Creative Archives

BetaBeacon

October 15, 2026

Master Chief Reaches Smartphones – Halo: Combat Evolved Gets Fan Port for Android

Fans of Halo: Combat Evolved have created an unofficial port of the game for Android devices based on the decompilation of the original Xbox version. The port includes the full story campaign and multiplayer support for online or local play with up to four players. Players can use touch controls, gyroscope aiming, and customize on-screen buttons. To run the port, users need their own image of the original Xbox version of the game.

AppWizard

October 15, 2026

After Valve was criticized, devs back Steam’s refund policy by creating a 2-hour game literally called Refund This Game: “We celebrate players’ right to refund”

Mateo Covic, a developer known for Paddle Paddle Paddle, expressed frustrations about Steam's two-hour refund window, sparking scrutiny of Valve's policy. In response, developers launched a game titled Refund This Game, a first-person platformer that challenges players to navigate Steam's refund policy. The game encourages players to complete it in under two hours to earn a refund. It is priced at a promotional rate and takes inspiration from the classic rage-inducing platformer Getting Over It. Co-developer dofhouse noted that the discussion around Steam's refund policy inspired the game. Additionally, Steam recently surpassed 43 million concurrent users, an all-time high, attributed to the popularity of titles like Wardogs and Deadlock.

AppWizard

October 15, 2026

15 best PC mods of all time that feel like new games

The text discusses the significance of modding communities in PC gaming, particularly highlighting total conversion mods that can transform games into new experiences. A list of notable PC mods includes: 1. Star Wars: Genesis — Starfield: Introduces 40 planets with unique content and revamped combat. 2. A Game of Thrones — Crusader Kings 2: Recreates Westeros with a detailed map and political intrigue. 3. The Lay D Denton Project — Deus Ex: Restores gender choice for the protagonist with new voice lines. 4. A Tale of Two Wastelands — Fallout: New Vegas: Merges Fallout 3 and New Vegas into a single playthrough. 5. Retro Rewind — Mario Kart Wii: Adds over 200 classic tracks to Mario Kart Wii. 6. Divide and Conquer (The Lord of the Rings) — Medieval II: Total War: Allows players to command factions from Middle-earth. 7. Long War — XCOM: Enemy Unknown: Extends gameplay with new classes and missions. 8. Fallout: London — Fallout 4: Set in post-apocalyptic London with new quests and characters. 9. Stardew Valley Expanded — Stardew Valley: Adds new locations, NPCs, and events to the game. 10. The Nameless Mod — Deus Ex: Introduces a 15-hour campaign with a new narrative. 11. Ashes 2063 — Doom 2: A standalone mod set in a post-apocalyptic world. 12. STALKER Anomaly — STALKER: Call of Pripyat: Offers a survival sandbox experience with a fresh narrative. 13. The Dark Mod (Thief) — Doom 3: An open-source platform for creating custom levels. 14. Return to Rapture — Half Life: Alyx: Merges Half-Life and BioShock with a new storyline. 15. Enderal: Forgotten Stories — The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: A standalone RPG with its own world and narrative. The selection criteria for the best mods included their transformative impact on the original game and ease of installation. Recommendations for safe mod installation include downloading from reputable sources and backing up save files. Additionally, some mods have evolved into standalone games, illustrating the potential of modding creativity.

BetaBeacon

October 14, 2026

Replaced is Coming to Android on December 8th

Replaced, a retro-futuristic cyberpunk game, is set to be released on Android on December 8th. The game will feature specially developed touch controls and compatibility with gamepads for enhanced gameplay on mobile devices.

AppWizard

October 13, 2026

Huion Kamvas Pad 12 review: a budget Android drawing tablet that gets the small things right

Creative Bloq's review highlights the Huion Kamvas Pad 12 as a compact, entry-level Android art tablet priced at 9 / £449. It features the new PenTech 4.0 stylus with 16,384 pressure levels, a sturdy design resembling an iPad, and an etched glass surface for a paper-like feel. The tablet runs on Android 16, supports various drawing apps, and has a battery life of up to eight hours. While it offers good color accuracy covering 99% of sRGB, it may not match the precision of higher-end models like the iPad Pro or Wacom tablets. Palm rejection could be improved, and users may need a drawing glove to prevent unintended screen interactions.

AppWizard

October 13, 2026

Samsung is now rolling out Android 17 to these older Galaxy devices in the US

Samsung has started the rollout of the One UI 9 update for the Galaxy S24 series and the Z Fold/Flip 6. The update is now available for devices that did not originally ship with it, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra. The rollout includes all three models of the Galaxy S24, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6, currently accessible in South Korea and the United States, with broader availability expected soon. One UI 9 introduces features such as My FanCam for automatic video tracking, Generative and Editable Cards on Now Brief, detailed Warranty and Care information in the Settings menu, expanded Galaxy AI features, and enhanced Privacy & Security options.

Winsage

October 12, 2026

ASUS Googlebook 14 hands-on: How does Google’s desktop OS feel to a lifelong Windows user? Microsoft should pay attention, but it doesn’t need to worry.

In September, Google introduced the 'Googlebook,' a premium laptop alternative to its Chromebooks, developed in collaboration with OEMs like Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. The ASUS Googlebook 14, priced at ,299, features a lightweight design, weighing approximately 0.97 kg (2.13 lbs), and a 14-inch OLED display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and brightness of up to 450 nits. It includes a comfortable keyboard with 1.5mm key travel and a 6-inch haptic touchpad. However, usability challenges exist, such as the Caps Lock key activating a context menu and the lack of a dedicated delete key. App compatibility issues have also been noted, with some applications performing poorly compared to their desktop versions. Despite these challenges, the Googlebook shows potential for improvement with future updates.

AppWizard

October 12, 2026

This unofficial port brings Pixel 11’s Rambler to any Android phone

Google's Rambler feature, designed to enhance voice typing by using AI to eliminate filler words, correct grammar, and format text, is now accessible on more devices thanks to developer Akshay Kadam's modified Gboard APK called PixelBoard. Users can experience Rambler by installing PixelBoard and setting it as their default keyboard. The Pixel 11 series introduced Rambler along with other AI-driven features. However, PixelBoard is not an official Google application, posing security and privacy risks, and there is a chance that Google may restrict this workaround in future updates. Kadam's GitHub project offers an unofficial way to access Rambler, but users should be cautious due to the risks associated with modified software.

AppWizard

October 12, 2026

Star Wars Galactic Racer’s devs tested its roguelite progression system by turning it into a board game

Kieran Crimmins, the creative director at Fuse Games, emphasized the importance of tactile experience in game design, leading to the creation of a board game prototype for Star Wars Galactic Racer to explore gameplay mechanics. Matt Webster, the CEO of Fuse Games, noted that while modern engines are capable, traditional prototyping can be faster for capturing ideas. The board game prototype focused on simulating the progression system, where players earn rewards based on race performance, enhancing vehicle stats and acquiring parts. This system draws inspiration from roguelite games, providing continuity and growth in gameplay. Crimmins highlighted the efficiency of board game prototyping for rapid validation of emotional responses, allowing for quick adjustments using simple materials. The approach reflects a trend in game development towards flexibility and creativity in early design stages.

AppWizard

October 11, 2026

Deadlock’s City Never Sleeps update makes Valve’s MOBA my favorite videogame setting in years

Deadlock is a game currently accessible through beta invites distributed by Valve. The recent update, City Never Sleeps, features a transformed map with new neutral monsters and a redesign that enhances its landscapes. The update introduces new characters, including Deadman Danny, Nurse Harrow, Rat King, Solomon, and Baba, each with unique designs and voice lines. The update also expands the existing cast with new conversations and lore, contributing to the game's depth. The author has invested over 350 hours into Deadlock and recommends it for its captivating atmosphere, despite it being in the MOBA genre.