character Archives

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

Big Walk patch addresses voice volume complaints with restraint: ‘We consider it an important part of the game’s design that you can only hear players who are close to you’

The puzzle game Big Walk features a proximity voice chat that has received mixed feedback from players regarding volume levels, especially for those with quieter microphone setups. In response, developer House House released a patch to enhance audio, making quieter voices more audible at close and medium distances, while maintaining the original distance at which voices fade. The patch does not increase the range of voice communication or allow for separate adjustments of voice and background audio levels. Players have reported varying experiences with the voice volume, with some adapting quickly while others find the volume drop-off challenging.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

This week’s Epic Games Store free games drops you into a novel, or tasks you and a friend to escape a haunted castle

Epic Games is offering two complimentary PC games: Beacon Pines and We Were Here Together, available for free from August 6 to August 13. Beacon Pines is a narrative adventure where players can alter the story by revisiting pages and using special words called charms. We Were Here Together is a cooperative puzzle game set in Antarctica that requires players to communicate using walkie-talkies to solve challenges and reunite.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

From ancient Buddhism, to iconic manga hair, to Keanu Reeves: a PC Gamer Causality Chain™

Causality Chain is a series at PC Gamer exploring connections between history, culture, and video games. Keanu Reeves, known for his roles in films, is linked to Buddhist teachings through a narrative that traces back to the 1590s with Xuanzang's travels, which inspired the tale "Journey to the West." In 1984, manga artist Akira Toriyama created a series influenced by this tale, introducing the character Son Goku, modeled after the Monkey King. In 1991, Toriyama introduced the Super Saiyan transformation for Goku, which featured a golden aura and blonde hair. In 1992, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 introduced Super Sonic, a transformation reminiscent of Goku's. In 2001, Shadow the Hedgehog was created as a rival for Sonic, characterized as the "ultimate lifeform." In 2024, Keanu Reeves was cast as the voice of Shadow and claimed he could defeat Sonic, whether as a human or as a CGI character.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

Marvel Tōkon Fighting Souls launches with PC performance issues and mixed Steam ratings

Players of Marvel: Tōkon Fighting Souls are experiencing performance issues on PC, leading to a Mixed rating on Steam with only 43% positive feedback. The game suffers from persistent micro-stutters during gameplay, launch failures, and significant challenges for Linux users, who are unable to access the game. A Reddit user highlighted that the game has regular micro-stutters regardless of hardware or settings, with frame-time graphs showing frequent spikes correlating to visible stutters. These issues disrupt online matches due to dropped frames. Even high-end hardware does not alleviate the stuttering, and external frame-rate limiters do not resolve the visible stutters. Steam reviews reflect concerns about performance, with some users reporting issues before launching the game. Linux users are particularly frustrated as the game blocks any attempts to launch on Linux systems, unlike another title from the same developer. The game is also not compatible with the Steam Deck due to similar Linux-related issues. Arc System Works has released a day-one patch aimed at improving performance, including reducing CPU load and addressing performance drops associated with overlays, but players are still awaiting feedback on its effectiveness.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

Overwatch’s new mech hero is the sword-and-board sequel to D.Va, except her code isn’t ‘a plate of spaghetti’ under the hood

In 2018, Blizzard Entertainment's game director Aaron Keller described D.Va's programming as complex, leading to amusing bugs during her mech transitions. D.Mon is a new character in the MEKA Squad, designed for sturdiness and versatility, capable of dashing in any direction with limited fuel and equipped with a mounted machine gun. When she raises her shield, she resembles Reinhardt but has a speed advantage and a unique charge ability. D.Mon's ultimate ability, Limit Break, unleashes a whirlwind slash that increases enemy damage taken and grants her overhealth. A notable gameplay moment occurs when she is ejected from her mech, with an animation reminiscent of Voltron. D.Mon will debut in season 4 on August 11.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

The latest Expeditions game launches into early access today, and I can’t think of a better setting for the series than feudal Japan

Campfire Cabal has released Expeditions: Samurai in early access on Steam, transitioning from ancient Rome to feudal Japan. Players create a custom character arriving in Japan aboard the Dutch frigate De Albatros during the Sengoku era. The game features an expanded companion system with eight characters, stealth mechanics for tactical combat, and cooperative gameplay allowing a second player to control a twin of the main character. Expeditions: Samurai includes five main quests, three side quests, and 14 locations, with plans for future updates to add new content and features. The final version aims to have over 35 side quests, a player village, crafting mechanics, and mini-games, with completion expected by early 2027. Early adopters can purchase the game at a lower price.

BetaBeacon

August 7, 2026

Google’s AI Search seemingly leaked unreleased game content and no one knows how

Google's AI Search accurately revealed an unreleased character for a tower defense game called Operation Octo, surprising the developer who claims the character's name was only present in a private Google Docs file.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

Minecraft Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date Announced

Mojang Studios announced that Minecraft will launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27, featuring improved performance and an updated Super Mario Mash-Up Pack. Originally released in 2009, Minecraft became fully available in 2011 and was acquired by Microsoft in 2014. The game has sold over 300 million copies, making it the best-selling video game of all time. The Nintendo Switch version debuted in 2017, with a cross-platform Bedrock version replacing the original in 2018. The Switch 2 version will include enhanced visuals, improved lighting, and richer shadows. The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack will also be updated for better graphics. Players who own Minecraft on the original Switch will have a digital upgrade path to the new console.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest Brings Novel Series to PC & Console

A new video game titled Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest is being developed by TRAILMARK Games in collaboration with the Coolabi Group, set to launch on PC and console this fall. It is a turn-based RPG that allows players to create their own feline character and choose to align with one of four clans: ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, or WindClan. Each clan has its own unique story campaign featuring prophecies, rivalries, and challenges. Players will encounter both iconic characters from the Warrior Cats franchise and new original figures, with their choices and relationships impacting gameplay and the story.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

We asked the voice of Eisenhorn, Gaunt, and Garro in Warhammer 40k who his favorite character to play is

Toby Longworth is a prominent voice actor in Warhammer 40k, known for his work on Black Library novels, particularly those by Dan Abnett, including the Eisenhorn and Gaunt's Ghosts series. He has also voiced Nathaniel Garro in Horus Heresy novels. Currently, he is involved in Dawn of War 4, voicing various Space Marines. Additional content about his career and collaboration with Alex Jordan will be available on the PC Gamer YouTube channel.