classic games Archives

BetaBeacon

February 10, 2026

My Arcade Atari Gamestation Go deal: Over 200 games, $50 off

A portable Atari gaming console with over 200 classic games is available for purchase for .99 on Woot. The device features a 7-inch screen, various controller elements, and an HDMI out port for TV connection. There is a limit of one unit per customer and a 90-day Woot warranty. The deal will be available for the next 21 days with limited stock.

AppWizard

January 31, 2026

After 21 years, GTA: San Andreas speedrunners discover a wild 31-step skip that lets you beat the original PC port in under an hour

A new speedrunning technique for the PC version of GTA: San Andreas allows players to complete the game in under an hour using a method called the Arbitrary Jump in Script (AJS) skip. This technique involves approximately 30 precise steps and was detailed by Reddit user Vitosi4ek. The AJS skip enables speedrunners to execute a JUMP instruction that leads directly to the game's conclusion. The discovery comes 21 years after the game's release, reflecting its lasting popularity and the innovative efforts of the speedrunning community.

AppWizard

January 22, 2026

You voted on the best Android apps and games of 2025, and it wasn’t even close

In 2025, the best Android app, according to a poll, was Androidify, which received 40% of the votes. Other contenders included Google Journal and Banana Browser, which did not reach double digits. The best mobile game was Red Dead Redemption, garnering just under 30% of the votes, followed by Subnautica with around 14% and Persona 5: The Phantom X with approximately 11%.

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

You’ve got until Monday to get 80% off 2 of the best dungeon crawlers ever made

The early 2010s saw a resurgence in the gaming industry with retro revival projects, facilitated by platforms like Steam and funding models like Kickstarter. One notable title from this period is Legend of Grimrock, a first-person dungeon crawler released in 2012 that revitalizes classic game mechanics. The game and its sequel, Legend of Grimrock 2, are currently available on Steam at an 80% discount, with the original priced at £2.55 and the sequel at £4, or together for £5. Legend of Grimrock 2 expands gameplay by introducing new environments, weapons, monsters, spells, and puzzles, and features level editors for community-created content. Legend of Grimrock 2 is the final project of Almost Human Games, whose members later formed Ctrl Alt Ninja, developing the tactical RPG Druidstone: The Secret of the Menhir Forest in 2019. The status of the developer is unclear, as many members have returned to traditional roles in other studios. The discount on the games ends on Monday.

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

Disney suddenly pulls 14 games from Steam, including a childhood favorite, and the preservationist in me is wincing

More than a dozen Disney-published titles have been removed from sale on Steam, raising concerns about digital preservation. The delisted games include: - Afterlife - Armed and Dangerous - Disney's Cars Radiator Springs Adventures - Disney's Chicken Little Ace in Action - Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure - Disney's Hercules - Disney Pixar Finding Nemo - Disney Pixar Toy Story Mania - Disney Planes - Disney The Princess and The Frog - Disney Winnie the Pooh - Lucidity - Phineas and Ferb: New Inventions - Stunt Island The removal affects both lesser-known licensed games and beloved classics from LucasArts, such as Afterlife, which allows players to build infrastructures of heaven and hell, and other notable titles like Armed and Dangerous and Stunt Island. Players were not given prior notice about the delisting.

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

Disney suddenly pulls 14 games from Steam, including a childhood favorite, and the preservationist in me is wincing

Over a dozen Disney-published titles have been removed from Steam, raising concerns about digital preservation in gaming. Notable delisted games include the 1996 simulation game Afterlife, along with Armed and Dangerous, Lucidity, and Stunt Island. The complete list of removed titles is: - Afterlife - Armed and Dangerous - Disney's Cars Radiator Springs Adventures - Disney's Chicken Little Ace in Action - Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure - Disney's Hercules - Disney Pixar Finding Nemo - Disney Pixar Toy Story Mania - Disney Planes - Disney The Princess and The Frog - Disney Winnie the Pooh - Lucidity - Phineas and Ferb: New Inventions - Stunt Island The absence of prior notice regarding the delisting has frustrated fans and collectors, highlighting the fragility of digital ownership.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Disney Pulls 14 Classic Games From PC Storefronts With No Explanation

Disney has removed 14 licensed games from the Steam platform, making them unavailable for new purchases. The games, primarily from the 1990s and early 2000s, include titles like Disney's Hercules Action Game and Finding Nemo. The most recent removal is Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure from 2014, while the oldest is Stunt Island from 1992. Some of these games were also available on GOG, and their removal from both platforms means they are now entirely inaccessible on PC for those without physical copies. The complete list of removed games includes: - Afterlife - Armed and Dangerous - Disney's Chicken Little: Ace in Action - Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure - Disney's Hercules Action Game - Disney Planes - Disney The Princess and the Frog - Disney Winnie the Pooh - Disney•Pixar Cars: Radiator Springs Adventures - Disney•Pixar Finding Nemo - Disney•Pixar Toy Story Mania! - Lucidity - Phineas and Ferb: New Inventions - Stunt Island The reason for the removals is unclear, and Disney has not provided any official comment. This action reflects Disney's fluctuating commitment to its gaming business, which has seen a decline since the 2010s, despite a recent tentative return with new titles.

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 11, 2026

Valve’s new Steam Deck update doesn’t promise much, but classic Call of Duty games could see some real performance gains

The January 8 SteamOS beta update introduces a feature called ntsync, which provides kernel-level support for a driver that enhances Windows game performance on Linux systems, particularly for the Steam Deck. This update may improve performance for older titles in the Call of Duty franchise and other classic games. Testing on Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare showed minor frame rate improvements when using the ntsync-enabled Proton-GE fork, stabilizing frame rates around 135-144 FPS compared to 130-140 FPS on the fsync build. Users have reported that issues like framerate drops and graphical glitches in Call of Duty Black Ops have been resolved with the new Proton-GE/ntsync combination. To utilize these improvements, users can opt into the SteamOS 3.7.20 beta branch and install the latest Proton-GE version via the Proton Up-Qt app.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

CD Projekt Sells PC Game Store GOG to Co-Founder

CD Projekt has sold its digital storefront, GOG, to co-founder Michał Kiciński for PLN 90.7 million (approximately .2 million USD), granting him full ownership. CD Projekt and GOG will enter into a distribution partnership for future titles from CD Projekt Red to be available on GOG. Michał Nowakowski, joint CEO of CD Projekt, expressed confidence in the move, highlighting GOG's independent operation in recent years. Kiciński stated that CD Projekt will continue to support GOG, making it a prime platform for purchasing The Witcher and Cyberpunk games. He also emphasized the importance of classic games and announced his involvement in developing new retro-inspired games set to release on GOG in 2026.