development journey Archives

AppWizard

October 7, 2026

New Steam Soulslike Blends Elden Ring With Minecraft, And It’s an MMO

Dark Craft is a new MMORPG developed by Take Top Entertainment, combining elements from Elden Ring and Minecraft. It is positioned as the first MMORPG in the Souls-like genre, marking a significant shift for the studio, which has primarily focused on mobile games. The game aims to meet the high expectations of Souls-like fans with challenging combat and expansive crafting features. The gaming community is closely monitoring its development, as its success could lead to future innovations in the MMORPG space.

AppWizard

October 2, 2026

Riot’s absurd expectations of player counts ‘in the high hundreds of thousands, if not millions’ doomed 2XKO from the start

Marc Merrill discussed the development challenges of the game 2XKO, which faced difficulties in attracting a sufficient user base to support its live service model after eight years of work. The game required a monthly active user count in the high hundreds of thousands to justify its ongoing operation. The decision to shift 2XKO to a "box game" model resulted in layoffs and reflected broader industry challenges. The podcast highlighted that even with 400,000 daily players, sustaining a monthly unique player count near one million would be difficult. Merrill indicated that 2XKO would likely struggle to exceed 500,000 monthly active users, raising questions about Riot Games' market assessment and the developers' effectiveness.

AppWizard

September 14, 2026

Minecraft releases 26.3 RC2 ahead of September 15 launch | Tap to know more

Mojang has released the Java Edition 26.3 Release Candidate 2 on September 11, serving as the second testing version before the Wilderness Bound game launch on September 15. This update is expected to transition into the final version, enhancing gameplay mechanics and preparing for the official release.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

Cursed Doll Horror Game Baptiste Hits Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, and PC This Fall

Spanish publisher Firenut Games and co-developer Digital Dreams™ announced the psychological horror game Baptiste, set to launch in fall 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam. The announcement was made on August 19, 2026, alongside a gameplay trailer and a free demo available on Steam. The game follows Tom, a teenager dealing with his father's death, who discovers a cursed doll in a mansion that leads to supernatural events. Baptiste features a darkness mechanic that intensifies horror elements based on the protagonist's exposure to darkness. The game requires high-performance hardware, with recommended specs including an Intel i9 processor, 32 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU. Baptiste successfully raised €6,118 through a Kickstarter campaign in October 2025. It will support audio in English and Spanish, with interface and subtitle options in 11 languages. A free demo is currently available on Steam, covering the first 30 minutes of gameplay.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

Aussie developer Monomyth Games announces Photo Roboto: A Timesnap Adventure for PC

Monomyth Games has announced its new title, Photo Roboto: A Timesnap Adventure, marking its first game since 2018's Need to Know. Players will take on the role of Peppino the Roboto, who operates a time-warp photography business on an Italian island. Key features include the Timewarp Camera for capturing images from different time periods, running a photography business, exploring the island of Pallacanezza, helping locals, experiencing a handcrafted narrative, trying new camera modes, and personalizing the shop and character. The game is set for release on PC via Steam in 2027.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

Pretty Cool Games Launches As New Studio From “Human: Fall Flat” Devs

Sitara Shefta and Will Dudley have launched Pretty Cool Games, a remote indie studio in the UK, with funding from Coreblazer, the investment arm of HyperGryph. The studio is developing its first project, a double-A, physics-based game focused on gameplay. The game draws inspiration from Nintendo, Hazelight, Disney theme parks, and classic physical comedy films. Despite challenges in the gaming industry, Pretty Cool Games is optimistic about the demand for innovative gaming experiences. The studio aims to create highly entertaining PC and console games, emphasizing creativity and quality, with a team experienced in developing successful titles.

BetaBeacon

August 17, 2026

Dawnfolk Is Out Now on iOS & Android

Dawnfolk is a mobile game set in a world consumed by darkness where players rebuild civilization one tile at a time. The game features minimalist strategy, exploration, and survival mechanics, with a focus on approachable gameplay and meaningful depth.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

System Shock VR Announced For Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, and PC VR

Flat2VR Studios has announced an official VR port of the sci-fi shooter System Shock for Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2, and SteamVR. This announcement was made during the VR Games Showcase. Flat2VR is collaborating with Nightdive Studios, the original developer of System Shock, which was released in 2023 after a seven-year development period. The game has received continuous updates, with the latest in March 2023. Additionally, Flat2VR plans to port the first-person shooter High on Life and introduce new titles for PlayStation VR2, including Drop Dead: The Cabin. A funding initiative for developing larger gaming experiences is also being launched. System Shock VR is available for wishlisting on Steam, PS VR2, and Quest platforms.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Xodus: Project to Run Xbox PC Games on Linux and Mac Hits Important Milestone

Gaming on Linux is experiencing a resurgence, with projects like Xodus aiming to enable Xbox PC games, including Game Pass titles, on Linux and Mac. Xodus is developed by a team of three, including a contributor from the Heroic Games Launcher. They have made progress in authorization and game downloads and are working on replicating Game Development Kit (GDK) functionality for Xbox services. The project currently uses technologies like Proton, dxvk, or Wine for game performance, focusing on GDK and MSIXVC format games, while older UWP titles are not supported. The Xodus project has a GitHub page and a Discord server for community engagement.

AppWizard

July 28, 2026

Mistfall Hunter Interview – Game Balance, Beta Feedback, PvE Mode, PC Features, And More

Bellring Games is set to release Mistfall Hunter on PC and consoles, incorporating player feedback from beta tests to enhance the game. Players expressed a desire for high-stakes tension without early unfairness, leading to adjustments in early game progression, combat systems, and the introduction of a no-shrinking-zone mode. The game emphasizes PvE as a core element, enhancing exploration and decision-making, with plans for future updates to deepen this experience. Mistfall Hunter distinguishes itself in the extraction genre through genuine third-person action combat, focusing on mechanics like attack direction and stamina management rather than traditional shooter elements. The integration of PvE, PvP, and extraction creates a seamless gameplay experience. Developers are considering a PvE-only mode for players who prefer to avoid PvP, while balancing gameplay for solo players and three-player squads. Each playstyle is designed to thrive independently, with continuous monitoring to maintain class strengths and weaknesses. Player engagement is prioritized, ensuring that death incurs a cost but does not negate progress. The game will feature separate Quality and Performance modes on consoles, support full cross-play, and offer extensive graphics options for PC players, alongside anti-cheat measures.