community response Archives

AppWizard

March 23, 2026

Cat Parents amasses over 100,000 wishlists in just 3 days, leaving its indie devs speechless: ‘We never imagined that our little dream would spark interest in so many people’

An indie game titled Cat Parents allows players to collect and care for stray cats, including activities like cleaning, feeding, and modifying their homes. The game's announcement by Solvita Zacha, CEO of Gaze In Games, generated significant excitement, achieving 100,000 wishlists within three days. The specific launch date for the game has not yet been announced.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Did a Steam Game Give Your PC Malware? The FBI Wants to Know

The FBI has launched an investigation into malware threats associated with PC games on Steam, particularly targeting users from May 2024 to January 2026. The games identified include BlockBlasters, Chemia, Dashverse/DashFPS, Lampy, Lunara, PirateFi, and Tokenova, all linked to malware incidents. For example, PirateFi was designed to steal browser cookies, Chemia updated itself with malicious software, and BlockBlasters was identified as a Trojan that siphoned cryptocurrency. The FBI's alert also mentions Lampy, which may harbor malware. Valve, the parent company of Steam, has not responded to inquiries but has warned users about the affected games. The investigation suggests a potential link to a single group or individual, with reports indicating that victims were lured through Telegram messages offering free game keys or job opportunities.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

After its disastrous launch last year, I’m here to tell you that 2025’s most promising auto-battler finally lives up to its potential

The Bazaar is an auto-battler game released in March of the previous year, which faced backlash due to its monetization strategies and microtransactions. The game features a whimsical galactic marketplace where players select heroes and acquire items to enhance their boards. Players engage in automatic battles, refining their strategies with various item synergies, such as assembling teams of aquatic and robotic creatures. The current meta favors weapon builds, and players enjoy the randomness of hero selection and item discovery. Developer Tempo has made significant improvements, addressing community concerns, refining the monetization model, and introducing ranked matchmaking to enhance the experience for both newcomers and seasoned players.

AppWizard

December 14, 2025

The Deus Ex remaster that everyone thinks looks awful is delayed, there’s no new release date, and preorders are being refunded

The remaster of Deus Ex, initially set for release on February 5, 2026, has been postponed by developer Aspyr in response to community feedback regarding the game's visual presentation. Original art director Jerry O'Flaherty expressed dissatisfaction with the remaster, and fans feel it does not capture the essence of the original game. Critics have noted that the new visuals detract from the original's aesthetic, and there are concerns about the remaster's pricing compared to the Game of the Year edition available on other platforms. Aspyr's previous projects have had mixed success, and the current situation suggests that significant revisions may be needed before the remaster meets fan expectations. There is uncertainty about the future of the project, with concerns that it may be shelved.

AppWizard

December 11, 2025

Minecraft player recreates Apex Legends in block form, and it’s got wall-bouncing and everything

A Minecraft mod inspired by Apex Legends has been developed by a solo creator, 'Lonely_Run2204,' who has integrated seven characters from the game into the mod. The gameplay features a squad of three players facing off against 19 squads of AI bots with tactical abilities. The mod includes detailed character abilities, reload mechanics, and movement techniques from Apex Legends. Currently, the map is built from existing resources, but there are plans for a 1:1 scale version of the Apex map, which is on hold due to the need for collaborators. The community response has been very positive, with users praising the effort and craftsmanship involved in the project. Future updates may include additional characters.

AppWizard

December 11, 2025

Marble Arch pop-up theatre ‘looks like Minecraft tree’

A pop-up theatre designed to resemble a "Minecraft tree" will be located at the Marble Arch Mound, opening in April 2026 and operating until June 2028. The Westminster City Council's planning committee has unanimously approved the venue, which will temporarily house the Arts Theatre during its refurbishment. The theatre is designed for a lifespan of 20 years, with potential relocation after two years. Local support for the project is strong, although some councillors have expressed concerns about the building's green cladding. Historic England has reservations about the structure's impact on the Marble Arch's prominence. The theatre will feature an aluminium frame with recycled materials, a foyer, bar, and a stage at the western end, with shipping containers used for additional facilities. The Arts Theatre's last performance at its current location is scheduled for December 31.

AppWizard

December 7, 2025

PUBG creator says he “100% expected” negative reactions to his new survival game, but its Steam reviews are improving fast

A 20-second teaser for Prologue, the debut title from Brendan Greene's studio, was showcased at the 2019 Game Awards. The game recently launched in early access, generating excitement from Greene, who noted its unique design allows for millions of different map seeds, making each exploration distinct. Prologue does not include quest markers, NPCs, or enemies, focusing instead on survival against the wilderness. Upon launch, it received a 'Mixed' user score on Steam, with some players dissatisfied with its perceived emptiness. Greene anticipated such reviews, emphasizing that the game encourages players to craft their own adventures. Prologue features three game modes and extensive replayability, but lacks traditional survival game elements. Greene acknowledged the trend of early access being misused by some studios and expressed his commitment to engaging with the community for feedback. Players have achieved notable survival feats within the game, such as surviving for 18 or 19 days and creating self-imposed challenges. Greene also mentioned community activities, like weekly challenges based on game seeds.

AppWizard

December 5, 2025

Android TV users hit with SmartTube security disaster after rogue update

SmartTube, a YouTube client for Android TV, experienced a security breach where an attacker infiltrated the developer's signing keys, allowing the distribution of a compromised update that included a malicious library, libalphasdk.so. Google Play Protect issued warnings about the suspicious build, leading users to discover a hidden file that maintained remote communication channels. Users are advised to change Google Account passwords, conduct antivirus checks, and implement stricter firewall rules. The developer, Yuliskov, plans to address the vulnerabilities and release a new version through the F-Droid store.

Tech Optimizer

December 3, 2025

SereneDB lands $2.1M to fuse search, analytics and Postgres into one engine

Berlin-based startup SereneDB has completed its Pre-Seed funding round, raising .1 million from venture funds Entourage and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF). The company aims to improve traditional search and analytics tools, which struggle with dynamic datasets. SereneDB integrates live data and analysis within a single system, combining a search engine with OLAP execution under PostgreSQL for real-time data ingestion and updates. The platform allows for rapid retrieval of complex results and supports insightful queries from both human users and AI agents. CEO Alexander Malandin and CTO Andrey Abramov lead the company, drawing on their extensive experience in IT and database design. They aim to create a unified engine that integrates search and database functionalities, addressing the limitations of existing enterprise search technologies. The initial response from the developer community has been positive, with interest in SereneDB's capabilities, particularly among startups and existing search users. The funding will help expand the team and support open-source development.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

Diablo 4 challenger confirms paid DLC classes are coming, and its Steam reviews have taken a massive hit

Eleventh Hour Games (EHG) is set to release Last Epoch's first major expansion, Orobyss, for free to existing players in late August or early September 2026. New players will need to purchase an updated base game bundle. The expansion will follow Seasons 4 and 5, with Season 4 introducing a new seasonal mechanic and several updates. EHG has announced the introduction of paid downloadable content (DLC) in the form of 'Paradox Classes,' which has led to backlash from the community due to concerns about balance and monetization. CEO Judd Cobler explained that the decision to monetize classes was driven by the lack of profitability from the first three seasons and the need for alternative revenue streams. The game's Steam review ratings have shifted from 'Mostly Positive' to 'Mixed' due to community dissatisfaction. EHG has also been acquired by Krafton, raising concerns about potential changes in monetization strategies.