competitive play Archives

AppWizard

April 13, 2026

Hades 2, the Award-Winning Sequel, Lands on Xbox Game Pass Soon

Hades 2 has been recognized as one of CNET's best games of 2025, winning Best Action Game at the 2025 Game of the Year awards and Best Game on Steam Deck at the Steam Awards. It will be available on Xbox Game Pass starting Tuesday. Xbox Game Pass offers a library of games for a monthly fee, with the premium Game Pass Ultimate subscription providing access to hundreds of games, including new releases on launch day. DayZ, a multiplayer survival game, is now available on Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential, and PC Game Pass. Endless Legend 2, a fantasy strategy game, has been added to Game Pass Premium. FBC: Firebreak, a first-person shooter, is also new to Game Pass Premium. Planet Coaster 2, a park management game, is part of Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. Tiny Bookshop, a management game, is available on Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. Football Manager 26 has been added to Game Pass Premium. Hades 2 is set to launch on April 14, continuing the story of Melinoe. Replaced and The Thaumaturge will also debut on April 14. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered will be available on Game Pass Premium starting April 16, along with EA Sports NHL 26. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will launch on April 17. Little Rocket Lab and Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato will be new to Game Pass Premium on April 21, along with Vampire Crawlers. Kiln will launch on April 23. Game Pass Essential has added two new titles as of April 8. Five games, including GTA 5, will be removed from Game Pass on April 15.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

Overwatch Season 2 is “modernizing” old heroes, and I’m ready for a Pharmercy revival

The Overwatch Season 2 update will feature significant changes, including the return of the 'Pharmercy' duo with revamped abilities for original heroes. Mercy will receive a Flash Heal ability, enhancing her healing capabilities, while Pharah will gain Drift Thrusters to improve her maneuverability during Barrage. Reaper will have Dire Triggers as a standard ability to better engage distant targets. The post-match experience will be revamped with a new accolades system for player recognition and a shared lobby voice chat during the Play of the Game. Competitive play will see reduced ranking penalties for losses on new or reworked maps, and a system for automatic map selection based on player votes. Blizzard is also considering improvements to the hero bans system for future updates. Overwatch Season 2 is set to launch on April 14, introducing new character Sierra.

AppWizard

April 8, 2026

Another obscure Final Fantasy game could come to PC with Square Enix “exploring the possibility” of porting Dissidia Duellum

Square Enix is considering a PC release for Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy after its mobile launch. Producer Naoya Matsumoto explained that the game's vertical screen orientation and portrait mode were designed for casual competitive play and one-handed gameplay on smartphones. The mobile gaming sector has faced challenges, with several Final Fantasy mobile games, including World of Final Fantasy: Meli-Melo, Final Fantasy Explorers Force, and Final Fantasy 7 The First Soldier, being discontinued after about a year. Dissidia is currently receiving criticism from fans, raising concerns about its longevity. In a positive update, Final Fantasy 14 has lifted gifting restrictions, allowing players to share items with others.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

We’re finally getting Gears of War E-Day gameplay as Xbox locks in major June 2026 showcase

The upcoming Gears of War E-Day Showcase will take place on June 7, 2026, at 10 AM PDT / 1 PM EDT / 6 PM GMT. It will include a dedicated direct presentation from The Coalition, unveiling new details, gameplay, and insights into the origins of the multiplayer series. Emergence Day, a pivotal event in the Gears of War universe, is expected to unfold primarily in the city of Kalona, where Marcus and Dom's families reside. E-Day marks the catastrophic emergence of the Locust horde, which decimated a significant portion of the human population. The showcase will also feature updates on other titles, including Fable and State of Decay 3, and may provide insights into the future direction of Microsoft's gaming division under new CEO Asha Sharma, who is considering making Game Pass more affordable.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

Play Faster, a Precision Platformer Purpose-Built for Speedrunning, Announced for PC

Play Faster is a minimalist precision platformer designed for speedrunning, currently in development for PC by GoBlimp and published by Byzantium. It features tools for speedrunners, including an input display, replay system, instant retries, practice mode, and anti-cheat measures. The game focuses on short runs lasting 5 to 8 minutes, emphasizing deterministic movement and player skill. A trailer and screenshots are available, and players can add it to their Steam wishlist.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Ever complained about Overwatch matchmaking? There’s a chance Jeff Kaplan checked your account and all he has to say is: ‘There’s gotta be winners and there’s gotta be losers’

Matchmaking in Overwatch is challenging for players trying to escape "Elo-hell," with a tendency for win-loss ratios to hover around 50% for most players, except for the elite top 500 or those struggling significantly. Former Overwatch lead Jeff Kaplan describes matchmaking as a complex design task that inevitably results in winners and losers. Players often express frustration over losing streaks, which can be psychologically impactful. Kaplan notes that players tend to complain more about losses than celebrate wins, highlighting a contradiction in their expectations for fair matches. Despite the difficulties, Overwatch has made progress in matchmaking and hero balancing, indicating a strong player connection to the game.

AppWizard

March 12, 2026

Google Play is adding new paid and PC games, game trials, community posts, and more

Google announced updates at GDC 2026 to enhance the gaming experience on Google Play, including plans to expand its game catalog with new paid and indie PC games. Upcoming titles include Moonlight Peaks, Sledding Game, 9 Kings, Potion Craft, and Low-Budget Repairs, accessible on mobile and PC with synchronized progress. Google is introducing game trials for select paid games on mobile, allowing players to sample games before purchasing, with plans to extend this to PC. A new “buy once, play anywhere” pricing model will let users buy both mobile and PC versions of select games with one purchase. The Play Store’s Games tab will feature a dedicated section for Windows-optimized titles, and users can create wishlists to receive notifications on sales. Community posts will enable users to ask questions and share answers about games, initially available in English for select titles, with plans for expansion. An AI-powered in-game overlay called Play Games Sidekick will provide real-time assistance for select paid games. Google also redesigned the Play Games experience and launched Play Games Leagues for competitive play.

AppWizard

March 11, 2026

The best FPS games of all time, from a PC gaming veteran

First-person shooters (FPS) have captivated gamers since the early 1990s, with influential titles shaping the genre. - Wolfenstein 3D: Developed by id Software, released on May 5, 1992, for PC (MS-DOS). It established core gameplay with real-time movement and first-person perspectives. - Quake: Developed by id Software, released on June 22, 1996, for PC (MS-DOS, Windows). It transitioned FPS from 2.5D to true 3D rendering, enhancing gameplay speed and introducing vertical aiming. - Half-Life: Developed by Valve, released on November 19, 1998, for PC (Windows, Linux, Mac). It integrated storytelling with gameplay, featuring a silent protagonist and advanced AI. - Counter-Strike 1.6: Developed by Valve, released in September 2003 for PC (Windows, Mac, Linux). Originally a mod for Half-Life, it emphasized teamwork and strategy in competitive gameplay. - Halo 2: Developed by Bungie, released on November 9, 2004, for Xbox and PC. It introduced new perspectives and moral complexities, with a strong online multiplayer experience. - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare: Developed by Infinity Ward, released on November 5, 2007, for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. It transformed military FPS with a cinematic approach and persistent progression in multiplayer. - Left 4 Dead: Developed by Valve, released on November 17, 2008, for PC and Xbox 360. It focused on cooperative gameplay against zombies, featuring a dynamic AI Director. - Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Developed by EA DICE, released on March 2, 2010, for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. It featured large-scale combat and destructible environments, emphasizing squad cooperation. Other notable FPS games include GoldenEye 007, Titanfall, and Bioshock, contributing to the genre's diversity and appeal.

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

5 Best Video Games Like Terraria

"Terraria" fans have several similar gaming options. 1. Minecraft: Launched in 2011, it features procedurally generated worlds made of cubes, allowing players to gather resources, craft items, and engage in both cooperative and competitive play. It is the best-selling video game in history. 2. Starbound: Released in 2016, this sci-fi game allows players to explore various planets, terraform environments, and craft items while establishing settlements. It features procedurally generated worlds and character customization. 3. Forager: Released in 2019, this game emphasizes crafting over combat in a top-down perspective, allowing players to mine, farm, fish, and cook while exploring and developing their base. 4. Valheim: A fantasy survival game that gained popularity in 2021, where players act as fallen Viking warriors in an afterlife, combining survival elements with home maintenance and featuring a dynamic day-night cycle. 5. Core Keeper: An early access fantasy sandbox game where players explore a procedurally generated underground world, dig tunnels, and craft gear. It supports solo or cooperative play with up to seven friends.

AppWizard

February 16, 2026

Overwatch tier list for Season 1 Conquest

The latest update in Overwatch's Reign of Talon chapter has introduced five new heroes, the most significant addition since the game's launch. The current tier list categorizes 50 characters by role, with Domina being notably powerful, and Sigma remaining a top choice in competitive play. Other dominant tank characters include D.Va, Zarya, and Ramattra, while Winston is favored against unprepared teams. New heroes Anran and Emre are well-balanced, but established characters like Sojourn, Ashe, Cassidy, and Bastion continue to perform strongly. Vendetta has the highest win rate at approximately 55%. In the support category, Jetpack Cat is highlighted for her mobility and healing, while Mizuki is more situational. The top heroes by win rate are Vendetta (55.6%), Domina (54.4%), Mizuki (54.2%), Zenyatta (53.1%), and Doomfist (52.9%). Lower pick rate heroes often have higher win rates, emphasizing the need for mastery over popular choices.