Blade Archives

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

There’s a fantasy swordsmithing sim launching on Steam next week, which is a sentence I’ve been waiting to hear since browsing my dad’s replica sword catalogs in 4th grade

The author grew up in an environment focused on historical reenactment and fantasy lore, influenced by a father who collected period costumes and bladed weaponry. They eagerly anticipate the early access launch of "Bladesong," a fantasy swordsmithing simulator set to debut on Steam on January 22. The game allows players to craft swords with various features, including length, width, thickness, and cross-section, and includes a story mode set in a medieval post-apocalyptic world. The early access version will offer additional engraving options, materials, and blade shaping techniques.

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

Steam Reveals Most Played PC VR Games of 2025

Steam's list of the most played PC VR games for 2025 features only one new title, "VR Secretary: Ailey Edition," which is an early access dating sim and has received a silver rating. The top-ranked games include: Platinum: - No Man’s Sky (2016) - Beat Saber (2019) - Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades (2016) - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR (2018) - Phasmophobia (2020) - Gorilla Tag (2023) - Blade & Sorcery (2024) - Ark: Survival Evolved (2017) - Vtol VR (2017) - VRChat (2017) - Half-Life: Alyx (2020) - Assetto Corsa (2014) Gold: - BONELAB (2022) - The Forest (2018) - Hard Bullet (2020) - Superhot VR (2017) - War Thunder (2013) - Pavlov (2024) - BONEWORKS (2019) - Google Earth VR (2016) - Euro Truck Simulator (2012) - Blood Trail (2019) - Rec Room (2021) - Half-Life 2: VR Mod (2022) Silver: - Automobilista 2 (2020) - DCS (2013) - Assetto Corsa Competizione (2019) - Arizona Sunshine II (2023) - Ghosts of Tabor (2023) - Bigscreen (2016) - The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (2020) - The Lab (2016) - Contractors Showdown: ExfilZone (2024) - Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted (2019) - Subnautica (2018) - Metro Awakening (2024) - Into the Radius 2 (2024) - Fallout 4 VR (2017) - Tactical Assault VR (2023) - Elite Dangerous (2015) - Into the Radius (2020) - Propagation VR (2020) - Job Simulator (2016) - VR Secretary: Ailey Edition (2025) - DiRT Rally 2.0 (2019) - Hitman World of Assassination (2022) - VTOL VR Mod Loader (2024) - Contractors (2018) - Arizona Sunshine Remake (2024) - BeamNG.drive (2015) The report indicates a trend of established games maintaining popularity, with a growing community of PC VR users and an increase in monthly connected headsets on Steam. The anticipated Steam Frame may influence future PC VR game adoption.

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Larian is “sorry” that Baldur’s Gate 3’s most underrated companion didn’t get a “fulfilling arc,” with romance on its improvement list

In Baldur's Gate 3, Wyll, the Blade of Frontiers, is often overshadowed by more prominent companions like Shadowheart and Astarion, resulting in his character arc feeling underdeveloped. Despite intentions to include him in the party, players tend to favor other characters, leaving Wyll's story less explored. Developer Kevin VanOrd acknowledged the disappointment regarding Wyll's limited content, attributing it to challenges during development, including a split narrative and personal health issues. Wyll's storyline was affected by the Mizora and Ravengard arcs, which diluted his impact, and there are concerns he may remain unchanged by the game's conclusion. VanOrd expressed a desire for deeper character interactions and relationships in future titles, hoping to enhance the emotional depth of characters like Wyll.

AppWizard

January 2, 2026

The Biggest Games Coming in 2026

- January 15: Animal Crossing: New Horizons launches on Switch 2; 3.0 update for original Switch. - January 15: The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond The Horizon releases on all major platforms. - January 22: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade launches on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series. - January 26: Highguard, a free PvP raid game, becomes available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series. - January 28: The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin releases. - January 30: Code Vein 2 launches. - February 5: Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined releases. - February 6: My Hero Academia: All’s Justice and Nioh 3 launch. - February 11: Romeo is a Deadman releases. - February 12: Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties launches. - February 13: High on Life 2 releases. - February 20: Ys X: Proud Nordics launches. - February 27: Resident Evil: Requiem releases; cloud versions of Resident Evil 7 and 8 for Switch 2. - March 5: Pokemon Pokopia releases. - March 12: John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando launches; Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake releases. - March 19: Crimson Desert launches. - March 26: Screamer, a racing game, releases. - April 16: Cthulu: The Cosmic Abyss launches. - April 24: Pragmata releases. - April 30: Saros, a roguelite bullet hell game, launches. - May 8: Mortal Kombat 2 movie releases. - May 27: 007 First Light launches. - May 29: LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight releases. - September 8: John Carpenter’s Halloween launches. - September 12: Phantom Blade Zero releases. - October 16: New Street Fighter movie releases. - November 19: Grand Theft Auto 6 launches. - Sometime in 2026: Titles like Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes, Super Meat Boy 3D, and Zero Parades: For Dead Spies expected. - To Be Announced: Zero Company and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 have no confirmed release dates.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

2025’s Top-Selling Steam Games Include Some Terrible PC Ports

Valve has released the list of the best-selling games on Steam for 2025, which includes: 1. Monster Hunter Wilds 2. Elden Ring Nightreign 3. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered 4. EA Sports FC 26 5. Borderlands 4 6. Schedule I 7. Hollow Knight: Silksong 8. Civilization VII 9. Battlefield 6 10. Dune Awakening 11. Arc Raiders 12. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 The games ranked 13-24 are: 13. Assassin’s Creed Shadows 14. Dispatch 15. Dying Light: The Beast 16. Anno 117: Pax Romana 17. Europa Universalis V 18. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 19. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 20. Split Fiction 21. Inzoi 22. Doom: The Dark Ages 23. Stellar Blade 24. Digimon Story: Time Stranger Monster Hunter Wilds has been criticized as one of the worst PC ports of the year but remains popular among players. Civilization VII also faced criticism over launch issues yet made it into the top 12. Capcom plans to release performance improvements for Monster Hunter Wilds in 2026.

AppWizard

December 29, 2025

Best Optimized PC Games of 2025

In 2025, several well-optimized PC games have gained recognition for their technical performance across various hardware configurations. An optimized PC game efficiently utilizes multiple CPU cores, avoids common pitfalls like limited field of view and poor controls, validates high GPU demands while accommodating older graphics cards, and addresses stuttering issues. Ninja Gaiden 4 is noted for its responsive controls and smooth gameplay across various systems, despite not having cutting-edge visuals. Dynasty Warriors: Origins has shown exceptional performance on PC, overcoming its historical optimization challenges. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 offers broad compatibility and a stutter-free experience, though its visuals do not meet franchise standards. Stellar Blade runs smoothly on a range of systems with impressive graphics and robust controls, maintaining stable performance even with Denuvo protection. ARC Raiders, an Unreal Engine 5 game, has achieved smooth performance without stuttering issues. Dying Light: The Beast provides an open-world experience that runs well on modest GPU power for 1080p gaming. DOOM: The Dark Ages combines stunning visuals with remarkable performance, even during intense action. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 runs smoothly across a wide range of GPUs without significant stuttering. Battlefield 6 is well-optimized and stable without requiring high-end hardware. Atomfall is highlighted as the most optimized rasterized PC game of 2025, achieving 60 FPS at native 4K on Ultra Settings with older GPUs like the NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti.

AppWizard

December 28, 2025

With Darksiders 4 on the horizon, the rest of the series is up to 90% off

Darksiders 4 has been announced, generating excitement among fans, although a specific release date has not been provided. Currently, there is a promotion offering up to 90% off on existing titles in the series. The franchise includes the Warmastered Edition of Darksiders, Darksiders 2: Deathinitive Edition, and Darksiders 3, each featuring different protagonists and gameplay styles. The Blade & Whip Franchise Pack is available at a 75% discount for .99 / £17.74, including all three main titles. Darksiders Genesis, a prequel, is priced at .49 / £6.74. Rumors suggest that Darksiders 4 may include co-op elements and feature all Four Horsemen.

AppWizard

December 25, 2025

Blade director reassures suffering fans with soothing words: ‘Please be patient, it will be a special game’

Arkane Studios unveiled their latest project, Blade, at The Game Awards 2023, but concerns have arisen due to the lack of updates and its absence from the Xbox Games Showcase. The game's silence intensified speculation after it did not appear at the Game Awards 2025. Arkane's co-creative director, Dinga Bakaba, reassured fans on social media that the team is dedicated to delivering a special game. The studio faces challenges, as their previous title, Prey, struggled commercially, and the disappointing performance of Redfall led to the closure of Arkane Austin in 2024. Additionally, Microsoft's focus on artificial intelligence and recent layoffs in its gaming division have raised concerns about the future of game development. The success of Blade is critical for Arkane, as it has the potential to offer a unique take on superhero narratives.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

Since everyone got mad about yellow paint again this year, here are 5 alternatives I propose to help players find their way around in 2026

The gaming community is currently debating the use of yellow paint as a navigational aid in video games, with titles like Stellar Blade, Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, and Star Wars Outlaws contributing to the discussion. Critics argue it reflects lazy game design, while industry voices like Naoki Hamaguchi acknowledge its necessity. The lead designer of The Witcher 4 suggests that the issue lies in the contextual application of such indicators. An alternative navigation concept inspired by Ghost of Tsushima proposes using weather elements, like rain or thunder, to guide players. This method is seen as more subtle but may not suit all players. Mafia: The Old Country introduced physical road signs along routes, improving navigation without frequent minimap checks, though implementation can be challenging in diverse environments. Another idea involves making navigational hints optional and turning them into puzzles with an NPC called The Riddlemaster, which could enhance engagement but requires significant resources. Lastly, a more extraordinary navigational aid could involve a dramatic visual intervention, like a giant hand directing players, which would be memorable but costly and potentially controversial.

AppWizard

December 21, 2025

Dishonored co-creator says it was ‘a shock’ when Microsoft closed Arkane Austin after Redfall’s release: ‘We were working on something really cool’

Arkane Austin has closed, a decision that has impacted the gaming community, particularly fans of its legacy. The studio was known for innovative titles like Dishonored (2012) and Prey (2017). Former director Harvey Smith expressed sadness over the closure, especially for newer team members. He reflected on the studio's efforts to improve Redfall post-launch and acknowledged Microsoft's support in finalizing a significant patch. Smith hinted at unfulfilled projects, including a potential Blade Runner game and a shelved Thief game. The closure reflects a broader trend in the gaming industry, marking a decline in immersive sims since the 2010s, although there are upcoming titles that may revive interest in the genre.