banter Archives

AppWizard

February 27, 2026

‘Zootopia 2’ Just Passed ‘A Minecraft Movie’ for 2025’s Domestic Crown. It Took 91 Days and Less Than $200,000

Zootopia 2 has become the highest-grossing domestic release of 2025, surpassing A Minecraft Movie with 4.2 million in North American ticket sales. It is the highest-grossing Hollywood animated film ever and ranks as the eighth highest-grossing film of all time worldwide, with a global total of .85 billion. The film's international earnings reached .425 billion, making it the second highest among animated films. Zootopia 2 debuted on November 26, 2025, with an opening of 8.8 million over five days, marking the second-largest Thanksgiving opening in history. It became the fastest PG-rated film to reach billion globally in just 17 days and grossed over 0 million in China, making it the highest-grossing Western film in Chinese box office history. The film received a 91% critics score and a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and won Best Animated Film at the BAFTAs. Disney holds three of the top four domestic releases of 2025, with Zootopia 2 leading the pack. A Blu-ray release is scheduled for March 3, and the film is nominated for Best Animated Feature at the upcoming Academy Awards.

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

“Talos have mercy”: Oblivion Remastered player uses PC magic to turn Bethesda’s RPG into Resident Evil – and fans are now calling for the return of a beloved 12-year-old mod

A player known as "SwimmingNo1851" has recreated a zombie-infested Imperial City in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, showcasing a chaotic battle between zombies and guards in a video that has gained attention from the gaming community. The community has responded with humorous comments and nostalgia for a previous zombie mod from the original 2006 version of Oblivion, called 28 Days and a Bit 4, which has over 200,000 views. Many players express a desire for a similar zombie-themed mod in the remastered version. Additionally, SwimmingNo1851 has spent 300 days following an Imperial Palace Guard in hopes of looting his armor.

AppWizard

December 22, 2025

Unmissable Games With Great Stories To Tell In 2025

Hades 2, developed by Supergiant Games, is set to release on September 25, 2025. Players will take on the role of Melinoe, sister of Zagreus, as she battles the titan Chronos, who has taken over Hades' throne. The game features engaging dialogue, witty writing, and exceptional voice acting, enhancing character interactions. It will be available on PC and Nintendo Switch.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

“Joke’s on you,” says No Man’s Sky lead as rival survival game confirms it’s replacing an eerily familiar cosmetic

Developer Starry Studio has introduced significant updates to the survival game Once Human, including a new class system, a PvP-centric Raid Zone, and a crossover with Palworld. A new decorative item in the game’s loot crates, specifically an exercise bike, has sparked controversy due to its similarities to the Base Teleport Module from No Man's Sky. Hello Games' Sean Murray responded humorously to the criticism, while Starry Studio confirmed it would remove the contentious item. The Thunder Overload cosmetic lineup features outfits and a weapon skin that transforms the SKS into a mechanical dragon. Earlier this year, Once Human was also accused of borrowing design elements from Rainbow Six Siege. Starry Studio has pledged to replace the disputed asset and review their art and design policies, emphasizing the importance of originality and community feedback.

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

You weren’t just incredibly unlucky in Dispatch’s final shift, your high success rate failures were “intentional”

In Dispatch, the gameplay loop intensifies as players progress, introducing new mechanics and a unique instant fail system that penalizes players for sending heroes with stats exceeding certain limits, particularly in Episode 8. The final shift is notably challenging, with players facing unexpected failures even at high success rates, such as 85%. Designers Dennis Lenart and Polly Raguimov emphasize that the game is not scripted and reflects the world's state at that moment, heightening tension during critical moments. The team aimed to enhance the gameplay experience by adding layers and experimenting with powers, while also integrating the Z-Team's banter without overwhelming players. The balance of challenge, humor, and storytelling is a key focus, contributing to player engagement and anticipation for future content.

AppWizard

December 1, 2025

The Seance of Blake Manor is a folk horror detective game, but I’ve been too busy digging through my fellow hotel guests’ drawers to solve its supernatural mystery

An investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Evelyn Deane from Blake Manor in Ireland is underway. Evelyn's absence suggests deeper secrets within the estate. Blake Manor, now a hotel, hosts a seance on All Hallow's Eve, attracting spiritualists and skeptics. The investigation involves a mystery menu to navigate clues and interactions with guests. The narrator discovers letters in the widow's chambers that hint at connections to Evelyn. As the investigation unfolds, the narrator is distracted by conversations and ultimately misses the opportunity to confront the widow. The evening culminates in a tragic incident involving the narrator's investigator, Declan Ward, who is engulfed by green flames. A demo of the mystery experience is available on Steam.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

New Viking RPG fusing Baldur’s Gate 3’s combat with KCD2’s bawdy charm sets a launch date, and you can try a demo now

Norse: Oath of Blood is a turn-based RPG featuring twins Gunnar Gripsson and Sigrid Gripdottir on a quest for vengeance after their father is betrayed and murdered. The game combines tactical battle systems with a rich narrative and character interactions. It utilizes advanced motion capture technology and aims to capture the human aspects of Viking culture. The release date is set for February 3, 2026, on PC via Steam, with a free demo currently available.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

Like going to the office in Animal Crossing: my most productive work-from-home experience this year was spending all day online in this virtual co-working game

The game On-Together has emerged as a social platform for remote workers, allowing up to 16 players to create avatars and engage in mini-games while working. It incorporates the Pomodoro Technique to encourage productivity through 25-minute work sprints followed by breaks. The game fosters a sense of community by allowing friends to join in, enhancing focus and efficiency compared to traditional task management tools. Co-developer Ilgın Saçan draws inspiration from early 2000s online chatrooms and emphasizes that remote work can be fulfilling without the loneliness often associated with it. On-Together is currently available as a free demo on Steam and will launch its full version on January 19, featuring new customization options and group areas.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

GTA: San Andreas is full of legends, and it’s got me chasing ghost ships and urban myths like a schoolkid in 2004

In GTA: San Andreas, the Triad leader Woozie engages in a friendly competition with the protagonist, CJ Johnson, while discussing swimming skills. CJ admits he cannot swim well, which highlights a gameplay mechanic where players must increase their lung capacity to 20% to progress in a mission involving underwater infiltration. Woozie's character contrasts with typical quest givers in the game, as he maintains a calm demeanor and supports CJ amidst the chaos of the storyline.

AppWizard

November 13, 2025

Seriously people, it’s fine the Steam Machine has just 8 GB of VRAM, but Valve ought to chill out on the ‘play every game at 4K60’ chat

Valve's Steam Machine has received a generally positive reception, but concerns have arisen regarding its allocation of 8 GB of VRAM. This issue has been a topic of contention, especially following the launch of Nvidia's RTX 4060 Ti, which also featured only 8 GB of VRAM, leading to consumer dissatisfaction. The RX 7600M, used in the Steam Machine, has 28 compute units and operates on a 128-bit bus width, making it challenging to accommodate 16 GB of VRAM without increasing costs and power consumption. Running memory modules in clamshell mode could be a solution, but it presents engineering challenges in a compact design. Increasing VRAM would raise the price, and with rising memory costs, manufacturers may prioritize regular DRAM production. Valve's decision to equip the Steam Machine with 8 GB of VRAM seems aimed at maintaining affordability, especially following the success of the Steam Deck. If the Steam Machine's price exceeds 0, the justification for its specifications may face scrutiny. There are also concerns about Valve's marketing claims regarding 4K capabilities, as the machine is likely to perform better at 1080p or 1440p rather than 4K.