curiosity Archives

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

Cara Ellison, senior narrative designer on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 before Paradox switched developers, discusses her love of Troika’s original RPG: ‘Everyone on the team helped really make that maximum goth’

Cara Ellison is a narrative designer whose journey in gaming began with a BBC Micro and the 1987 game Acheton. She has worked as a games journalist for publications like PC Gamer and transitioned into game design, contributing narratives to titles such as Dishonored 2, Void Bastards, God of War: Ragnarok, and Ghost Town. Her latest project is Sleight of Hand, a deckbuilding stealth game inspired by Metal Gear Solid and Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines. She has a fondness for the original Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines, despite its technical challenges, and has logged 103 hours in Kentucky Route Zero. Ellison keeps Sunless Sea installed on both her work and personal computers, appreciating its narrative depth. For her writing, she uses Scrivener, which she utilized for Void Bastards. Her desktop is relatively tidy, featuring a mix of business and leisure icons, with a wallpaper from Vertigo.

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

Like moths to a flame, PC gamers and Steam users pile into the demo of a job sim about the very thing wreaking havoc on PC gaming and the Steam machine right now: data centers

Data Center Demo is gaining popularity on the Steam Next Fest charts amidst the rise of artificial intelligence and data centers, which are impacting the PC gaming landscape and causing delays for the Steam Machine. Simulation games, including Truck Simulator and Farming Simulator, have seen a significant increase in popularity, with a vast array of titles available on Steam. Data Center Demo stands out within the simulation genre, though its mechanics may be complex for some players. Additionally, a modder has created a browser extension that provides a generative AI warning for Steam games to enhance user awareness and transparency regarding AI integration.

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

Proton beam therapy comes to Minecraft to help children prepare for cancer treatment at The Christie

Young cancer patients can now explore a virtual representation of the proton beam therapy centre at The Christie in Manchester through Minecraft, marking the first instance of a working NHS health facility recreated in the game. This initiative, developed by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Microsoft with input from clinical specialists, aims to familiarize children with the therapy environment to reduce anxiety before treatment. The virtual centre includes key areas such as reception, waiting areas, imaging rooms, and play preparation rooms, and features interactive elements like functioning MRI machines and hidden rooms. The Minecraft environment is scaled up to five times the actual centre for easier navigation. The project was primarily developed by Microsoft volunteers and has received positive feedback from young patients like 10-year-old Ramatulaye, who found it helpful in understanding the hospital layout.

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

Ex Sanguis is the most stylish XCOM-style roguelike I’ve ever played

Ex Sanguis is a turn-based strategy game showcased during Steam Next Fest, featuring a grid-based system similar to XCOM. Players control a team of soldiers called Stillae, utilizing Action Points (AP) and unique abilities to execute commands. The game has a narrative centered around saving a dying planet and is noted for its stylish execution and visually striking aesthetic, characterized by a blood-themed color palette. It incorporates robust gameplay mechanics, including destructible environments, roguelike elements, and RPG-style builds. Ex Sanguis is set to launch in early access soon, and players can wishlist it and explore the demo on Steam.

AppWizard

February 24, 2026

The impact of the Fallout series on Fallout PC game sales from 2024-2026

On February 24, 2026, G2A.com released an analysis on the Fallout franchise's television series and its impact on PC game sales. Key findings include: - Sales stabilized at a higher baseline in 2025 following an initial surge from Season 1 in April 2024. - Sales volume increased by 78% in the month before Season 2 premiered, demonstrating the 'Halo Effect.' - Interest in the franchise remained significantly higher than early 2024 levels even between seasons. - 'Complete' variants of games accounted for over 60% of total franchise orders on G2A. - Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition saw a 12.5% increase in market share during Season 2 compared to Season 1. - Interest in classic titles like the Fallout Classic Collection and Fallout 2 remained consistent. The analysis included sales data for various Fallout titles and their editions.

AppWizard

February 24, 2026

Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown is a fairly dull curiosity that I’m really enjoying

Tuvix, a character in Star Trek Voyager, is created from a transporter accident that fuses two crew members into one. The decision to separate Tuvix back into his original forms involves sacrificing the unique entity he has become. Retaining Tuvix would provide a powerful asset on missions but would cost the distinct personalities of the original characters. Ultimately, the choice is made to separate Tuvix, restoring the original crew members. The game "Across the Unknown" features a mix of missions inspired by Voyager episodes, with gameplay centered around resource gathering and ship reconstruction. The narrative includes choices, such as dealing with the character Seska, and presents the option to abandon missions, which conflicts with Starfleet principles. The game is described as enjoyable but may not appeal to those unfamiliar with Voyager.

AppWizard

February 22, 2026

Debate: Which game series is the most popular to cosplay?

The convention atmosphere is lively, filled with diverse cosplayers from various entertainment realms, including film, anime, television, and video games. The column "Character Select" in PC Gamer highlights the artistry of the cosplay community, featuring remarkable creations and insights into gaming culture. The author shares a memorable interaction with cosplayers from the game "Cult of the Lamb." Cosplay is particularly popular for "Genshin Impact," with a wide range of characters inspiring attendees, including a cosplayer dressed as a Primogem. "League of Legends" also has a significant presence, with characters like KDA, Jinx, and Miss Fortune being popular, especially after the Netflix adaptation "Arcane." The author expresses curiosity about other fanbases or games that may deserve attention at future conventions.

Winsage

February 20, 2026

Hands on with Windows 11 26H1 and why this update is not meant for your PC

Microsoft has announced Windows 11 26H1, a release intended exclusively for new ARM devices launching in 2026, specifically those powered by the Snapdragon X2 series. This version is not a feature update for existing PCs and will not appear in Windows Update notifications for users on Intel or AMD hardware. Windows 11 26H1 is based on a new internal core designed for ARM silicon, referred to as a "hardware-optimized release," and may carry the codename Bromine. The OS Build number for 26H1 is 28020.1611, distinguishing it from previous updates. Key enhancements include full integration of semantic natural-language search within Settings, an increase in the FAT32 format limit from 32 GB to 2 TB, and UI refinements. Notable omissions include the removal of .NET Framework 3.5 as an optional feature and a safeguard preventing the System Preparation Tool from running in Safe Mode. Windows 11 26H2 is expected later in 2026 for existing PCs.

AppWizard

February 18, 2026

Steam Next Fest hasn’t even started, and its first must-play demo is already here

Titanium Court is expected to gain significant attention in the gaming world, potentially winning multiple game of the year awards. The game is a finalist at this year's Independent Games Festival and features a unique premise involving a court suspended in time and space. Its gameplay includes complex puzzles and a captivating aesthetic, drawing comparisons to acclaimed titles like Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn. A demo is available for players who want to experience it early.

AppWizard

February 17, 2026

Whoa, Google’s Pixel-exclusive ‘Now Playing’ is rumored to get an app with ‘more features’

Google is reportedly developing a dedicated Now Playing app for its Pixel-exclusive music identification feature, which will be available on the Play Store. The app is expected to retain familiar features while introducing enhancements, including a persistent "searching for song" notification. The Now Playing feature allows Pixel devices to identify songs in real-time and may soon include a quick settings menu option for easy activation. The feature's database is compact, under 500MB, and designed to be energy-efficient.