consoles Archives

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

‘According to Steam, I have around 10,000 hours logged,’ says the modder who’s spent a decade turning GTA 5 into a photo realistic wonderland

The first trailer for GTA 6 was released in late December 2023, revealing characters, settings, and mission structures, but the release date was postponed to May 26, 2026, for consoles, with the PC version still pending. Meanwhile, the NaturalVision modding project has significantly enhanced GTA 5's visuals, improving lighting, shadows, and textures. Razed, the creator of NaturalVision, emphasizes the importance of subtle details in creating a realistic atmosphere and expresses enthusiasm for advancements in lighting technology. The modding community has been supported by custom tools that streamline development, and there is optimism that modding will flourish with the release of GTA 6, potentially including official modding tools from Rockstar. Razed envisions innovative projects, such as reimagining Vice City, within the modding community.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

I love that DOOM: The Dark Ages requires ray tracing, and I hope more games follow

DOOM: The Dark Ages requires a graphics card with ray tracing hardware, specifically at least an NVIDIA 20-series card, making older models like the GTX 1080 incompatible. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle also necessitates ray tracing capabilities, raising concerns about performance on existing hardware. Billy Khan from id Software stated that ray tracing significantly reduces game development time, allowing for real-time adjustments. Ray tracing has been part of the graphics card landscape for over seven years, with all current consoles supporting it. NVIDIA's latest RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 cards have faced driver issues affecting gameplay, while alternatives from AMD and Intel, as well as NVIDIA’s 30 and 40-series cards, can still provide good performance. Other studios, like 4A Games, have begun incorporating ray tracing into their development processes.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Once an arcade company, Capcom now sells most of its games on PC

Capcom has experienced a significant increase in PC game sales, surpassing console sales for the first time, with PC games accounting for 54% of total sales. In the last fiscal year, Capcom sold over 51 million software units, a 13% increase from the previous year, with 28 million being digital PC games and 18 million digital console games. Monster Hunter Wilds sold over 10 million units shortly after its release, while Monster Hunter World has lifetime sales of over 21 million, making it Capcom's most successful title. The Resident Evil 4 remake has surpassed 10 million in sales. Capcom plans to leverage its back catalog for growth, with recent releases including Onimusha 2 and the Capcom Fighting Collection 2, and Street Fighter 6 set to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2. Despite the growth in PC sales, Capcom expects console revenue to remain slightly higher through 2027, with mobile revenue projected to outpace both PC and console earnings in the future.

BetaBeacon

May 29, 2025

Microsoft Copilot for Gaming AI Game Assistant Enters Beta on Android, iOS

Microsoft has introduced the Copilot for Gaming beta, an AI companion designed to assist players in their video game endeavors. The tool allows players to ask for assistance, inquire about play history and achievements, receive game recommendations, and catch up on games they haven't played in a while. The beta is currently available on Android and Apple devices in specific regions, with plans to expand to Windows PCs in the future.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

More than 60% of Capcom’s digital game sales last year were on PC

Capcom's strategic shift towards the PC gaming market has been successful, particularly after the release of Monster Hunter World on PC, which was initially delayed but received a positive response. The company aimed for 50% of its sales to come from PC by 2022 or 2023. Capcom has reported eight consecutive years of record profits, with 60% of its digital game sales in the last fiscal year coming from PC, contributing to over 54% of total game sales. Despite initial performance issues, Monster Hunter Wilds has performed well on Steam, with over half of its sales in February 2025 originating from this platform. Capcom is committed to releasing titles simultaneously on PC and consoles, indicating a promising outlook for future releases.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

Capcom reveals its PC game sales overshadow console, and it’s only growing

Capcom's fiscal results for 2024 show that digital sales on PC have surpassed those on consoles, with PC sales at 60% and console sales at 40%. Capcom sold approximately 28.2 million games on PC and 19.5 million on consoles, marking an increase from the previous year when PC sales were 52%. The success of titles like Monster Hunter Wilds contributed to this growth. Additionally, the Resident Evil series has sold 170 million units, and the Monster Hunter series has reached 120 million units. Capcom aims for a 10% growth in operating profit for fiscal year 2026, focusing on digital sales and PC platforms.

AppWizard

May 26, 2025

A month after Electronic Arts mashed the brakes, WRC rally racing games are coming back with a ‘complete reboot’ under a new publisher

The FIA has partnered with Nacon to revive the World Rally Championship (WRC) gaming series, set to launch in 2027, following the end of its licensing agreement with Codemasters. Nacon will have exclusive rights to develop WRC games for PC and consoles over the next six seasons. Arne Dirks, the FIA's chief marketing officer, expressed excitement about the collaboration. Kylotonn, the studio likely to develop the games, has received mixed reviews for its past WRC titles, with WRC 7 rated "very positive" and WRC 10 rated "mostly positive" on Steam. Community reactions are mixed, with some fans disappointed by the change from Codemasters, while others are cautiously optimistic about Kylotonn's progress in game quality.

Winsage

May 26, 2025

A YouTuber claims that Windows was actively causing handhelds to run poorly, at least versus SteamOS

Valve has expanded support for handheld consoles, including the Lenovo Legion Go S, which now offers an option for SteamOS alongside Windows. A recent analysis by YouTuber Dave2D highlights that the SteamOS version significantly outperforms the Windows version in terms of framerate and battery life. The Windows version retails for approximately 9, while the SteamOS variant is priced at 9. In performance tests, the SteamOS version achieved 10-15 FPS higher in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, and provided over six hours of gameplay compared to the Windows version's two hours and 47 minutes. The Lenovo Legion Go S also surpasses the Steam Deck in framerate, achieving 10-15 FPS more at a 15W power draw, although the Steam Deck still has an advantage in battery life and pricing. The performance gap raises questions about Microsoft's upcoming handheld device running Windows and its ability to compete with the efficiency of SteamOS.

BetaBeacon

May 24, 2025

No English release? These fan-translated games are worth emulating

- Fans have been clamoring for an English version of Mother 3 since its release in 2006 - Enthusiasts translated the game into English and released a patch in 2008 - Game Boy Advance emulation is easy on Android phones and TV boxes - Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden was fan-translated for the PS1 - Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere had a different version in Japan with more content - Policenauts, directed by Hideo Kojima, was fan-translated years after its release - Tear Ring Saga, a spiritual successor to Fire Emblem, received an English translation patch in 2016 - King's Field, Monster Hunter, Namco x Capcom, and Marvelous are other Japan-only games that received fan translations.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Xbox Launches Retro Classics Collection With 50+ Activision Titles; PC App Adds Game Assist, GeForce Now Support

Xbox and Antstream Arcade have launched Retro Classics, a collection of over 50 Activision titles from the ’80s and ’90s, available to Xbox Game Pass members worldwide. Notable games in the collection include Commando, Grand Prix, Kaboom!, Mech Warrior 2: 31st Century Combat, and Pitfall!, accessible on consoles, PCs, and cloud gaming devices. The collection features modern enhancements like cloud saves, achievement support, and gameplay pause/resume options, with plans to expand to over 100 titles from Activision and Blizzard in the future. Additionally, Xbox has introduced updates for PC gaming, including a revamped Game Bar with Quick Settings, an upcoming Microsoft Edge Game Assist for in-game browsing, and GeForce Now streaming integration for the Xbox app. The Xbox Rewards program has also been updated, allowing players to redeem points for customizable gift cards for various purchases.