banter Archives

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.

AppWizard

November 8, 2025

Now that Skyrim Grandma’s retired, you can occupy your time watching this Minecraft Grandma who yells “die, die, die” at every zombie and skeleton in the game

GrammaCrackers, known as Minecraft Grandma, launched her YouTube channel two weeks ago and has been playing Minecraft for four months. She offers a unique perspective on the game, using whimsical pop culture references and humor to engage her audience. GrammaCrackers shares her thoughts on gameplay, expressing frustration with zombies and describing her playful battle strategies. Her content celebrates the joy and creativity of gaming, inviting viewers to join her adventures in Minecraft.

AppWizard

October 28, 2025

Arattai Rising: Can India’s Homegrown Messenger Challenge WhatsApp’s Throne?

Arattai, a messaging app in India, gained significant traction in September and October 2025, reaching over 5 million downloads on certain days and surpassing established platforms like Telegram and Snapchat. Its rise was supported by media attention, endorsements from government officials, and alignment with Prime Minister Modi's Swadeshi initiative. Union Home Minister Amit Shah's switch to Zoho email led to a 100-fold increase in Arattai's traffic within three days. The app offers end-to-end encryption for voice and video calls but lacks full encryption for text messages by default. It has a “secret chat” feature and plans to implement comprehensive encryption. User data is stored in Indian data centers, and the app aims to maintain a privacy-focused approach without relying on public cloud providers. Arattai faces challenges in competing with WhatsApp, which has over 500 million users and offers extensive features such as UPI payments and default encryption. For long-term success, Arattai needs to standardize encryption, enhance its infrastructure, and build an ecosystem with integrated payment solutions and business tools. Overcoming user inertia from WhatsApp, establishing a strong brand identity, and navigating regulatory scrutiny are also critical for its growth.