Death Stranding Archives

AppWizard

April 2, 2026

Here’s your chance to get Marathon for just $1 and score one of my favorite FPS games in recent years for a tiny price

Marathon is an extraction shooter set on Tau Ceti IV, where players engage in quests for various factions while risking the loss of their gear upon death. The game features immersive gunplay and a sci-fi atmosphere, drawing inspiration from titles like Destiny and Halo. Players learn from each death, refining their strategies as they navigate both PvP and PvE elements. The game is not designed for casual gamers, requiring a commitment to mastering its mechanics. It can be acquired for just £1 through the Fanatical Mystery Egg Bundle, which offers a chance to receive a random game, including the possibility of Marathon.

AppWizard

March 31, 2026

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (PC) Review – Kojima’s Masterpiece Gets a Stellar Port

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a sequel that takes place approximately 11 months after the first game, featuring Sam Porter Bridges on a mission to connect the Chiral Network in Mexico and Australia. The game includes familiar characters and has improved traversal mechanics, with a quicker story pace and more low-level enemies. Nixxes has adapted the game for PC, introducing a new hardcore difficulty setting called “Into the Wilder,” and ensuring it runs well across various hardware configurations. The game offers extensive customization options for graphics and controls, performing well on devices like the Steam Deck and ROG handheld. It has received acclaim for its visuals and gameplay, although some players find the plot and pacing inconsistent.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

Death Stranding 2’s PC port pushed it past 2 million copies sold

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach sold 425,000 copies on PC in its first week and has a total of over two million copies sold, combining sales from PlayStation 5 and PC. The game launched exclusively on PlayStation less than a year ago and transitioned to PC in nine months, making it the fastest exclusive to do so. Sony is reportedly adjusting its strategy for PC releases, with live-service games moving to PC while single-player titles are expected to remain exclusive to PlayStation 5.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

After feedback that Death Stranding was ‘too slow,’ Kojima wanted more players to see Death Stranding 2 all the way through to the end

Hideo Kojima set a benchmark for player engagement in Death Stranding 2, aiming for a fulfilling experience that encourages completion. Feedback from playtesters led Kojima to enhance the game's playability while avoiding conventional gaming tropes. In the original Death Stranding, completion rates were low, with about 40% of PS4 players, 34% of PS5 players, and 20% of Steam players finishing the game. Initial data for Death Stranding 2 shows over 62% of players completing the final chapter, attributed to easier navigation with vehicles and tools. To address concerns about reduced challenge, a difficulty setting called To the Wilder was introduced in the PC release. Kojima Productions aims to balance enjoyment and accessibility with depth and complexity in the game.

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

Death Stranding 2 was my Game of the Year in 2025, and now on PC, it’s my GOTY for 2026

Death Stranding 2 has been released on PC after its initial launch as a PS5 exclusive. The game continues the story of Sam Porter Bridges, who is now raising his adopted daughter Lou while attempting to connect Australia to the chiral network. Players can unlock new gear and contribute to shared constructions, enhancing gameplay and fostering a sense of community. The game blends various genres and features a narrative with elements reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid. It includes a soundtrack by Woodkid, replacing Low Roar, and is available for .99 / £62.99 on Fanatical, providing a Steam key.

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

Indika forced me to confront some of life’s toughest questions, and I think it’s made me a better person

The author attended an all-girls Catholic high school where they observed a dissonance between the teachings of compassion and the actions of some devout Catholics who bullied peers. This experience led to a questioning of faith, which has diminished over time, although an appreciation for religious imagery remains. The author discusses the indie game Indika, developed by Odd Meter, which explores dark themes of faith and violence within an Eastern Orthodox convent. The gameplay combines puzzle-solving and parkour elements, with nostalgic pixelated segments. Indika's narrative is dark, lacking happy endings or divine intervention, prompting reflection on the nature of suffering and the absence of God in times of hardship. The game illustrates that even pious individuals can harbor darkness and encourages players to embody resilience and compassion in the face of evil.

AppWizard

March 22, 2026

Steam Deck Users Warned About Playing #1 Selling Steam Game

Steam Deck users are experiencing performance issues with the best-selling game on Steam, Crimson Desert, which is marked as “Unknown” for compatibility with the device. Despite being a top title, its demanding technical requirements create significant challenges for the Steam Deck. Experts recommend waiting for patches before playing, as current performance struggles include difficulty achieving stable 30 FPS, especially in demanding sequences. Developer Pearl Abyss has not communicated plans for future support or optimization for the Steam Deck. The gaming community is encouraged to discuss their experiences regarding the game's performance on this platform.

AppWizard

March 21, 2026

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach feels great on the PC (but not so great on the Steam Deck)

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach showcases impressive visual fidelity on the PlayStation 5, offering a captivating photo-realistic experience. The PC version, tested on a GeForce RTX 3080, Ryzen 5 5600X, and 32GB of RAM, performs well at 1440P and 60FPS, but struggles with frame drops and stutters, which were not present in the PS5 version. The game can achieve higher frame rates if uncapped, but reaching full 4K resolution requires careful graphics adjustments. On the Steam Deck, the game performs poorly, with frame rates fluctuating between 15-30FPS, making it unplayable. Despite its visual appeal, the PC port's performance issues hinder the overall experience.

AppWizard

March 20, 2026

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach PC impressions

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach features themes of connection, grief, and the transient nature of existence, set in Australia and linked to the Chiral Network. The game is noted for its engaging gameplay and visual capabilities, with performance tests showing around 60 fps in demanding environments on high settings with an RTX 4070 Ti and Intel Core i9-12900K. Lowering settings can yield up to 94 fps, while enabling frame generation can surpass 126 fps. PICO upscaling combined with DLSS frame generation provides optimal visuals. The Steam Deck struggles with performance, achieving only 24 fps on the Portable preset. The game supports various controllers, including the Nintendo Switch 2 and DualSense, with a new difficulty mode called "to the wilder" that increases challenge through tougher enemies and resource management.

AppWizard

March 19, 2026

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review

Death Stranding 2, developed by Kojima Productions, is set to release on March 19, 2026. It is described as an intricate mail delivery simulation that offers a unique journey filled with emotional depth and innovative gameplay mechanics. The game allows for multiple approaches to challenges and features a new PC setting for a richer experience. The narrative intertwines themes of connectivity and isolation, with a rogue AI system as the antagonist. The game emphasizes the importance of human expression and creativity, advocating for the value of struggle and inefficiency in the creative process.