city Archives

AppWizard

April 14, 2026

After his city builder flopped in early access, Firewatch’s Nels Anderson didn’t give up: ‘Smarter people than me … probably would’ve pulled the plug’

Nels Anderson, the game designer behind Generation Exile, faced a challenging situation after its early access launch on Steam, where despite having over 35,000 wishlists and being one of the top 70 most played demos during Next Fest, the game sold only a few hundred copies. In response to disappointing early access feedback, Anderson and his team at Sonderlust Studios spent six months refining the game, completing its final two story chapters, introducing a new biome, fixing bugs, and overhauling the user interface. Currently, Generation Exile has 31 user reviews on Steam with an overall positive average. Anderson critiques the gaming industry's focus on immediate results, expressing concern over the implications of prioritizing retention over genuine player satisfaction. Generation Exile is set for full release on April 17.

AppWizard

April 14, 2026

Minecraft Will Host a TwitchCon Europe Experience in May 2026

TwitchCon Europe will take place from May 30-31, 2026, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, featuring a collaboration with Mojang Studios to create a Minecraft-themed experience. The event will include interactive activities, a Minecraft Arena, and Twitch's Rivals Arena & Glitch Theatre Creator Stage. Attendees can participate in IRL tournaments, panels with popular streamers like Tubbo and Aimsey, and a Minecraft speedrunning tournament hosted by Tubbo. Mary Kish, Head of Community Marketing at Twitch, highlighted the significance of Minecraft in the Twitch community and the event's focus on connecting creators and fans.

AppWizard

April 13, 2026

91-year-old gamer gets a visit from police after she misses her daily check-in call because was ‘trying to beat her record level’

A 91-year-old woman in Westlake, Ohio, missed her daily check-in call, prompting police to conduct a welfare visit. Upon entering her home, officers found her happily engaged in video games, striving to surpass her personal best. The situation transformed from a potential emergency into a lighthearted moment, with police noting her enthusiasm for gaming. This incident highlights the growing presence of older adults in the gaming community, challenging the perception that gaming is solely for the young. The story raises questions about societal biases towards elderly gamers and reflects a broader narrative of seniors embracing modern entertainment.

BetaBeacon

April 13, 2026

Pixel X Racer: Retro-Style Drag Racing Arcade Game Debuts on iOS and Android

Pixel X Racer is a new mobile arcade racing game with retro pixel graphics and deep car customization options. It offers players the chance to build their ultimate pixel car garage and compete in various game modes, including real-time multiplayer. The game has received positive feedback and promises future updates with more content.

Winsage

April 13, 2026

Microsoft Revives Windows Insider Program with Simplified Channels and In-Person Meetups

Microsoft is transforming its Windows Insider Program to enhance user engagement in Windows 11 development. The program will feature a simplified Beta and Experimental channel structure, replacing the previous four-tier system. Users will be able to perform in-place upgrades between Insider builds and have manual control over hidden features through 'Feature Flags.' Microsoft is reintroducing in-person Insider meetups in five major cities: New York City on April 21, Hyderabad on May 7, Taipei on May 13, San Francisco on June 4, and London on June 23. Marcus Ash leads the design and research for the Windows + Devices team, overseeing the revamped meetups.

AppWizard

April 13, 2026

Anno 117’s first DLC will let you disregard history by building your Roman city next to a massive volcano

Ubisoft is set to release a DLC for Anno 117 titled Prophecies of Ash on April 23. This expansion introduces Cinis, the largest island in the series, featuring a volcano that adds risk and strategy to city-building. Cinis extends the Latium province and offers various resources, including a new resource called Obsidian for crafting unique items. The DLC will include volcanic mechanics such as eruptions and a bloom phase that affect agricultural productivity. Players can also build a temple dedicated to Vulcan, enhancing mining productivity and fire safety. Anno 117 has received a 'Mixed' rating on Steam due to issues like the use of AI art and perceived incompleteness at launch, but it has achieved the highest launch in the series' history.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

This ‘highly realistic’ city-builder could be the first real competition Cities: Skylines has seen in over a decade

City Masterplan is a newly unveiled metropolis simulator that offers expansive environmental canvases measuring 24x24 km, allowing players to design urban landscapes in various architectural styles. The game features a visual aesthetic similar to Cities: Skylines 2, with realistic skies, dynamic lighting, and immersive weather conditions. It is built on the Unreal Engine, which may present performance challenges. As Cities: Skylines approaches its twelfth anniversary, there is a demand for a fresh city-building experience, with City Masterplan potentially revitalizing the genre. There is no official release date, but speculation suggests a launch not before 2027.

TrendTechie

April 11, 2026

Пираты слили на торренты Resident Evil Requiem

Hacker voices38 has successfully circumvented the Denuvo anti-piracy protection in Resident Evil Requiem, marking the first breach of a project secured with the current version of Denuvo without using hypervisor techniques. The method used is described as a native approach, which avoids the complications and risks associated with hypervisor solutions. This breakthrough claims to improve performance, mitigating frame rate drops that typically average 11 fps with previous methods. The version of Denuvo in Resident Evil Requiem has only minor modifications from the 2025 release. Resident Evil 9: Requiem debuted in February 2026, featuring Leon Kennedy and FBI agent Grace Ashcroft. Additionally, Android smartphones can run Resident Evil Requiem at 90 fps.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

Cities Skylines 2’s performance is still struggling, and the devs need your help

Cities Skylines 2 has faced performance issues and limited content since its launch. Iceflake Studios is working on improvements, collaborating with Unity to address performance challenges. The game is CPU-intensive, with unique challenges due to its dynamic nature. Key areas for enhancement include rendering performance, simulation performance, and pathfinding. Recent changes have simplified citizen modeling and improved pathing, leading to a better gameplay experience. The game's Steam rating has shifted from 'Mixed' to 'Mostly Positive.' Iceflake has developed a benchmarking tool to collect performance data, which will be integrated into an upcoming patch.

Winsage

April 10, 2026

Windows 11 Taskbar Finally Movable? What You Need to Know!

Microsoft is enhancing the user experience for Windows 11 by reintroducing customizable features for the taskbar, allowing users to reposition it to the top, left, or right sides of their screens and adjust its size. This functionality was available in Windows 10 but removed in Windows 11. The company is also testing a new Command Palette Dock feature for easier access to utilities. Microsoft aims to roll out these taskbar customization features as early as summer and has indicated that 2026 will be significant for addressing user feedback and improving Windows 11.