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Steam Week in Review: More than 300 games released on Steam last week, and 120 of them had AI disclosures
AppWizard
June 15, 2026

Steam Week in Review: More than 300 games released on Steam last week, and 120 of them had AI disclosures

Android Who Dreams of Stars is a visual novel developed by JinCycle, featuring an autonomous android named Eve Nova in a futuristic Tokyo where AI has eliminated war and hunger. The game relies heavily on AI-generated content for artwork, sound, narrative, and localization. My Summer Love Memories also uses generative AI for its videos, images, music, and dialogue. Kryonull has gained attention for its AI-generated voices, while some users on Steam question the legitimacy of its zero price tag. Typical NPC, developed by SmogGames, launched at a zero price with all AI-generated images, followed by After the Hero, which used AI-generated images but human-crafted text. KalendulaGames has released titles priced at zero, with extensive AI disclosures. Underwater claims to use AI-generated images only as art references. Steam emphasizes transparency in AI disclosures, with developers clarifying their use of AI in various ways. Many of the 120 games using generative AI focus on music and assets rather than translation. The Steam Deck has recently seen a resurgence in stock, with a price point higher than the average game. A humorous Steam review noted the unique experience of rummaging through trash for rewards in the game Where the F**k is my Bitcoin.
'I try to play as a completionist and leave no stone unturned and no enemy unkilled': Returnal director Harry Krueger talks Deus Ex, Resident Evil, and the arcade classic that inspired Housemarque's best games
AppWizard
June 14, 2026

‘I try to play as a completionist and leave no stone unturned and no enemy unkilled’: Returnal director Harry Krueger talks Deus Ex, Resident Evil, and the arcade classic that inspired Housemarque’s best games

Harry Krueger began his journey in PC gaming with Quake 3: Arena and later became a programmer at Housemarque, working on games like Outland and Resogun. He served as Game Director for Nex Machina in 2017 and Returnal in 2021, which won four BAFTAs in 2022, including Best Game. He has logged over 200 hours in Tetris Effect, which he appreciates for its simplicity and finesse. Ikaruga is a game he holds dear, describing it as influential and comforting. Krueger uses PureRef, an image collection tool, for organizing his creative process. His desktop is relatively tidy, with project-related files organized, though he admits to having some clutter.
Accelerating developer productivity in the agentic AI era with Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL
Tech Optimizer
June 2, 2026

Accelerating developer productivity in the agentic AI era with Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL

Pravin, who leads engineering for Amazon Aurora, shared an anecdote about his son and friends using AI-assisted coding tools to develop an app without needing to worry about database setup. Elizabeth from AWS Databases noted that teams can now deliver projects in days instead of months, with a broader demographic of builders, including analysts and designers. Engineers in Pravin's organization are creating agents that significantly reduce on-call work, and product managers are drafting documents more efficiently. Aurora aims to address the challenges posed by rapid development changes by adhering to three core principles: meeting developers where they work, absorbing workload variability, and growing with applications. Aurora PostgreSQL is integrated into AI coding tools, allowing developers to set up databases quickly. It features a serverless model that automatically scales to meet fluctuating demands, accommodating workloads from small projects to large-scale applications. The database supports existing tools and frameworks, ensuring compatibility and easing migration challenges. Examples of successful transitions to Aurora PostgreSQL include SurveySparrow, which achieved cost savings and improved query latency, and Netflix, which reported significant performance improvements. Aurora's flexibility allows developers to use both serverless and provisioned instances within the same cluster, optimizing operations without data migration. It also provides options for tuning performance and maintaining an up-to-date database with minimal disruption. Aurora Global Database enables applications to expand across regions without overhauling the data layer, supporting cross-region disaster recovery and low-latency reads. Companies like S&P Dow Jones Indices and DraftKings have successfully leveraged Aurora to support their growth and operational needs. Aurora PostgreSQL is designed to empower developers, facilitating innovation across various project scales.
There's one game Don't Nod narrative designer Nina Freeman won't ever uninstall from her PC, because it's banned on Steam: 'It's tragic, because everyone should play this game'
AppWizard
May 31, 2026

There’s one game Don’t Nod narrative designer Nina Freeman won’t ever uninstall from her PC, because it’s banned on Steam: ‘It’s tragic, because everyone should play this game’

Nina Freeman's first gaming experience was with the 1991 game Rodent's Revenge, which she played on a friend's computer or at school. She has developed autobiographical games like Cibele and Last Call, and worked as a level designer on Tacoma and Open Roads. Currently, she is working on an undisclosed project with Don't Nod and developing an indie horror game titled Size Zero with her husband. Freeman recently played Angeline Era on her Steam Deck and completed Scarlet Hollow, which she describes as a masterpiece with a complex branching narrative. The oldest game installed on her PC is Rollercoaster Tycoon Deluxe, released in 1999. She has logged over 2,101 hours in Dota 2, which she and her husband enjoy together. Freeman considers Devotion by Red Candle Games one of the best horror games and will never uninstall it from her library. She relies on OBS for her work as a game developer and Twitch streamer, and maintains a tidy desktop for streaming purposes, although her external hard drives are less organized.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
May 26, 2026

Turn Meshes into Minecraft-Style Assets with This Free Blender Tool

A new tool called VOXIFY Geometry Nodes modifier for Blender has been developed by 3D Generalist Masoud Rezaei to enhance voxel-based art. It allows users to voxelize meshes while preserving details like colors and texture maps. VOXIFY can be applied to any mesh in a non-destructive manner, making it versatile for various projects, including voxel art, LEGO-style creations, game environments, and motion graphics. It includes features for generating static meshes, creating assembly animations, and adjusting voxel positions and rotations for rigged and animated objects. VOXIFY is a free tool designed for both seasoned artists and beginners in voxel art.
Comedian Alasdair Beckett-King was a die-hard adventure gamer until he discovered Morrowind: 'The first time I loaded it up, I walked straight into a little pond and was killed by a fish'
AppWizard
May 24, 2026

Comedian Alasdair Beckett-King was a die-hard adventure gamer until he discovered Morrowind: ‘The first time I loaded it up, I walked straight into a little pond and was killed by a fish’

Alasdair Beckett-King began his gaming journey with a second-hand ZX Spectrum and the game Dizzy. He has transitioned to PC gaming and explored titles like The Secret of Monkey Island and Full Throttle. Beckett-King is a YouTube sketch creator, actor, writer, podcaster, and adventure game designer, currently on a UK comedy tour called King of Crumbs. He has a nostalgic preference for classic games, recently revisiting the remaster of Broken Sword, and has completed Myst and Riven. He enjoys modern indie titles such as Obra Dinn and The Case of the Golden Idol. His highest playtime on Steam is 266 hours for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, where he prefers normal difficulty for narrative enjoyment but found hard mode enhanced his engagement. He is hesitant to uninstall Silksong due to his mixed feelings about finishing it. Beckett-King relies on Blender 3D for his creative video production but admits to having a chaotic desktop filled with disorganized icons and folders.
Witcher 3's heaviest scene stunned its devs into silence, but Cyberpunk 2's associate director says it was crucial for 'understanding the craft' of quest design
AppWizard
May 22, 2026

Witcher 3’s heaviest scene stunned its devs into silence, but Cyberpunk 2’s associate director says it was crucial for ‘understanding the craft’ of quest design

In 2015's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a significant moment occurs when the character Vesemir, a beloved witcher-grandfather figure, dies. Lead quest designer Paweł Sasko proposed this shocking twist, which initially left the development team in disbelief. Despite facing technical challenges and negative feedback during the creation of this scene, Sasko persevered and iterated on the design, ultimately shaping the narrative's emotional depth. This experience influenced his future projects, including Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion, Phantom Liberty. The collaborative environment among designers fostered innovation and problem-solving, contributing to the game's impactful moments.
Google's AI Studio now lets anyone build Android apps in minutes
AppWizard
May 20, 2026

Google’s AI Studio now lets anyone build Android apps in minutes

The Google I/O 2026 event revealed enhanced native Android app creation capabilities within the web-based Google AI Studio, significantly reducing the app development time from weeks to minutes. Google introduced Gemini AI to help users discover applications on the Play Store and the web, improving user experience and developer visibility. The new platform allows users to "vibe-code" Android applications using intuitive tools, democratizing app development for both experienced and novice developers. Apps are developed using Kotlin and Google’s Jetpack Compose toolkit, with support for various hardware sensors. An embedded Android Emulator enables real-time preview and interaction with apps, which can be installed on devices via USB. AI Studio also offers features for creating app records, package bundles, and uploading to the Google Play Console for internal testing. Developers can transfer projects to Android Studio for broader publishing, with future enhancements including app sharing and Firebase integrations. A new AI-powered overlay called "Ask Play" will assist users in discovering apps through natural conversations, while Gemini will help surface developers' apps and link users to movies, TV shows, and live sports streaming.
More ways to create and share with Android
AppWizard
May 13, 2026

More ways to create and share with Android

Android 17 introduces a feature called Screen Reactions, which allows creators to easily record their screen and overlay their reactions onto videos, simplifying the process of creating reaction videos. This feature will initially be available on Pixel devices and will roll out this summer.
LEGO Summons Minecraft's The Ender Dragon with New Set
AppWizard
May 9, 2026

LEGO Summons Minecraft’s The Ender Dragon with New Set

The LEGO Minecraft The Ender Dragon set features a detailed representation of the Ender Dragon with 710 pieces. The model stands 8 inches tall, has a wingspan of 14.5 inches, and a depth of 15.5 inches. It includes a crank mechanism for wing flapping and comes with redeemable in-game dragon wings. The set will launch on June 1, 2026, and retail for .99. The Ender Dragon can be posed in various positions due to its jointed head, neck, tail, and legs.
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