Bethesda Archives

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

8 strong Elder Scrolls opinions: With over 2,500 combined hours (and not all as stealth archers), we shout at each other about Skyrim, Morrowind, and Oblivion

Players in The Elder Scrolls series have taken on roles such as the Nerevarine and defeated characters like Dagoth Ur and Mehrunes Dagon. They have collectively spent over 2,500 hours reflecting on the franchise's past and future. Notable quests include Oblivion's The Ultimate Heist, Morrowind's atmosphere, and Skyrim's side quests, particularly A Night to Remember. Some players prefer older RPGs for their depth, while there are mixed feelings about Bethesda's recent titles, with calls for improved storytelling in games like Starfield. The editors advocate for a focus on interactivity, highlighting the immersive experience of manipulating the game environment. They also express interest in an Elder Scrolls television series, suggesting it could explore the franchise's lore while fans await The Elder Scrolls 6.

AppWizard

September 24, 2026

Microsoft files patent for “ad-credit” system to show ads on PC and Xbox without disrupting gameplay

Microsoft has patented an "ad-credit" system to integrate advertisements into PC and Xbox gaming without interrupting gameplay. The patent, named 'Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access', identifies natural pauses in gameplay to display ads, rewarding players with credits for uninterrupted playtime after viewing. In 2022, Microsoft began testing ad-supported game streaming on Xbox. Additionally, new monthly cloud gaming limits for Game Pass subscribers will take effect in November 2026, with Essential subscribers limited to five hours, Premium to ten hours, and Ultimate to fifteen hours per month. Xbox has also announced layoffs affecting 268 positions across various studios as part of restructuring efforts.

AppWizard

September 11, 2026

Amazon Luna is giving Prime members 12 free games this September, including a major FPS franchise

Amazon Luna's September 2026 free games lineup includes 12 titles: War Hospital, Just Die Already, Drop Duchy, DOOM, DOOM II, Botany Manor, DOOM Eternal (available September 17), Rims Racing (available September 17), Wall World 2 (available September 17), Hue (available September 24), The Da Vinci Cryptex (available September 24), and High on Life (available September 24). Additionally, Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora are currently available for streaming. All downloaded games remain in the user's library indefinitely, even if the Amazon Prime subscription is canceled.

AppWizard

September 10, 2026

Ikea made a Skyrim mod starring Matt Berry as a sentient shelf named Kallax Storageborn

IKEA has created a mod for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim™ called Kallax Storageborn, featuring a companion that acts as a shelf and is voiced by Matt Berry. The mod includes a new questline where players visit an abandoned dwemer emporium to uncover the origins of a mysterious master. The quest offers engagement and dialogue, although it is less intricate than those in other games like The Witcher 3. The Kallax Storageborn mod is available for free on Bethesda's Creations page, and YouTuber ESO has streamed a complete playthrough.

AppWizard

September 6, 2026

Mortal Kombat 1’s Denuvo Has Been Cracked

Mortal Kombat 1 was cracked by voices38, bypassing its Denuvo anti-tamper protection, nearly three years after its release for PC in September 2023. The previous Denuvo-protected title to be cracked was Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced. Warner Bros has previously removed Denuvo from Mortal Kombat 11 and other titles, raising questions about similar actions for Mortal Kombat 1. Other publishers, including Square Enix and Capcom, have also removed Denuvo from various titles. KRAFTON, NEOWIZ, Gearbox, IO Interactive, Bethesda, and Bandai Namco have also eliminated Denuvo from their games.

AppWizard

September 3, 2026

The bizarre spirit of classic Elder Scrolls games is alive and well in little lo-fi RPG A Short Quest

A tree instructs the narrator to deliver a note to the King, despite the absence of a monarch in the current playtest of A Short Quest. The playtest reveals various mysteries, including a pond that offers blueberries for jumping, a hidden note about a glyph cipher, and an encounter with a ghost wizard. Players engage with the environment to discover item functions without a quest log or map, leading to potential unintended consequences. The narrator finds a broken sword that allows parrying and hints at undiscovered uses, while even a simple rock can serve as a defensive tool. The Steam page mentions upcoming tools and companions, such as axes, daggers, and a pet dog. Skill trees for weapons and spells suggest diverse combat strategies, and a bandit advises targeting enemy knees. The developer, Silent Moon, describes the experience as a brief adventure, serving as a precursor to the anticipated The Elder Scrolls 6.

AppWizard

August 30, 2026

DLSS 5: Modders Push Leaked Neural Rendering Into 10+ More PC Games

Modders have integrated Nvidia’s leaked DLSS 5 Neural Rendering library into over a dozen PC games, including Cyberpunk 2077 and GTA V, following its discovery in an early access build of NBA 2K27. The RenoDX Discord community reverse-engineered this feature and used tools like RenoDX and ReShade to apply the library to various games. Nvidia describes DLSS 5 as a significant architectural advancement in real-time neural rendering that enhances graphics with photorealistic lighting and materials. Modders have successfully applied the library to titles such as Control, Red Dead Redemption 2, and The Last of Us Part II Remastered. These modifications are unofficial and not sanctioned by Nvidia or the game publishers. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has defended the technology against criticism, emphasizing that it allows for artist oversight rather than being a generic AI filter. DLSS 5 is set to launch in fall 2026, with support confirmed from major industry players. All current comparisons and tests are based on the leaked build rather than official Nvidia code.

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

Heads up, Fallout 4 and Skyrim players: New updates are incoming, so it’s time to tend to your mods

Bethesda Game Studios has advised Fallout 4 players to log into their game saves or manually save their mod load order before an upcoming patch on August 18th, which will focus on general Creations improvements. The studio reassured players that they will be able to re-download their entire Creations list in one go after the update. The community has responded with mixed feelings, expressing both appreciation for ongoing support and concerns about potential issues with updates, while some fans wish for more focus on Elder Scrolls 6.

AppWizard

August 16, 2026

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced’s Denuvo Has Been Cracked

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced was released on July 9 and was cracked by voices38, bypassing its Denuvo anti-tamper protection in just over a month. The game is a full remake with enhanced combat systems, new naval mechanics, and expanded exploration features. It introduces new narrative elements and characters, while also supporting Ray Tracing for improved graphics. Several publishers, including Square Enix, Capcom, KRAFTON, NEOWIZ, Gearbox, IO Interactive, Bethesda, Bandai Namco, and Warner Bros, have removed Denuvo from various titles, reflecting a trend against the use of anti-tamper technologies in gaming.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

I got so freaked out by the fact that Gordon Freeman is canonically 27 that I decided to find out how old all the other classic FPS protagonists are, and it didn’t make me feel better

The narrator first played Half-Life at age 11 and found it frightening. B.J. Blazkowicz from Wolfenstein 3-D was born on August 11, 1911, making him 32-33 years old during the game's events. He is the grandfather of Commander Keen and an ancestor of DoomGuy. Kyle Katarn from Star Wars: Dark Forces was born in 23 BBY, making him 23 during Dark Forces, 28 in Jedi Knight, and 35 in Jedi Outcast. Cate Archer from No One Lives Forever was born in 1942, making her 25 during the game's events set in 1967. Prisoner 426 from Unreal has no defined age, allowing for player interpretation. Caleb from Blood was born in 1847, making him 81 during Blood set in 1928, but his death complicates his biological age. DoomGuy's age is generally assumed to be in his mid-thirties, though it is never officially specified. Ranger from Quake is suggested to be in his mid-forties to early fifties, based on lore from Quake Champions. Duke Nukem's age is ambiguous, with some sources suggesting he is between 45 and 47 during Duke Nukem Forever, while others envision him in his mid-thirties.