backlog Archives

AppWizard

April 28, 2025

‘Stories are our bread and butter’: Larian is building a special team to lay out the plot of its games years in advance

Larian Studios is developing two new projects simultaneously, with a focus on storytelling. CEO Swen Vincke stated that they are creating a backlog of stories for future games. The studio is working on a new role-playing game codenamed "Excalibur" and has established a dedicated storytelling team. Their previous titles, particularly Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Baldur's Gate 3, received critical acclaim for their character-driven narratives.

AppWizard

April 28, 2025

Oblivion reigns over PC games this week, but there is still time for football, space cats and ghastly mansions

This week in gaming features several new titles: - On April 28th, "Icaria," a programmable robot block-building game, will be released. - April 29th is noted as an unremarkable day for gaming. - On April 30th, two games will launch: "Moroi," a Slavic horror narrative, and "Skin Deep," an immersive sim. - May 1st will see the release of "Despelote," an Ecuadorian soccer adventure, and "The Horror At Highrook," a Lovecraftian mystery. - On May 2nd, "Sirocco," a no-roles naval MOBA, will be introduced. Additionally, discussions about the Oblivion remaster, a beloved RPG from 2006, are expected to continue, alongside a deeper exploration of "Skin Deep" and "The Horror At Highrook."

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

I just spent $6 on this Steam app that compresses PC games — and it’s already saved me 100GB

The acquisition of the Steam application CompressorX allows gamers to compress game files, maximizing existing storage without needing hardware upgrades. Modern games like The Last of Us Part II Remastered (150GB), Monster Hunter Wilds (75GB), and Cyberpunk 2077 with its Phantom Liberty expansion (100GB) contribute to high storage demands. External SSDs and hard drives provide additional space, but CompressorX offers a quick solution for optimizing current storage. While it has some quirks, such as a confusing automation feature and variable compression times, it helps gamers maintain their game libraries without deleting titles.

AppWizard

March 22, 2025

Weekend PC Game Deals: City building to try, dinosaurs to manage, and heroines to bundle

Humble has launched two gaming bundles: the Humble Heroines Bundle, featuring titles like Pseudoregalia, Thief of Thieves, and Kill the Crows, and a second tier including Control Ultimate Edition, Beyond: Two Souls, Darksiders III, and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous - Enhanced Edition. Additionally, the Earth Defense Force Collection bundle offers three games and various DLC across three pricing tiers. The Epic Games Store is giving away Jurassic World Evolution 2 for free until March 27, alongside two mystery giveaways. This weekend features a free event for Cities: Skylines, which is available to play for free on Steam. The GOG store has launched a DRM-free spring sale with various highlights. Availability and pricing for these deals may vary by region.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Massive Steam sale offering PC games from under $1 — here’s 18 must-buy titles I’d go for

Valve has launched its latest Steam Sale, featuring significant discounts on popular PC games. The sale includes Red Dead Redemption 2 at a 75% discount, Undertale priced at [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Valve has once again captivated the gaming community with the launch of its latest Steam Sale, offering an impressive array of discounts on a multitude of popular PC games. Enthusiasts can find titles at remarkably low prices, with some games available for as little as [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Valve returns with its latest Steam Sale, and there are some steep discount on plenty of the biggest PC games going around. And yes, you'll even find some for as low as $0.99.With big titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 getting a 75% discount, indie gems including Undertale being just $0.99 and recent popular games like Wanderstop being 10% off, the Steam Spring Sale has plenty of PC games I'll be putting in my cart.Whether you've just swiped one of the best gaming laptops or plan on gaming on your Steam Deck OLED, it's time to save some cash (or build that backlog); these are the 17 games you'll want to pick up.The Steam Spring Sale is live until March 20, so get buying!Best Steam Spring Sale dealsBest Steam deals right now" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].99. This season's sale features significant markdowns on both blockbuster hits and indie favorites, making it an opportune moment for gamers to expand their libraries. Among the standout deals, Red Dead Redemption 2 boasts a staggering 75% discount, while the beloved indie classic Undertale is now priced at just [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Valve returns with its latest Steam Sale, and there are some steep discount on plenty of the biggest PC games going around. And yes, you'll even find some for as low as $0.99.With big titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 getting a 75% discount, indie gems including Undertale being just $0.99 and recent popular games like Wanderstop being 10% off, the Steam Spring Sale has plenty of PC games I'll be putting in my cart.Whether you've just swiped one of the best gaming laptops or plan on gaming on your Steam Deck OLED, it's time to save some cash (or build that backlog); these are the 17 games you'll want to pick up.The Steam Spring Sale is live until March 20, so get buying!Best Steam Spring Sale dealsBest Steam deals right now" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].99. Additionally, recent favorites like Wanderstop are available at a 10% discount, ensuring that there’s something for everyone in this sale. Whether you’ve recently invested in one of the latest gaming laptops or are enjoying your experience on the Steam Deck OLED, now is the perfect time to take advantage of these savings. With the Steam Spring Sale running until March 20, gamers have a limited window to snag these enticing offers. Best Steam Spring Sale deals Red Dead Redemption 2 - 75% off Undertale - [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Valve returns with its latest Steam Sale, and there are some steep discount on plenty of the biggest PC games going around. And yes, you'll even find some for as low as $0.99.With big titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 getting a 75% discount, indie gems including Undertale being just $0.99 and recent popular games like Wanderstop being 10% off, the Steam Spring Sale has plenty of PC games I'll be putting in my cart.Whether you've just swiped one of the best gaming laptops or plan on gaming on your Steam Deck OLED, it's time to save some cash (or build that backlog); these are the 17 games you'll want to pick up.The Steam Spring Sale is live until March 20, so get buying!Best Steam Spring Sale dealsBest Steam deals right now" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].99 Wanderstop - 10% off ...and many more! Best Steam deals right now As the sale progresses, it’s clear that the Steam Spring Sale is a treasure trove for gamers looking to enhance their collection without breaking the bank. With a diverse selection of titles, both new and old, this event promises to keep players engaged and entertained for hours on end." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].99, and Wanderstop at a 10% discount. The Steam Spring Sale is active until March 20, offering gamers a chance to purchase a variety of titles at reduced prices.

Tech Optimizer

March 11, 2025

What’s in Store for pg_probackup 3

Pg_probackup is a backup solution for PostgreSQL that debuted in 2016 and has evolved significantly, with the latest version being 2.5.15 available on GitHub and version 2.8.6 included in the Postgres Pro product suite. It supports 14 platforms and offers three types of incremental backups, features like merging backups, quick replica restoration, and integration with S3 and CFS. Users can access community support via a dedicated Telegram chat. The versions of Pg_probackup include: - 2.5.15 Community: Open-source, available on GitHub with critical bug fixes. - 2.8.6 STD: Closed-source, optimized for large datasets, included with Postgres Pro Standard. - 2.8.6 ENT: Closed-source, similar to STD but adds CFS and S3 support. - 3 and above: Closed-source overhaul aimed at improved speed and efficiency. Pg_probackup 3 was developed to address client requests and internal ideas, leading to a modular architecture with three components: a DB core extension, LibProbackup3 (a core library for database connection), and the backup application itself. Libprobackup3 is written in C++, providing a C interface for integration with various programming languages and managing archival file streams and backup logic. Pg_probackup 3 introduces a custom communication protocol for optimized data handling and supports multiple backup modes: FULL, DELTA, PTRACK, and PAGE. The recovery feature includes FUSE capability for direct data restoration from backups without full unpacking, enhancing recovery options for selective restoration of databases and WAL files. Performance testing showed that while version 2.8.6 excelled in single-threaded scenarios, pg_probackup 3.0.0 outperformed it in multi-threaded environments, especially in PRO mode for PTRACK incrementals. The roadmap for pg_probackup 3 includes releasing the current version, preparing an open-source variant, optimizing multi-threading, and implementing additional features in pg_probackup 3.1.

AppWizard

March 1, 2025

Weekend PC Game Deals: Ubisoft specials, a massive charity bundle, and more

The Epic Games Store is offering a free copy of Mages of Mystralia until March 6, after which Them's Fightin' Herds will be the next free title. Itch.io has launched the California Fire Relief Bundle, featuring over 400 games for wildfire relief, including notable titles like Tunic and Octodad: Dadliest Catch. The Humble Store is promoting the Indie Allies 2025 bundle, which includes ten games for a minimum price. Split Gate 2 is currently in an open alpha test, and Expeditions: A MudRunner Game supports cooperative play for up to four players. The GOG store is running DRM-free sales with discounts on Disney publisher titles and stealth games. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

February 22, 2025

Weekend PC Game Deals: Warhammer specials, Batman hits, houses to flip, and more

This week, the Epic Games Store is offering a double giveaway featuring World War Z: Aftermath and Garden Story, both available for free until February 27. World War Z: Aftermath is a four-player cooperative shooter with enhanced features, while Garden Story is an indie game focused on exploration and community management. Additionally, Humble has launched the House Flipper & Friends bundle, which includes various games and DLCs across different pricing tiers. This weekend's discounts include promotions for Quebec-made games, a Deckbuilding Carnival, a Sonic franchise sale, and special offers for Batman's birthday. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

February 16, 2025

Weekend PC Game Deals: Co-op festival grabs, fresh bundles, and much more

The Epic Games Store is offering F1 Manager 2024 for free until Thursday, February 20, at 8 am PT. Fanatical has launched the "Build Your Own Capcom Bundle" with iconic titles available at various pricing tiers. Humble's new Deckbuilder Bonanza includes three tiers of games, available for three weeks. Steam is hosting a festival for cooperative games with discounted prices. GOG is running a "Love At First Pixel" promotion with DRM-free games on sale. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

The upgraded Steam Link app for Android has transformed the way I game in 2025

Steam Link has undergone significant updates, introducing features like HDR and AV1 streaming, and is compatible with over 500 Android devices. It excels in local Wi-Fi gameplay, particularly with controller-centric titles, while performance on genres like RTS and strategy games is less optimal. The app provides impressive visuals and minimal input lag, especially on devices like the AYANEO Pocket Evo. However, it has shortcomings, including cumbersome menu navigation, occasional mouse control issues, and a user interface that can be cluttered. Streaming quality is affected by distance from the router, and it faces competition from other streaming solutions like Moonlight and NVIDIA’s GeForce Now. Despite its limitations, Steam Link offers convenience for PC owners looking to access their game library.