dedicated players Archives

AppWizard

May 12, 2026

Path of Exile’s overwhelming complexity isn’t the real reason new players pass on it, director believes: ‘I think that PoE 1’s being such an old game is in itself the accessibility problem’

Many dedicated players of Path of Exile (PoE) consider themselves novices even after investing over 3,000 hours into the game, highlighting its complexity. The game features a sprawling skill tree that can overwhelm new players, leading some to exit quickly. Jonathan Rogers, co-director of PoE, believes that the game's age is a primary barrier to entry rather than its complexity. As Grinding Gear Games prepares for PoE 2, they aim to balance the expectations of long-time players with the need to make the game accessible to newcomers. A significant development for PoE 2 is the introduction of "Return of the Ancients" tutorial quests, designed to simplify the game's mechanics and create a more welcoming environment for new players. The developers are committed to addressing the challenges faced by new players while maintaining the intricate nature of the game.

AppWizard

May 7, 2026

May’s big Rust update adds new, rare workbench upgrades, if you can find them

The latest update for Rust, titled "Upgrade Hard, Raid Harder," introduces mortars to combat rooftop camping and features nine rare workbench upgrades that enhance gameplay. Players can apply these upgrades from the workbench inventory, and they are not mutually exclusive. Mortars function similarly to cannons and require players to gauge distance and angle without a visual guide, with two types of shells available. Tin can alarms have been improved to accommodate various warning signals, and the vending machine interface has been redesigned for easier use. Loot distribution in the Deep Sea area has been adjusted, and drag has increased for boats with flat bows. Third-person grenade-throwing animations have been refined, and the computer station now requires power. New achievements related to the Naval update and Deep Sea zone have been added, and a Discord shop has been launched, offering a 20% discount on DLC. Facepunch is upgrading to Unity 6, which will discontinue support for Windows 8 and require server hosts to upgrade to Windows Server 2019.

AppWizard

May 6, 2026

Minecraft Game To Debut Friday in Rosemont

Fans of Minecraft will have the opportunity to experience a tangible event called Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, created by Supply + Demand in collaboration with Experience MOD and Mojang Studios. The event will take place at EXP Rosemont in the Pearl District, launching on Friday, May 8. A preview was given to approximately 15 media representatives. Minecraft is the best-selling game of all time, with over 300 million copies sold globally.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Loving MMOs in 2026 is an exercise in frustration, grief, and moving on

This week’s edition of Terminally Online reflects on the current state of Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs), highlighting a mix of nostalgia and concern. The genre includes popular titles like The Elder Scrolls Online, Final Fantasy 14, and Guild Wars 2, but recent cancellations of new MMOs have caused unease among players, with 2025 referred to as an “MMO massacre.” Projects such as New World and Project Blackbird have been canceled, emphasizing the fragility of the genre. Players often find themselves relying on established games as excitement for new releases wanes. Investing time in MMOs can yield rewards but also leads to frustration due to the evolving nature of these games, which can dishearten long-time players. World of Warcraft exemplifies this with its fluctuating quality and controversial expansions. Titles like Final Fantasy 14 have been praised for their narratives but criticized for gameplay stagnation. The history of MMOs shows that even successful games like City of Heroes and Star Wars: Galaxies eventually fade, leaving communities in a state of uncertainty. Factors contributing to this stagnation include shareholder pressure for consistent growth, which can hinder creativity and lead to a focus on short-term profits. Despite these challenges, there is hope for the future of MMOs, as the industry is cyclical. Upcoming projects, such as Riot’s new MMO, may inspire renewed interest and community engagement. The desire for a vibrant MMO landscape and the friendships formed within these games remain strong among players.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

A new Crimson Desert update just fixed its empty world problem, and added two legendary pets

Crimson Desert has received a significant update (version 1.05) that introduces two new features: 'rematch' and 're-blockade' options. The rematch feature allows players to re-engage with any previously defeated boss at the original battle site using a Memory Fragment, with 69 bosses available and two modes—'Reminisce' for original encounters and 'Resonate' for scaled challenges. The re-blockade feature lets players adjust enemy respawn rates in strongholds, with three settings: 'Conflict,' 'War,' and 'Stable,' affecting 23 forts and quarries. Additionally, players can now discover two legendary animals, the Iron Eagle and the Hyacinth Macaw, and interact with goose and duck pets. The update also includes various bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements.

AppWizard

April 26, 2026

I don’t understand how Final Fantasy 14 can do a crossover with acclaimed anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and I’m scared to find out

Final Fantasy XIV is introducing a new alliance raid titled "Ghosts of Desire," developed with input from the filmmakers of the Evangelion series. This collaboration aims to merge the lore of both franchises. The game's popularity has grown significantly since its early days in 2014, particularly following successful expansions. The announcement of "Ghosts of Desire" has generated interest among both gamers and Evangelion fans. Comments on the teaser trailer have been disabled, possibly to manage speculation about the project. The new expansion, Evercold, is set to be released next year, but players may need to wait several years for "Ghosts of Desire" to fully unfold.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Escape From Tarkov Arena is free-to-play this weekend, just in time for its new season

Season 2 of Escape From Tarkov Arena has launched, introducing a new battle pass, fresh weaponry, and a comprehensive rebalancing of game elements. Players can test these features for free during a weekend event from April 24 to April 27, 2026. The game has transitioned to the Unity 6 engine for improved performance and will feature a new map called 'Factory.' A 30% discount on the full game will be available until May 3, along with a 25% discount on the Arena + Full Tactical Maps Bundle.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Back in 2009, an experimental free-to-play Battlefield predicted our grim live service present: ‘It will need to be the most popular Battlefield game of all time to be profitable’

The term "free-to-play" was not common in gaming until the late 2000s, when major publishers began exploring free versions of their flagship franchises. Battlefield Heroes was a significant experiment as a PC-exclusive spin-off that marked a high-profile franchise's entry into the free-to-play model. EA's senior producer Ben Cousins described it as a substantial risk that needed unprecedented popularity to be profitable. The game featured a real-time feedback development philosophy and introduced daily challenges, which became common in the shooter genre. Initially, players could only purchase superior weapons with in-game currency, but by late 2009, EA shifted to a pay-to-win model. Battlefield Heroes had a six-year lifespan before being discontinued in 2015.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred review – Sanctuary is safe, but I’m conflicted

Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred introduces a revamped endgame experience with eight distinct classes, including the new Warlock class, which combines spellcasting and summoning abilities. The narrative centers on the protagonist's relationship with Lilith and the threat posed by Mephisto, set against the backdrop of the visually striking region of Skovos, inspired by Grecian architecture. The game features enhanced customization options, improved class skill trees, and a new War Plans system that revitalizes the endgame experience. However, the overarching story is criticized for its pacing and character development, particularly regarding the Amazons and the reliance on Lilith. Despite these critiques, the campaign offers visually stunning boss encounters and a compelling soundtrack. The game raises questions about its future direction, with concerns about evolving into a live-service model.

AppWizard

April 19, 2026

Turtle WoW classic server announces shutdown after Blizzard wins injunction

Blizzard Entertainment issued a cease and desist order to Turtle WoW, a private server for World of Warcraft, following a ruling in a copyright infringement lawsuit. The Turtle WoW team announced the complete shutdown of the project after reaching a settlement contingent upon certain actions. Developer Torta expressed the project's significant impact on their lives and the fond memories created over eight years. Turtle WoW offered a nostalgic experience reminiscent of the pre-expansion era of World of Warcraft without raising the maximum level or incorporating recent lore. The shutdown parallels the fate of another private server, Nostalrius, which closed before the announcement of World of Warcraft Classic. While some fan servers have received publisher approval, the Turtle WoW team's appeal for a licensing framework was unsuccessful, highlighting the challenges faced by independent developers in navigating intellectual property laws.