balance adjustments Archives

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

1 year after launch, spaceship shooter Wildgate will end development after its next update

Game director Dustin Browder announced that the PvPvE game Wildgate will halt further updates due to an insufficient player base, despite ongoing occasional updates for bug fixes and events. The game will remain available for purchase on all platforms, and the Discord server will be managed by community members. There are currently no plans for layoffs at Moonshot Games. Critics noted the game's potential but highlighted inconsistencies in gameplay experience. Wildgate received a "mostly positive" user rating on Steam, but its audience declined after launch, even with updates and a free trial version. Moonshot Games hopes their next project will resonate better with gamers.

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

‘The curse of MIXED is broken:’ Suda51 & Swery65’s Hotel Barcelona claws its way to ‘Mostly Positive’ on Steam after Hail Mary patch and scrubbing AI assets

Hotel Barcelona has changed its user review status on Steam from "Mixed" to "Mostly Positive" following updates from developer White Owls Inc. that addressed concerns about the game's use of generative AI. The game features a collaboration between Japanese creators Goichi "Suda51" Suda and Hidetaka "Swery65" Suehiro. Players initially criticized the game for "trying too hard," especially after discovering AI-generated assets. CULT Games issued an apology for this. The positive shift in reviews is attributed to the "Under New Management" patch released in March, which included significant changes such as enemy balance adjustments and the addition of five free skins. Hotel Barcelona is available on Steam, with a demo for players to try the new balance changes.

AppWizard

May 30, 2026

New on Java Realms: Sabines takeover

Beaconators has introduced over 40 new items, bringing the total to 200 unique items, along with quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes. Songs of Greavesoyl added six new community-created characters, eight new maps, Player vs. Player and Free-for-All game modes, and a revamped lobby and user interface. Chill N’Grill now supports Swedish, Ukrainian, and Romanian languages, and includes new badges, cosmetics, currencies, and an inventory management system. Bug fixes have been implemented in several modes, enhancing stability. The Back on Realms initiative has reintroduced modes like Anaglyph and Toy Turtle Royale. Players can access guidance for Java Realms content and a complimentary 30-day trial through Minecraft: Java Edition. Creators can showcase their work on Java Realms and Minecraft.net and can contact Bine Birk or Oskar Thysell for assistance.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

The next big Arc Raiders update isn’t until October, but some serious stash relief lands next week

Embark Studios is shifting its development strategy for Arc Raiders from a monthly update cycle to biannual major updates, with the first scheduled for October 2026. This change aims to allow for deeper game enhancements while maintaining regular live updates and support. The upcoming October update, titled Frozen Trail, will introduce the largest map to date, new progression goals, enhancements to the skill tree, and a new trader at level 25 offering unique rewards and extra stash space. The update will also explore the lore of the Arc and address community inquiries.

AppWizard

May 13, 2026

Path of Exile 2’s new boss-taming summoner class breaks ARPG minions like never before

The Path of Exile 2 Return of the Ancients update is set to launch on May 29, introducing significant changes, including a redesign of the endgame and a crafting overhaul. Two new Ascendancies will be added: the Martial Artist Monk and the Spirit Walker Huntress. The Spirit Walker Ascendancy allows players to control powerful beast bosses and features three branches: Vivid, Primal, and Wild. The Vivid Path summons stag spirits, the Primal Path enhances projectile skills, and the Wild Path provides a spirit bear companion that boosts minion damage and life. The Idolatry path expands minion build options. The Natural Order feature allows the Tame Beast skill to work on unique beasts, starting with early-game adversaries and escalating to tougher foes. Game director Mark Roberts showcased a "zookeeper build" that utilizes the unique scepter Sylvan's Effigy, which removes companion limits. Companion damage has been buffed, and new features include a raven flock and a cluster grenade launcher called Redemption.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

New Slay the Spire 2 update deletes its most controversial boss fight

The Doormaker has been removed from Mega Crit's Slay the Spire 2, replaced by a new boss named Aeonglass, which has unique abilities and starts with three stacks of Artifact. The game will now follow a two-week beta patch cycle instead of weekly updates to allow for more substantial changes and community feedback. The Defect class has received several buffs, including enhancements to its starter relic and damage increases for specific abilities, while the Silent class has experienced a minor nerf. New Neow relics have been introduced, and changes have been made to various enemies and their abilities. The Bestiary feature has been added, allowing players to study enemy types, and additional updates include new art, music, and bug fixes. The latest patch, version 0.105.0, is available on the beta branch for players.

AppWizard

May 3, 2026

Space strategy game Sins of a Solar Empire 2 drops its gen-AI artwork amid a huge new UI overhaul

A substantial update for Sins of a Solar Empire 2, named 'UI Horizons,' has been released, removing AI-generated art and replacing it with portraits created by human artists. The update includes a redesigned front-end menu, the return of an in-game map editor, and a new faction selection screen with detailed faction information. Enhancements have been made to single-player and multiplayer lobby screens, along with improved customization options for the random map function. New defensive tools for all factions and balance adjustments have been implemented, including increased costs for certain Vasari capital ships and construction expenses. The Advent faction's AI has received improvements for better strategic use of abilities. Save game files have been compressed by over 70%, and engine improvements have enhanced missile targeting and unit formation handling. Modders will need to update existing mods for compatibility, and players can revert to earlier game versions through Steam if needed.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era sold 250,000 copies and ‘broke even on development costs’ in 1 day

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era sold over 250,000 copies within its first day of early access. It received 91% positive reviews from more than 3,500 user reviews on Steam, achieving a "very positive" overall rating. The game reached a peak concurrent player count of nearly 52,000 on Steam and is currently among the top-selling games on the platform. The first patch for the game has been released, which includes bug fixes, network enhancements, balance adjustments, and localization fixes.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

Menace’s first major early access update overhauls its least interesting faction and jettisons its reviled promotion tax system: ‘We have done away with it’

Menace is a turn-based tactics game currently in early access, receiving positive feedback for its engaging strategy despite some initial issues. A major update, called the 'Redacted' update, has been released, introducing significant changes to core features and mechanics, enhancing gameplay and addressing previous concerns. Additionally, the gaming community is looking forward to the upcoming release of Star Wars: Zero Company, which draws inspiration from Mass Effect and X-COM.

AppWizard

April 19, 2026

International transport tycoon game Worldwide Rush gets multiplayer, and it’s an impressive achievement

Worldwide Rush has introduced full multiplayer gameplay, allowing players to compete or collaborate in building an international transport empire. This feature is part of the game's third major update, which also improves rival AI, late-game balance, and adds eleven new vehicles. The game combines various transport modes, including trains, planes, automobiles, and ships, to maximize profits by optimizing routes between cities. The default map is based on real-world geography, with unique challenges generated procedurally. The update enhances single-player experiences with new vehicles and improved AI logic. Players can enjoy a 33% discount on Steam until May 2, and desync protection has been added to improve multiplayer stability. There are currently no plans for dedicated servers, but future developments may occur based on player feedback.