cyberpunk Archives

AppWizard

June 11, 2026

EVE Online’s survival spinoff Frontier is a hardcore space sim you can play on a gamepad that’s unlike anything else out there

EVE Frontier is gaining acceptance from the EVE Online community despite skepticism regarding its relevance amidst the crypto gaming trend. It features an innovative server-side modding system and showcased a combat arena experience at EVE Fanfest, where participants had ten minutes to compete. The gameplay is designed with a slower pace, reminiscent of survival horror games, and takes place in a moody nebula with immersive audio. The game's aesthetic combines cyberpunk elements with ancient motifs, and it introduces both manual aiming and auto-targeting weapon systems, allowing players to choose their combat style. This marks a departure from EVE Online's mechanics, which relied heavily on auto-targeting. A major update, Cycle 6: Sanctuary, is set to launch on June 25.

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

If a decade-old Nintendo Switch can run PC games, your next handheld doesn’t need to be x86

Arm chips have traditionally excelled in Android gaming and emulation, while x86 architecture has dominated serious PC gaming. A modder successfully ran Steam on the original Nintendo Switch, which features an Nvidia Tegra chip, due to the introduction of Arm support in Proton 11's beta version. This achievement indicates that PC gaming on handheld devices may not be limited to x86 architecture. However, running Steam on the Switch requires complex workarounds, resulting in low frame rates and various limitations. The process involved using Box64 and community-developed projects to facilitate the installation, as the Switch's outdated kernel posed challenges. Despite the limitations, the ability to run x86 games on an Arm chip suggests that hardware constraints, rather than translation feasibility, are the main obstacles. Modern Arm chips have shown the capability to run PC games, with driver issues being a significant challenge for non-gaming devices. Valve is developing the Steam Frame, a VR headset powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which runs SteamOS natively on Arm and utilizes FEX for x86 game compatibility. Early benchmarks indicate promising performance on Arm devices, suggesting a potential shift in the handheld gaming landscape. While x86 remains the safer choice currently, the barriers for Arm-based handhelds are gradually diminishing, indicating a future with more options beyond x86 architecture.

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

CD Projekt Red’s mysterious Project Hadar will be an ’emotional, open-world experience’ similar to The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk

CD Projekt Red is developing several projects, including The Witcher 4, Cyberpunk 2, and a new intellectual property called Project Hadar. As of March 2026, the foundation for Project Hadar has been established, focusing on creating an emotional, open-world experience with a narrative-driven approach. Job listings indicate that the game will include quests and non-playable characters (NPCs) and may feature melee combat. Additionally, a third expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, titled Songs of the Past, is being developed by Fool's Theory and is expected to be substantial in scope, similar to the Blood & Wine expansion.

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

Mina the Hollower has the best sidequests of any game in 2026

Mina the Hollower has captivated players with its nostalgic charm, reminiscent of Shovel Knight, and has garnered positive feedback from its Kickstarter supporters. The game is described as "pure joy," with a design philosophy that emphasizes simplicity and a modest install size. Its level design features intricate, labyrinthine landscapes comparable to those created by FromSoftware. After three days of release, the game achieved sales of 300,000 copies. Engaging side quests, such as escorting a bioluminescent moth that transforms into a challenging boss, add depth to the gameplay. The game encourages exploration and rewards curiosity, similar to the storytelling found in The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

Moonana announces ‘vampire Soulsvania’ game Bathory: Heritage of Blood for Switch, PC

Developer Moonana has announced their new project, Bathory: Heritage of Blood, set for release in 2027 on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. The game features Ursula Bathory, a vampire princess seeking to reclaim her throne after being poisoned and imprisoned by her mother, Queen Regent Elizabeth Bathory. Players will explore Čachtice Castle, engage in combat using their life force, and can regenerate health by claiming blood from defeated enemies. The game includes a unique combat system with various magical attacks, the ability to steal spells, and a narrative involving the vampire underworld and a conspiracy by the Church.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

868-Back makes hacking as cool as ’90s Hollywood thought it was

868-Back is a roguelike puzzle game created by Michael Brough, set on randomly generated 6x6 grids where players navigate through eight floors filled with enemies. Players use limited resources to acquire weapons and currency while accumulating points, with each collected item spawning additional adversaries. The game features single-screen gameplay that encourages strategic thinking and adaptability, transforming the grid into a dynamic environment for creative play. It builds upon Brough's earlier title, 868-Hack, while expanding its scope and offering constant surprises.

Tech Optimizer

May 25, 2026

Avast One review: Robust protection at a reasonable price… but with some compromises

Avast One is an antivirus solution that offers protection against various digital threats, including AI-generated scams and deepfakes. It features an AI assistant that analyzes texts, links, and images for suspicious content. The starting price is .99 per year, and it supports Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, with device support ranging from 1-10 for consumers and 1-999 for businesses. Key features include malware protection, ransomware protection, identity theft protection (Ultimate only), webcam protection, a VPN (Ultimate only), a password manager, cloud backup (Business only), a firewall, and a secure browser. The free version provides basic virus and malware protection, while the Premium Security plan starts at .99 for the first year and the Ultimate plan starts at .99. Performance tests show minimal impact on gaming experiences, and the software offers various scanning options. The interface is user-friendly, though some features require higher-tier plans. Avast provides 24/7 support through email, chat, and telephone, but the chat system requires preliminary questions to be answered.

Tech Optimizer

May 24, 2026

Malwarebytes review: One of the most user-friendly and comprehensive antivirus software suites

Malwarebytes is an antivirus software that offers various plans for consumers and businesses. The consumer plans include: - Standard Plan: Priced at /£29 for essential protection on a single device. - Plus Plan: Available for /£49 annually, includes high-speed VPN and anonymous browsing. - Ultimate/Total Plan: Priced at in the U.S. and £129 in the U.K., includes advanced features like social media monitoring and identity insurance up to million. - Family Plans: Starting from 9/£109 per year for multiple users. For businesses, plans start at for Sole Proprietors covering three devices, with the Small Office plan for 20 devices costing 2. Malwarebytes lacks cloud backup and parental controls, which some competitors offer. Independent testing rated Malwarebytes as "Certified" with high usability scores, but its malware detection was less impressive compared to Bitdefender and Norton 360. The software can be resource-intensive, impacting system performance, particularly during gaming. It offers three scanning modes: Threat Scan, Deep Scan, and Custom Scan, with the Threat Scan completing in 22 seconds and the Deep Scan taking over 14 minutes. Advanced features include a Digital Footprint tool, Scam Guard, a File Shredder, and a VPN. The interface is user-friendly, and 24/7 support is available via email and chat. Malwarebytes has a 60-day money-back guarantee.

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

007: First Light drops last-minute Denuvo DRM bombshell, leaving pre-order customers and fans furious — Bond title risks FPS drops and strict online check-ins, Pirates eagerly await repack as day-one cracks become the norm

IO Interactive's game, 007: First Light, will include "Denuvo Anti-Tamper" DRM to protect against piracy on PC, leading to customer frustration among pre-order users. The Steam forums show mixed reactions, with some players disappointed and others appreciative of the DRM. Denuvo can impact frame rates and requires significant resources for integration, potentially affecting paying customers' experiences. It has been reported that Denuvo was cracked shortly after the launch of Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, raising concerns about its effectiveness. Denuvo operates in user space, not at the kernel level, and players may be locked out if their internet connection fails for over 48 hours. Developers face a paradox, as implementing DRM aims to maximize sales but may disadvantage legitimate customers. Alternative strategies exist, as seen with Cyberpunk 2077, which launched without DRM and became successful. A 2017 European Commission report suggested that piracy might increase overall sales, as some users who initially pirate games later become paying customers.

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.