized for his contributions to game preservation at Nightdive. Kuperman discussed the complexities of reviving classic games, citing challenges such as intellectual property rights, with specific examples like the rights to "No One Lives Forever" and "System Shock." He joined Nightdive during a crucial period and highlighted the studio's commitment to its community by honoring promises made to Kickstarter backers for the remaster of "System Shock 2." Kuperman emphasized the importance of viewing games as art and has introduced innovative features in remastered games. He plans to remain active in the industry, particularly with the International Game Developers Association, to support newcomers.

AppWizard

March 31, 2026

The Slay the Spire board game is getting an expansion based on one of the PC game’s most popular mods

Contention Games has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a new expansion of the Slay the Spire board game, titled Downfall, which is inspired by a popular user-created mod. The expansion allows players to play as villains like the Slime Boss, Hexaghost, and Guardian, each with unique player boards, cards, and miniatures. The Kickstarter offers various backing options, starting with the Downfall expansion at a base price, a collector's edition for , and a bundled option with the base game for . The campaign will run until April 8th, and the base game has been available in stores since its release.

Tech Optimizer

March 13, 2026

EDB tops new ranking of commercial Postgres backers

EnterpriseDB (EDB) has launched the Postgres Vitality Index, which ranks commercial contributors to PostgreSQL, highlighting EDB's claim of over 30% of contributions. The index evaluates contributions based on core code, ecosystem extensions, and community support. EDB is positioned ahead of AWS and Microsoft in contributions. EDB's product strategy includes EDB Postgres AI, addressing data sovereignty and governance for AI systems, emphasizing a hybrid architecture for various workloads. EDB aims to enhance Postgres's readiness for enterprise AI, while also publishing resources related to Postgres and AI architecture. The index's introduction aligns with an increase in managed Postgres offerings and tools from various vendors.

AppWizard

February 13, 2026

Promising good old fashioned co-op FPS action, Half-Life remake dev’s Rogue Point has finally hit early access

Rogue Point is a co-op, PvE FPS game developed by the creators of the Black Mesa Half-Life remake, recently launched in Steam Early Access. Players form squads of up to four resistance fighters against mercenaries hired by wealthy backers. Missions include objectives like eliminating targets, gathering intelligence, and rescuing hostages, with success yielding cash rewards for loadout improvements. The game features a Dead Drop mechanic for acquiring new gear without real-money transactions. Gameplay emphasizes tactical realism and strategic movement, with elements reminiscent of games like Ready or Not and Rainbow Six Siege, while also incorporating chaotic enemy types. Rogue Point is currently priced at .99 / £14.44, with a 20% discount for its first two weeks.