departure Archives

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

Get every Frictional horror game ever made—Penumbra, Amnesia, and SOMA—for just $15 in this screamingly good bundle

Amnesia: The Dark Descent, released 16 years ago, is a significant title in horror gaming, known for its unsettling experience that leads to a numbing acceptance of horror. Humble Bundle is offering The Dark Descent along with five other Frictional Games titles for a discounted price. The collection includes: - Penumbra Collectors Pack: A trilogy that precedes Frictional's later works. - Amnesia: The Dark Descent: A game set in a Gothic castle where players confront grotesque creatures and their dark past. - Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs: A cerebral horror experience developed by The Chinese Room. - Amnesia: Rebirth: A direct sequel to The Dark Descent set in the 1930s. - Amnesia: The Bunker: A survival horror entry praised for its innovative approach. - SOMA: Regarded as Frictional's finest work, focusing on narrative depth rather than jump scares. The entire bundle is available for a limited time until April 1, 2027, and can be purchased via Steam keys.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

Guardian source messaging tech bringing in ‘much higher quality’ of tips

The Guardian's secure messaging technology, launched in June, has significantly improved the quality of tips from sources, utilizing advanced encryption techniques to ensure confidentiality. The app allows messages to vanish after 14 days and is designed to protect sources' anonymity better than many other encrypted services. It has been recognized as a finalist for a major award and has led to a notable increase in story tips, particularly from the U.S. and Australia, despite its primary user base being in the UK and Europe. The app operates independently of The Guardian's paywall, enabling non-paying users to submit tips freely. The platform encourages contributions from users who may have felt intimidated by other secure methods. The technology enhances communication quality and allows sources to provide context to existing stories. As of September, the app has one million daily active users, with features that obscure genuine communications among automated messages, contributing to source protection. The Guardian has invested in guiding sources on crafting effective tips and has made the secure messaging technology open source for other newsrooms to adopt, aiming to improve source protection across the industry. Collaborations with organizations like The Signals Network and the University of Cambridge are ongoing to gather feedback and enhance the technology further.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

Steam Drops 4 New Free Games Just In Time For the Weekend

The text highlights four free games available on Steam that stand out for their unique gameplay and narratives. 1. Sylva’s Spirit: An isometric hack-and-slash game where players act as a forest protector, utilizing an elemental affinity system to cleanse a sanctuary. It features a deep progression system. 2. Deckbuilder Fantasy: A strategic game combining turn-based combat and cardplay, offering a full narrative experience without paywalls. Players can refine decks and face challenges in a replayable format. 3. Escape Gaia: Departure: A creature-creation game inspired by Starfox, allowing players to explore a universe with seven races and over 50 creatures. Players can create personalized creatures and command a spaceship to rebuild a damaged planet. 4. Find My Key: A first-person horror-maze game set in ancient Greece, where players must find keys to escape the Labyrinth while avoiding the Minotaur. The game offers multiple difficulty levels for varied enjoyment.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

Everything you need to know about Star Wars Zero Company

Bit Reactor's tactical game, Star Wars Zero Company, is set in the Clone Wars era and is projected to launch in 2026, though a specific release date has not been disclosed. The game features tactical combat mechanics similar to XCOM and allows players to command a mercenary group made up of former operatives from the Separatist and Republic factions. Players control a custom protagonist named Hawks, accompanied by a clone buddy named Trick, and can choose from a diverse cast of squadmates, each with unique abilities. Character customization is extensive, allowing players to select from various classes and alien species for their mercenaries. Combat involves controlling a squad of four characters with three action points per turn, and players can engage in tactical missions and non-combat operations that affect squad morale and narrative outcomes. The home base, called the Den, serves as a hub for research, gear upgrades, and mission selections. The game will not include player-centric romance subplots. Developed by Bit Reactor and published by Respawn under EA, the narrative direction is led by Aaron Contreras.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

Valve veteran slams Tim Sweeney and Epic Games for laying off 1000 people while making ‘as much money as possible… and hey Tim, Gabe’s better at that than you’

Chet Faliszek, a former Valve writer, expressed concerns about the recent layoffs at Epic Games, where over 1,000 employees lost their jobs. He questioned the motivation for employees to remain dedicated to their work after such significant layoffs and highlighted the closure of projects like Fortnite Rocket Racing and Ballistic. Faliszek contrasted his experience at Valve, where he felt a sense of ownership and pride, with the current situation at Epic, suggesting that the lack of agency could lead to a diminished work ethic. He warned that the layoffs could negatively impact the gaming industry's culture, resulting in a loss of passion and care among employees. Faliszek criticized Epic's strategic decisions and emphasized the importance of recognizing and rewarding employees' hard work. Epic Games did not provide specific feedback on his comments but referred to a recent post addressing the layoffs. The atmosphere at Epic is tense, with concerns about the future of Fortnite amid the workforce reductions.

AppWizard

March 26, 2026

One unfortunate Fortnite developer was laid off twice by Epic Games

Epic Games has announced the layoff of over 1,000 employees, despite projecting revenue of approximately billion for 2025. This follows a previous layoff of 830 employees in 2023, which represented 16% of its workforce. The company is facing challenges due to a perceived downturn in revenue from Fortnite and financial strain from a legal battle with Apple. CEO Tim Sweeney stated that the layoffs are not related to AI. The layoffs have impacted a diverse group of employees, including Melissa Wafful, who was laid off twice within three years.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

The companions in Owlcat’s new Mass Effect-inspired RPG stand ready to have heart-to-heart chats, drag you into their sidequests, and blow a lot of stuff up

Owlcat Games has gained recognition in modern isometric RPGs with titles like Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. The studio is now developing a third-person shooter RPG titled The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, marking a shift from its traditional isometric games. This new project aims to blend cinematic sci-fi adventure elements with RPG storytelling, challenging the studio to maintain narrative depth while adopting a more dynamic gameplay style.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

Ranking the 13 Best PC Games Of All Time

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a popular CRPG known for deep character development and engaging narrative, best experienced on PC due to its intricate menus and modding potential. Planescape: Torment is a CRPG set in a unique Dungeons & Dragons universe, recognized for its gripping narrative and unconventional themes. Theme Hospital is a simulation game that humorously parodies the American healthcare system, combining humor with business management challenges. Unreal Tournament 2004 is regarded as the pinnacle of the series, featuring fluid gameplay and intricate maps, although it has become abandonware. Thief: The Dark Project is praised for its dark atmosphere and innovative level design, particularly the iconic Sword level. World of Warcraft captivated the MMO community in the mid-2000s with polished gameplay and continuous content updates, maintaining a robust player base. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is known for its expansive open world and RPG mechanics, with a wealth of mods available on PC to enhance gameplay. Deus Ex is a pioneer of the immersive sim genre, emphasizing player choice and strategic gameplay with intricate level design. The Sims 2 is considered the crowning achievement of The Sims franchise, introducing fully 3D environments and refined gameplay mechanics. Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a highly regarded real-time strategy game that has maintained its appeal for nearly three decades, revitalized by the 2019 Definitive Edition. Minecraft is a leading sandbox game known for its limitless creativity and exploration, with applications extending into education and various professional fields. Doom, released in 1993, revolutionized the first-person shooter genre and remains relevant due to its expertly designed levels and engaging gameplay. Half-Life 2 is celebrated for its innovative game design, including physics-based puzzles and a compelling narrative, offering a satisfying experience with additional episodes.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

Why Did Messaging App Telegram Fall From Grace in Russia

Russia plans to implement a full block on the messaging app Telegram on April 1, 2026, following increased pressure from authorities over six months, including halting calls, conducting regional shutdowns, and slowing functionality nationwide. Telegram has nearly 96 million users in Russia and serves as a media outlet and communication tool for various state agencies and military personnel. The app was initially embraced by the Russian government but faced conflicts leading to previous blocking attempts in 2017, which were largely unsuccessful. In 2020, Telegram was allowed to operate freely again, but the situation changed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with increased scrutiny following the launch of VK's messaging app, MAX. Recent developments suggest Telegram could be classified as an extremist organization, posing legal risks for its founder and users. Additionally, the Federal Antimonopoly Service claimed advertising on Telegram was illegal, complicating its market presence in Russia, where it hosts about 40 percent of the influencer market.

Winsage

March 25, 2026

Microsoft is doubling down with monthly updates to ‘fix’ Windows 11

Microsoft is shifting its update approach for Windows 11 to a monthly schedule instead of the traditional annual overhaul, responding to user feedback. Starting this month, users can expect early fixes and enhancements, with testing already in progress through Windows Insider preview builds. Key areas of focus include enhanced flexibility for the taskbar, improvements in RAM efficiency, and increased reliability of Windows Update. Additionally, a redesigned Bluetooth experience is planned to improve device connections. The change aims to provide continuous refinements based on user feedback, moving away from significant changes bundled into a single annual update. User reactions have been cautious, reflecting skepticism from past experiences.