creative freedom Archives

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Avakin Life hits Steam after 200 million users on mobile

Avakin Life, a social simulation game launched in 2013 by Lockwood Publishing, has over 1.5 million monthly active users and more than 200 million registered players. It has recently debuted on Steam Early Access, allowing players to experience features such as avatar customization, apartment building, real-time events, and multiplayer social hubs. The Steam version supports cross-platform progression, enabling mobile users to link their accounts. The game is available in 14 languages and is free to download. The development team aims to gather community feedback during the Early Access phase to enhance the user experience and maintain feature parity across platforms. A full launch is expected later in the summer of 2025.

AppWizard

August 7, 2025

From Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Minecraft to Roguelite Raids: Everbloom Games Unveils Nullpoint Protocol

Everbloom Games is transitioning from creating content for Minecraft to indie game development with their first title, Nullpoint Protocol, a co-op roguelite set for release in 2026. The game focuses on MMO-style boss encounters without the grind of traditional RPGs and will feature a playable demo at PAX West 2025, Booth #648. Everbloom's origins trace back to a 2016 PlanetMinecraft competition, leading to successful collaborations with major franchises. Co-founder Tom van Berkel emphasizes the need for creative freedom as a driving force behind their shift to indie development, reflecting on the potential for growth in the industry through user-generated content platforms.

AppWizard

August 4, 2025

FPS legend John Romero says Wolfenstein 3D was the first game id Software took its time with⁠—a luxurious 4-month development instead of just 2

John Romero discussed the early 1990s transformation of PC gaming during a Nightdive Studios podcast, highlighting id Software's rapid development cycles and innovative technology. He noted that John Carmack's programming breakthroughs in September 1990 were pivotal, and that id Software's initial pitch to Nintendo for a Super Mario 3 port was rejected, leading to the creation of Commander Keen. In 1991, id released three Commander Keen sequels and Catacomb 3D. Romero emphasized a shift in development practices with Wolfenstein 3D, allowing for a four-month development period focused on quality. He contrasted the simpler processes of that time with today's complex game development landscape. Additionally, he mentioned the rise of the hunting game genre and the potential of indie developers, while noting that Romero Games is seeking a new publisher after Microsoft withdrew funding for a triple-A shooter project.

AppWizard

August 2, 2025

GOG is giving away a selection of adult games to protest censorship

GOG has launched a new platform, FreedomtoBuy.games, allowing users to download select "adult" games for free, in response to the removal of certain titles from Steam and Itch. For 48 hours, GOG is offering 13 games, including POSTAL 2 and HuniePop, which have faced controversy and bans. The initiative aims to preserve diverse gaming experiences and ensure compatibility with modern hardware. The removals from other platforms were influenced by new policies from payment processors and pressure from organizations like Collective Shout. Itch is working to reinstate removed games and restore free NSFW titles.

AppWizard

August 2, 2025

GOG preservationists hit back at “censorship in gaming” by making a bunch of notable NSFW games free-to-own for a limited time: “If a game is legal and responsibly made, players should be able to enjoy it”

GOG has launched FreedomToBuy.games, a platform offering free access to select adult-themed games for 48 hours, including titles like HuniePop and House Party, to promote creative expression in gaming. The initiative is supported by various publishers and aims to preserve adult-oriented games amidst pressures from moralistic lobbyists and credit card companies. GOG emphasizes its role as an archival platform, stating that legal and responsibly made games should be accessible now and in the future. Mastercard clarified that it has not imposed restrictions on game creators or platforms, and GOG noted that delisting games makes it harder to revive them later. Renowned game creator Yoko Taro commented on the potential infringement of free speech due to such censorship.

AppWizard

July 29, 2025

Roblox Versus Minecraft: Comparing the Giants

In 2025, Roblox has over 380 million monthly active users and nearly 89 million daily players, with a library of more than 5 million user-generated games. Minecraft has approximately 32 million monthly active users and 2.5 million daily players. Roblox features a virtual currency called Robux, allowing players to personalize their experiences and trade virtual items. Minecraft offers modes like Survival and Creative, emphasizing resource management and artistic expression. Roblox's graphics vary by creator, with enhancements like dynamic lighting, while Minecraft maintains a consistent blocky style with recent graphical updates. Both platforms are accessible on multiple devices, with Roblox supporting PC, mobile, Xbox, and VR, and Minecraft available in Java and Bedrock editions, which do not share servers.

AppWizard

June 29, 2025

The brilliant Half-Life-inspired survival game Abiotic Factor cascades into 1.0 this July

Deep Field Games has announced the 1.0 release of its survival game, Abiotic Factor, set to launch on July 22. The game will feature a new Residence Sector, an upgrade system, enhanced base assaults, and the ability to construct office cubicles. Players have enjoyed the creative aspects of the game, such as crafting items from everyday objects. Abiotic Factor has received consistent updates, including the Crush Depth and Dark Energy expansions. The game is currently available at a 20% discount for £24 until July 10 as part of Steam's summer sale.

AppWizard

June 22, 2025

All Minecraft players risk having money stolen in seconds in ‘undetected’ attack

Recent findings from CheckPoint Research indicate that millions of Minecraft players are at risk of having their sensitive information compromised due to a malicious campaign targeting the game's modding community. This campaign exploits the modding ecosystem by disseminating malware through platforms like GitHub, specifically using a network of accounts known as the Stargazers Ghost Network. These accounts impersonate popular cheats and scripts, misleading users into downloading harmful Java files that can extract personal information from their systems. Since March 2025, CheckPoint Research has been monitoring these malicious repositories, which have evaded detection by antivirus engines. The potential data at risk includes private conversations, cryptocurrency wallets, and browser logins. Additionally, a significant data breach has exposed approximately 16 billion logins for various platforms, increasing the urgency for users to protect their digital identities.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

I’ve played my share of cozy games, and Tales of the Shire is definitely one for the maximalist decorators

The author enjoys a cluttered and eclectic decorating style, inspired by the hobbit design ethos introduced in "Tales of the Shire" in 2024. During a demo at the Summer Game Fest, they focused on rearranging furniture and creating decorative piles in their hobbit home, finding joy in the creative freedom of decoration. The gameplay allowed for a whimsical approach to cooking and decorating, although the cooking mechanics felt somewhat lackluster. The author appreciated the minimal restrictions on moving items and transforming their space, envisioning a chaotic garden that would defy real-world norms. Despite enjoying the decorating aspects, they found the interactions with villagers to be generic and lacking depth compared to other games like Animal Crossing.

Winsage

May 29, 2025

Microsoft is ruining Windows customization

Customizing a Windows PC has become increasingly complex and frustrating due to several factors. Microsoft has introduced more locked-down UI elements with Windows 10 and 11, which complicates the customization process. Frequent and substantial updates alter UI elements and introduce new features, creating challenges for developers of customization tools to maintain compatibility. Microsoft has also removed certain legacy features that facilitated customization, limiting the capabilities of these applications. Additionally, some customization apps are labeled as malware, discouraging users from installing them and hindering the customization ecosystem. As a result, many users feel that the joy of customizing their Windows experience has diminished, as streamlined interfaces lack the flair and personality of earlier versions.