celebration Archives

AppWizard

July 2, 2026

July is a little light on the big new game releases, but your co-op horror Discord gang will be feastin’

In July 2026, notable game releases include: - Assassin's Creed Black Flag: Resynced (July 9, Steam | Singleplayer): A remake of the original game with enhanced visuals. - College Football 27 (July 9, Steam | 4-player co-op): The latest installment in the football franchise. - Palworld 1.0 (July 10, Steam | 4-player co-op): A survival crafting game with new features. - Halo: Campaign Evolved (July 28, Steam | 4-player co-op): A remake of the original Halo campaign with additional missions. Co-op indie horror games releasing include: - Cursed Cooking Mama - Happy's Burgatory (July 16, Steam | 4-player co-op). - After Hours Puzzler - Storebound 1.0 (July 16, Steam | 3-player co-op). - Asymmetric Rabbit Hunt - Carnival Hunt (July 23, Steam | 5 players). - Killer Customer Service - Shift at Midnight (Release date TBD, Steam | 3-player co-op). Gaming events include: - Tennocon (July 10 – 11). - Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest (July 25 – 26). - Various Steam Sales throughout the month. Game updates and expansions include: - Flight Simulator 2024 (July 4). - Doom: The Dark Ages (July 7). - Granblue Fantasy: Relink (July 8). - Phasmophobia (July 21).

AppWizard

June 29, 2026

This week in PC games: a new King’s Field-like RPG, an American Revolutionary War sim, and a dreaming megacity full of cool architecture

This week in gaming features a mix of nostalgia and innovation. "The Message from Deep Space" is a narrative set in the 1970s about translating signals from an asteroid, inspired by the Voyager Interstellar Record project. The arcade classic "Ninja Masters" returns on Steam with nine-player lobbies and rollback netcode. "Feed the Pit" invites players to explore cursed forests for sacrifices, while "Forgotten Blood" offers a dark journey through a valley with peculiar creatures. "Telluricene" is a visual novel with romantic choices involving a janitor and a plant creature. "Oblivion Maiden" is a dreamy mystery game, and "Cartesian Battle" teaches math through bullet trajectory challenges. "Cat Squeeze" is a lighthearted maze puzzler, and "Mosaic Garden" focuses on cultivating flower patterns. "Mycofall" is an early access bullet heaven adventure, while "Hollow Ground" offers a 90s-style action experience. "Laballatory" allows players to create Newton's Cradle toys, and "American Revolutionary War" is a turn-based wargame featuring strategic battles against George Washington. The RPS team is preparing for various topics, including insights on the Steam Machine and Tennocon.

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

Razer gaming gear up to 76% off for Prime Day at Woot: Minecraft Edition accessories, mice, headsets, more from just $13

Woot has launched a sale for Prime Day featuring discounts on Razer peripherals, with savings up to 76% and prices starting at .99 for Prime members. Customers can use the promo code RAZERWOOT for additional discounts, particularly for new customers. The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog Gaming Keyboard is highlighted in the sale, priced at .99 with Prime shipping, and can be reduced to .99 with the promo code. This keyboard typically retails for 0 on Amazon, representing a significant savings opportunity. It includes features such as rapid trigger mode, doubleshot PBT keycaps, Razer Chroma RGB lighting, and an ergonomic magnetic wrist rest.

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

New York Has a Gamer Mayor Now — and a $2.6 Billion Game Industry to Match

In June, New York City celebrated the NYC Battle of the Boroughs Champions at a press conference on June 10, recognizing the winners of the 2026 Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs. Among the winners was Team Hyper Pigmentation, an all-girl squad that won back-to-back titles. The city's digital games sector supports approximately 7,600 jobs, contributing billion in wages and generating a total economic output of billion. The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment (MOME) has established the Game Development Industry Council, launched the NYC Summer of Games campaign, and funded grants for developers. New York City's digital gaming ecosystem has an annual economic impact of .6 billion, with around 380 digital gaming firms, 65 percent of which are small or indie studios. The share of open roles in the gaming industry increased from 15.1 percent to 29.2 percent between Q3 2024 and Q1 2026. The Summer of Games features events from May through September, including the NYC Video Game Festival and the Tribeca Games Gallery. Mayor Zohran Mamdani is recognized as the first "Gamer Mayor," engaging with gaming culture and platforms like Twitch. Jones-Harvey emphasizes the importance of addressing affordability issues to retain talent in the gaming industry. She advocates for recognizing video games as a vital part of New York City's cultural landscape, alongside music, film, and theater.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

PlayerUnknown’s survival game becomes free-to-own and offers Steam refunds ‘without restrictions on playtime or how long ago you bought the game’

Prologue: Go Wayback! has exited early access on Steam, but is considered incomplete with no further development plans. Launched in early access in 2025 by PlayerUnknown Productions, the game faced significant challenges, including staff layoffs, leading to a halt in development. The studio, founded by Brendan Greene, aimed to use the game as a testing ground for its Melba game engine, designed for creating large procedural worlds. A free tech demo, Preface: Undiscovered World, is available in early access. The final version of Prologue includes new features such as enhanced paths, mobile weather monitors, and improvements in cooking, lighting, clouds, and fog.

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

Sega says it made a ‘life-sized figure containing Sonic’s DNA,’ and I have a few questions

Sega is celebrating the 35th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog with various marketing initiatives, including exclusive merchandise and events. Highlights include limited edition fashion collaborations and a "musical odyssey" featuring live orchestral performances of Sonic soundtracks. A notable announcement is the "Sonic the Hedgehog DNA Figure," a life-sized statue claiming to contain "Sonic's DNA," developed in collaboration with the Lom Baby project from Transeeds. This figure uses "cutting-edge biotechnology" and symbolizes Sonic's core essence encapsulated within a Chaos Emerald. The exhibition for the DNA Figure will open on June 23 at the Tokyo Sega Store.

AppWizard

June 15, 2026

It would take you 90 straight days to play each of Steam Next Fest’s demos for just 30 minutes

Steam Next Fest has begun, featuring 4,347 game demos available for a week. This number is expected to increase during the event. If a player spends half an hour on each demo, it would take about three months to experience them all. Notable titles include Empulse, an FPS with wall-running and mech-dropping mechanics, and Omen, an isometric spaceship extraction shooter.

AppWizard

June 15, 2026

PC Bundle Offering 39 Games At $61 Saving For Limited Time Only

PC gamers can celebrate Pride Month with the Townsqueer Vol. 1 bundle, which includes 39 games and zines focused on LGBTQ+ themes. The bundle is priced at a significant discount compared to purchasing the games individually, and proceeds are shared among creators. Notable titles in the bundle include "Tell Me Why," featuring a trans protagonist, and various other games and zines that highlight diverse queer experiences. The bundle is available on itch.io, with options to purchase individual titles.

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

3D narrative adventure game Sesame Street: Friends & Fun announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Switch, and PC

Outright Games, in collaboration with Infinigon, has announced the release of Sesame Street: Friends & Fun, a 3D narrative adventure game for up to two players. The game will launch on October 9 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam. Players will explore the Sesame Street neighborhood, customize characters, and interact with characters like Elmo and Grover. The game is designed for young children, featuring intuitive controls, light challenges, and educational mini-games. Sesame Street has been a trusted brand in children's media since 1969, reaching over 300 million households worldwide.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Final Fantasy 11 is one of the greatest MMOs of our time

Revisiting Final Fantasy 11 after nearly two decades evokes nostalgia but highlights a diminished community. The game approaches its 20th anniversary, and while familiar landscapes remain, the sense of belonging has faded. The introduction of NPC party members allows solo players to progress more quickly, altering the gameplay that once emphasized teamwork. This change raises concerns about the value of achievements earned without shared experiences, as the vibrant social dynamics have been replaced by messages from players selling items. The author grapples with the desire to reach max level while questioning the worth of solitary accomplishments.