Bastion Archives

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

Total War: Warhammer 40k’s siege reset is one of the things I’m looking forward to most

Total War: Warhammer 3 features ongoing issues with siege mechanics, notably a "gate bug" that affects unit movement during battles. Players have historically faced challenges with sieges, including unreliable pathfinding and the tendency for units to scale walls instead of moving through gates. The upcoming Total War: Warhammer 40k may change the approach to sieges, focusing on grander battlefield designs without conventional siege towers and ladders, potentially eliminating walls altogether. This shift could enhance tactical gameplay in streets and chokepoints, moving away from traditional wall-based defenses. The new War Core engine is expected to address persistent siege bugs from previous titles.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

Final Fantasy 14 has finally added the class I’m always asking for: a viking with two shields, laser cannons, and Wolverine claws

A new character concept in fantasy role-playing games features a viking with triple-barreled laser guns and dual shields with metal claws. In the upcoming expansion of Final Fantasy XIV, titled Evercold, the first new job introduced is the bastion, a main tank that combines blocking, shooting, and stabbing using a new weapon called "skyltborg." This weapon draws inspiration from oversized gunshields used by characters like Rhitahtyn Arvina. The bastion will be available exclusively in the evolved mode of the game, with further details to be revealed at the Tokyo Fan Festival and a full launch scheduled for January 2027.

Tech Optimizer

July 8, 2026

Logical replication improvements in Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL 18

PostgreSQL logical replication has operational challenges, such as the absence of generated columns in the replication stream, replication conflicts causing apply worker halts, and lingering replication slots consuming write-ahead log (WAL) files. PostgreSQL 18 introduces enhancements to address these issues, including the ability to include STORED generated columns in the replication stream with a new publication parameter, detailed conflict counters in pg_stat_subscription_stats, automatic invalidation of idle replication slots, and the ability to toggle two-phase commit settings on live subscriptions. To set up a test environment, two PostgreSQL 18 instances (one publisher and one subscriber) are required, along with an EC2 instance for executing commands. The publisher and subscriber must have specific configurations for logical replication, including enabling logical replication and setting appropriate parameters. PostgreSQL 18 allows the replication of STORED generated columns by using the publish_generated_columns parameter. The subscriber must define these columns as regular columns. The new version also enhances conflict monitoring by providing detailed counters for different types of replication conflicts. Parallel streaming is now the default behavior for subscriptions, improving efficiency. The two-phase commit feature can now be modified on existing subscriptions without needing to recreate them. PostgreSQL 18 also introduces automatic cleanup of idle replication slots, which can be configured to invalidate unused slots after a specified duration. Considerations for implementation include ensuring that the subscriber's column types match those of the publisher for generated columns, the requirement for track_commit_timestamp for certain conflict counters, and the fact that sequences are not replicated. Cleanup of replication resources is recommended after testing to prevent unnecessary costs and WAL accumulation.

AppWizard

June 5, 2026

tinyBuild announces multiplayer open-world zombie survival game Last Harbor for PC

tinyBuild has announced Last Harbor, a multiplayer open-world zombie survival game set to launch on PC via Steam. The game features a post-apocalyptic landscape where players must upgrade their boats and embark on expeditions to gather resources while facing threats from the undead and other players. Inspired by the lockdown experiences of 2020, the game includes familiar weapons, crafting, and base-building mechanics. Players can find safe harbors to socialize and protect their vessels, but must be cautious of attracting the undead during confrontations. An announcement trailer and screenshots are available for viewing.

AppWizard

May 30, 2026

An Arc Raiders player demonstrates how to kill a Bastion in 16 seconds without a Deadline—now I’m questioning my own skills

A player known as rI1975 successfully dismantled a Bastion in 16 seconds without using the Deadline mine. The player used a hullcracker to shoot the Bastion's knee three times, then targeted the core at the back with three additional shots, followed by a final kill-shot to the internals. The hullcracker has emerged as a powerful alternative to Deadline mines for defeating larger arcs, and the ability to efficiently eliminate Bastions is valuable due to the substantial arc parts they yield.

AppWizard

May 19, 2026

Players Find Rare Minecraft Seed with Every Biome near Spawn

A Reddit user, u/ShoowMe7777777, has discovered a Minecraft seed, 8500081009970950196, that generates nearly every biome and essential structure within 1000 blocks of the spawn point. This seed includes all Overworld biomes and significant structures near the 0,0 coordinates. In the Nether dimension, players will find a Nether Fortress, Bastion Remnants, and all five Nether biomes within 250 blocks of the 0,0 coordinates. This seed is specifically for Java Edition players, as Bedrock Edition may have loading issues with structures. The community has reacted positively to this find, as it offers a wealth of resources and biomes for gameplay.

AppWizard

May 9, 2026

Arrowhead addresses the Helldivers 2 community as recent Steam reviews slump to Mostly Negative: ‘We want to be clearer about what we’re working on and what’s coming next’

In February, the gaming community celebrated the launch of Helldivers 2 and the introduction of the Cyberstan galactic campaign, which included new elements like the Bastion tank and Vox Engines. However, by May, the game's reviews had shifted to 'Mostly Negative' due to concerns over hidden weapon adjustments and the implementation of warbonds. Arrowhead Studios addressed community frustrations on Steam, emphasizing the game's importance and acknowledging feedback on the Exo Experts update, while also stating that additional vehicles would be available without warbond purchases. They outlined ongoing efforts to enhance the game, including new red stratagems, improved Galactic War rewards, and plans for more beta tests. Despite these efforts, the community's response has been mixed, with many players expressing frustration over the game's direction and the emphasis on warbonds, feeling that it overshadows regular gameplay rewards. There is a sense of ennui among hardcore fans who have quickly exhausted new content and are waiting for the next major narrative arc.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

Best Minecraft Music Discs and Why Players Love Them

Minecraft features 13 unique music discs that players can collect, each with its own sound and style, which can be played on virtual jukeboxes. These discs can be found in various locations such as hidden chests, unexpected drops, and dungeons. Notable discs include “otherside,” “Pigstep,” “cat,” “stal,” and “11,” each offering distinct musical experiences that contribute to the game's atmosphere. As of 2023, Minecraft has 62 million monthly players. The original soundtrack, composed by C418, enhances the emotional essence of the game. Players often create dedicated jukebox rooms, and the mechanics of acquiring discs involve specific strategies, such as using skeletons to defeat creepers. The “otherside” disc is found in castle and dungeon chests, while “Pigstep” is exclusive to Bastion Remnants in the Nether.

AppWizard

April 24, 2026

Founder of Telegram messenger app Pavel Durov says he got a summons in Russia naming him as a ‘suspect’

Pavel Durov has been summoned as a "suspect" in a criminal investigation in Russia, with allegations linking him to terrorism-related activities. This comes amid intensified scrutiny by Russian authorities over Telegram, which is a significant communication tool in the region.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Helldivers 2’s siege of Cyberstan is the greatest galactic campaign the game has seen so far

The recent update for Helldivers 2, titled Machinery of Oppression, features an offensive on the Automaton stronghold of Cyberstan, introducing new gameplay elements such as the Bastion Tank and colossal Vox Engines. Players face challenges from Cyborg enemies and must navigate the heightened difficulty of Cyberstan, which is considered the most challenging phase of the game to date. The game's narrative involves players acting as the Empire while trying to thwart the Automaton's plans to use the 'Star of Peace' weapon. The campaign is directed by a mastermind named Joel, who enhances player engagement through a responsive order system. As of now, the lives tally stands at 97,272,293 out of 410,000,000, with over 300 million divers having perished in the current assault. Players can earn additional lives through 'Strategic Imperatives' and engage in community-driven events that shape the game's narrative. Helldivers 2 has shown significant growth and continues to attract players two years post-launch.