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Deadlock surpasses Team Fortress 2's all-time concurrent player count peak as it adds a chess wizard
AppWizard
October 10, 2026

Deadlock surpasses Team Fortress 2’s all-time concurrent player count peak as it adds a chess wizard

Valve's game Deadlock, currently in invite-only testing, has reached a peak concurrent player count of 262,145, surpassing Team Fortress 2's previous record of 253,997. This milestone coincided with the release of six new community-chosen heroes. The game's success reflects its popularity in the MOBA genre and highlights Valve's ability to innovate in game development.
Thank goodness one of my top wishlishted CRPGs is dodging World of Warcraft: Forever and Grand Theft Auto 6's warpath with a new release date
AppWizard
October 10, 2026

Thank goodness one of my top wishlishted CRPGs is dodging World of Warcraft: Forever and Grand Theft Auto 6’s warpath with a new release date

Owlcat Games has delayed the release of its CRPG, Shadow of the Road, from November 12, 2026, to March 10, 2027, across PC platforms including Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG. This delay allows the development team to refine the combat system and enhance character progression. The decision also positions the game to avoid competition with major titles like World of Warcraft: Forever and Grand Theft Auto 6. There is potential for the game to be released on Xbox platforms in the future.
The Cheese LAN online tournament united PC gaming enthusiasts in the US.
AppWizard
October 5, 2026

The Cheese LAN online tournament united PC gaming enthusiasts in the US.

The inaugural Cheese LAN festival in Green Bay, Wisconsin, had 28 participants and was the first major networking event in the region in over a decade. It took place at the Beja Shriners' Hall, featuring 24 hours of continuous gaming with a dedicated power distribution board and a 2.5G local area network. The setup included switches for 10G SFP channels and three dedicated servers for game file distribution, achieving local download speeds over 1.6 Gbps. An air conditioning system maintained a temperature of around 21°C. Activities included Rocket League competitions, cheese-throwing minigames, and a secret tournament for Sewer Rave. Organizers provided complimentary energy drinks and a vending machine stocked with 16 liters of Sun Drop. Despite financial challenges, plans for the next Cheese LAN festival are set for July 2027, with a potential winter edition.
Valorant player claims to have inherited hardware ban through secondhand CPU, Riot anticheat boss disputes parts of story
AppWizard
October 4, 2026

Valorant player claims to have inherited hardware ban through secondhand CPU, Riot anticheat boss disputes parts of story

A user on the PCBaumeister subreddit shared that they purchased a secondhand CPU, which was linked to a prior owner's ban from the game Valorant. Riot Games stated that hardware bans last four months and do not transfer to new components in a different system. Phillip Koskinas from Riot's anti-cheat division could not find any support ticket related to the user's claims, indicating that the scenario might be unlikely. The user bought the CPU on September 21, while the original owner's ban was recorded on August 12, raising questions about the validity of the claims. The incident has sparked discussions about the possibility of inheriting hardware bans and the frustrations players face when locked out of games. Miscommunication may have contributed to the situation, highlighting potential inconsistencies in support responses from Riot Games.
#1 Best-Selling Steam Game Just Achieved Something No PC Game Has Since Palworld
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

#1 Best-Selling Steam Game Just Achieved Something No PC Game Has Since Palworld

The top-selling title on Steam from September 8 to September 22, 2026, is War Dogs, which has achieved significant sales and a peak of over 428,000 concurrent players. It ranks as the 36th biggest title on Steam and has received a "Very Positive" rating based on an 82% approval rating from nearly 52,000 user reviews. War Dogs is an online tactical first-person shooter featuring three teams in strategic combat, emphasizing collaboration and requiring players to invest time to master its mechanics. The game is currently in early access and is priced at .99, with expectations for a higher retail price upon final release.
Bungie delays next Marathon update and ends 'strict seasonal schedule' as it goes all-in on Destiny-like features
AppWizard
September 15, 2026

Bungie delays next Marathon update and ends ‘strict seasonal schedule’ as it goes all-in on Destiny-like features

Bungie has announced a shift in its development strategy for the game Marathon, moving away from a rigid seasonal schedule to a more flexible timeline for updates. As a result, content originally planned for this month has been postponed until December, although a smaller update focusing on progression and the in-game economy will be released in October. The Nightfall refresh is set to launch on October 6, providing all players with a "fresh starting point." Bungie aims to address previous issues with the seasonal model that left some players behind. The decision to abandon the strict seasonal model comes amid a decline in Marathon's concurrent player numbers on Steam. Players are hopeful for a more comprehensive version of Marathon, including a single-player mode and enhanced social interactivity. Bungie's communications lead, Dylan Gafner, has promised increased communication with the community in the coming weeks and months.
Microsoft announces cap on Xbox Cloud Gaming hours for Game Pass subscribers, admits most aren't using it much anyway
AppWizard
September 3, 2026

Microsoft announces cap on Xbox Cloud Gaming hours for Game Pass subscribers, admits most aren’t using it much anyway

Microsoft's gaming division is facing challenges due to layoffs, industry consolidation issues, and controversial partnerships. Xbox is increasing service costs for its cloud gaming service, introducing a monthly cap for Game Pass subscribers starting in November, after which additional playtime must be purchased. This change follows a decline in Xbox revenue, which fell by .7 billion over the past year. Xbox also tested an ad-supported game streaming model to boost revenue. The effectiveness of the new pricing strategy is uncertain, especially after a previous price hike led to a loss of "millions" of Game Pass subscribers. Xbox plans to engage with its player base for feedback on these changes.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls review
AppWizard
August 15, 2026

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls review

Marvel Tōkon, a 4v4 tag fighter developed by Arc System Works and published by PlayStation Publishing LLC, is set to launch on August 6, 2026, priced at £60. Early reviews indicate significant performance issues for PC users, including frame drops and microstutters, even on high-end hardware. A patch has been released, but many players still face these problems. The game is incompatible with the Steam Deck and does not support Linux, which has drawn criticism. Some players have chosen to disable crossplay, affecting matchmaking. Despite these challenges, the game is praised for its accessibility to newcomers in the fighting game genre.
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