character voices Archives

AppWizard

May 27, 2026

Paralives charmed me on day one, but the roadmap outlines the real life sim of my dreams

Paralives is currently in early access and offers a variety of features aimed at enhancing the life simulation gaming experience. Paramaker Features: - Voice pitch sliders for character voices - Enhanced search and filter options for clothing and accessories - Improved skin tone color wheel - Ability to create pets (dogs, cats, horses) - Wider selection of clothing, items, hairstyles, and accessories - Adjustable character heights - Body and facial sliders for customization - Options for heterochromia and intricate hair color wheels - Layering clothing and outfit saving - Tattoo options with recolor and placement tools - Genetics system for creating new characters Build Mode Features: - Broader range of objects and decorative items - Support for doors and windows on curved walls - Customizable pools and related tools - Basement creation and enhanced stair functionalities - Advanced terrain tools for lakes and ponds - Improved town design capabilities - Options to create vehicles, boathouses, and roads - Effortless room management - Flexible object placement with grid snapping - Basic terrain editing tools Live Mode Features: - Dynamic weather and seasonal changes - Comprehensive gardening system - Objects influencing character lives - System for defining sexual orientation and preferences - New characters moving into the player's town - Story progression for nearby characters - Unique story cards for storytellers - Expanded gameplay and difficulty options - New shops and town activities - Communication options for characters - Calendar menu for managing schedules - Ownership and use of vehicles General Features: - Photo mode for character movement and pose adjustments - Access to mods via Steam Workshop - In-game mod management tools - Cheat options for money, character editing, and item manipulation

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

XCOM designer Jake Solomon announces surprise closure of his studio alongside a first look at its canceled life sim, ‘the game we poured our hearts into’

Jake Solomon, founder of Midsummer Studios, announced the studio's closure and shared a gameplay video of "Burbank," a life simulation game. The game aimed to empower players as storytellers and was described as a blend of "Life Sims + The Truman Show." Despite receiving an 88% review score and being a Game of the Year runner-up for "Midnight Suns," the studio struggled with sales. Midsummer Studios had secured funding from various venture capital partners and Krafton but was seeking additional funding rounds. The gameplay footage of Burbank featured a polished aesthetic, with plans to use generative AI for character voices while ensuring visual art was created by human artists.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

1 in 5 Steam games released in 2025 use generative AI, up nearly 700% year-on-year — 7,818 titles disclose genAI asset usage, 7% of the entire Steam library

Recent research indicates a 681% increase in the number of games on Steam that acknowledge the use of generative AI, rising from around 1,000 titles in 2024 to over 7,500. Ichiro Lambe, a game developer, noted that the applications of generative AI in gaming include audio elements, narrative generation, marketing materials, and code generation assistance. The use of AI during runtime is also increasing, with examples such as flagging offensive content and generating 3D worlds based on player prompts. Some games featuring AI have received positive reviews, suggesting growing acceptance among players. Notable titles using generative AI include My Summer Car, which has sold 2.5 million copies. Developers are using carefully crafted language in disclosures about AI to reassure customers, and there are concerns about undisclosed AI usage in some games.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

Bungie says it’s ‘actively re-recording’ some voice lines for Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate after fans notice one of the game’s best-known heroes suddenly sounds like one of its most notorious villains

Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate has launched, and players have noticed a change in the voice of Ikora Rey due to some voice talent being unavailable for recordings since a May update. Bungie has confirmed that characters like Ikora, Orin, and Chioma will have different voices in the new content and are working on future updates to address this. In the meantime, some characters may have temporary voice casting or remain silent in certain languages, with subtitles enabled by default to ensure players do not miss important story elements. Debra Wilson is the new voice actor for Ikora, known for her role as Savathun in Destiny 2: The Witch Queen.