backlash Archives

AppWizard

July 7, 2025

Chinese FMV game about getting ‘revenge on gold diggers’ plunges the country into online gender tumult

A new Chinese FMV game titled "Revenge on Gold Diggers" has sparked nationwide debate over gender dynamics and misogyny. Players assume the role of Wu Yulun, a man seeking revenge against women who manipulate men into losing their fortunes. The game has faced criticism for reinforcing harmful stereotypes about women, with detractors labeling it as misogynistic rather than anti-fraud. Following the backlash, the creator, Mark Wu, was banned from Bilibili, and the game's name was changed to "Emotional Fraud Simulator" shortly after its release. The game's narrative parallels real-life events, including the case of streamer Pangmao, whose death was linked to financial exploitation by his girlfriend, further fueling online vitriol against women. Critics argue that the game distorts reality and promotes a regressive agenda rather than fostering meaningful discussions about relationships and financial exploitation.

Winsage

July 4, 2025

Microsoft’s extra year of Windows 10 security updates isn’t a “viable solution” for the 400 million PCs that can’t upgrade to Windows 11 — “It’s obvious users are frustrated and feel yanked around.”

Windows 10 will reach its end-of-life support on October 14, 2025, prompting backlash from users and a petition from the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) urging Microsoft to reconsider its decision. Microsoft will provide free security updates beyond the end-of-life date, but only under specific conditions, leading to concerns about accessibility due to stringent system requirements. PIRG argues that the updates will not sufficiently address the needs of the estimated 400 million Windows 10 PCs unable to upgrade to Windows 11. Users have limited options, including syncing settings to the cloud, redeeming Microsoft Reward points, or paying for extended security updates (ESU). While Microsoft has made some concessions, such as offering ESU for individuals and affordable pricing for educational institutions, it has not committed to extending Windows 10 support or easing Windows 11's hardware requirements. Windows 11 is gaining market share, reaching 47.73% in June, while Windows 10 holds 48.92%. Microsoft is promoting Windows 11 and its AI-enhanced features, claiming significant performance improvements. Additionally, a movement called End of 10 is encouraging users to switch to Linux as Windows 10's end-of-life approaches, highlighting benefits like the absence of ads and telemetry tracking.

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

Capcom reports that its Steam game sales have risen massively — despite flagship titles like Monster Hunter Wilds receiving profuse backlash from PC players

Capcom's fiscal year report for April 2024 to March 2025 reveals a 61.1% increase in revenue from Steam game sales, with over 28 million copies sold. Console game sales have declined, with PlayStation revenue dropping below 10%. The release of Monster Hunter Wilds contributed significantly to revenue, selling over 10 million copies in its first month. Despite strong sales, the game has received "Overwhelmingly Negative" reviews on Steam due to performance issues and lack of challenge. Capcom is addressing player feedback with free updates and new content. The company is optimistic about its upcoming title, Resident Evil Requiem, and aims to improve optimization and quality in future releases.

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

Ready or Not Review-Bombed on Steam as PC Players Claim Shooter Was ‘Censored’ to Satisfy Console Makers

Ready or Not, a tactical first-person shooter by VOID Interactive, is experiencing backlash on Steam due to recent changes made for its console release. VOID stated that modifications to the game's levels of gore, nudity, violence, and depictions of child mistreatment were necessary to meet console manufacturers' requirements. Players can no longer dismember defeated enemies, instances of torture and nudity have been reduced, and a child character now appears "unconscious/sleeping" instead of in a violent animation. Despite the developers claiming these changes are minor, community response has been negative, with some players accusing the studio of censorship and calling for a boycott. The game's overall user review rating remains 'very positive,' but recent reviews have shifted to 'mixed.' Ready or Not previously faced challenges, including a temporary removal from Steam in 2022 due to a trademark dispute and a controversial announcement about a school shooting level.

AppWizard

July 2, 2025

Despite review bombing, ‘censored’ shooter becomes a Steam top seller

Developer VOID Interactive is set to launch Ready or Not on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on July 15. The game is undergoing updates to improve performance on consoles, including a transition from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5, which enhances animation and overall performance. The updates include modifications to animations for certification, a rework of the animation graph, and adjustments to the depiction of violence, such as limiting ongoing gore and toning down instances of torture and nudity to meet console standards. Despite these changes, the PC player community has reacted negatively, feeling that the updates betray the game's original vision. The game currently ranks 15th on the global top sellers list and has seen a doubling of its active player count following the announcement of the updates. The ongoing summer sale, offering a 50% discount, has contributed to its popularity.

AppWizard

July 2, 2025

Randy Pitchford asks fans if they’d swallow future Borderlands exclusivity deals, almost 10,000 people say just put your damn games on Steam

Randy Pitchford, the leader of Gearbox Software, is actively engaging with the gaming community on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the pre-order strategy for Borderlands 4. On June 28, he invited fans to provide input on whether they would pre-order the game on their preferred platform to influence exclusivity decisions, offering options for "Yes, Steam," "Yes, Epic," "No, Steam," or "No, Epic." This initiative reflects a trend in the gaming industry where developers seek community feedback to shape their products.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Lilo & Stitch Worldwide Box Office: Set To End A Minecraft Movie’s Reign As 2025’s Highest-Grossing Hollywood Film

Lilo & Stitch is expected to surpass billion in global box office receipts and is close to overtaking A Minecraft Movie as the highest-grossing Hollywood film of the year. The live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch has grossed 0.01 million domestically and 5.9 million internationally, totaling .245 billion worldwide. A Minecraft Movie currently holds the top spot with .4 million. Lilo & Stitch is less than 0 million away from surpassing it.

AppWizard

June 30, 2025

Ask Jerry: Who are the 3 billion Android users?

Apple claims to have two billion devices, and these figures are credible. The numbers refer to devices rather than users, and a device is classified as active if it communicates with the Play Store at least once every 30 days. Android devices include smartphones, wearables, tablets, media streamers, and Chromebooks, contributing to over three billion devices in total. A single user can own multiple devices, which can inflate the overall count. Estimates suggest that three billion devices may be used by only 375 million distinct individuals, but there is no verifiable data on the actual number of users versus devices.

AppWizard

June 30, 2025

‘The censorship is a step too far’: Ready or Not is getting review bombed after developers sanitise the game to adhere to stricter console standards

Ready or Not is shifting its gameplay approach by limiting player-induced dismemberment, which has led to mixed reactions from the community. Some players view this change as unnecessary censorship and a compromise of the game's essence, expressing disappointment that the developers prioritize console compatibility over fixing existing bugs. There is significant backlash, with accusations of misleading early access backers and concerns that the changes dilute the game's dark atmosphere. This dissatisfaction has resulted in negative reviews and calls for accountability from the developers. The future of the game remains uncertain as the developers may focus on a console release amid the criticism.

AppWizard

June 30, 2025

Helldivers 2 Drops Free PS5, PC DLC for Existing Players

Arrowhead Game Studios released a free DLC for Helldivers 2, called the ‘Pillars of Freedom’ commemorative cape, for PS5 and PC players. This release responds to backlash over Sony's initial requirement for PC players to create a PSN account to access the game, which caused discontent among players in regions without PSN support. Following the uproar, Sony removed the PSN account requirement and is lifting region locks for its PC games. The commemorative cape is being automatically delivered to all players as a gesture of appreciation for their commitment to the game.