development process Archives

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

Minecraft 1.21.11 Pre-Release 5

The fifth Pre-Release for Minecraft version 1.21.11 has been released, featuring several bug fixes: - The enchantment glint has been adjusted to reduce excessive dazzling on items with animated textures (MC-304409). - Charge attacks from spears held in the off hand no longer disable shields when wielding an axe in the main hand (MC-304593). - Dolphins will no longer follow players in boats (MC-304603). - Zombified piglins will maintain their sprinting behavior while in pursuit (MC-304703). The Pre-Releases are available for Minecraft: Java Edition, and players are advised to back up their data before testing. An unobfuscated experimental version and server jar are also available for download. Feedback on bugs is encouraged for development purposes.

AppWizard

November 29, 2025

Hytale Will Launch in Early Access in January 2026 as Creators Ressurrect Minecraft-Like MMO

Hytale, a Minecraft-inspired MMO, began development in 2015 with Riot Games as an early investor and later acquired Hypixel Studios. The game was canceled in June 2025, leading to the disbandment of Hypixel Studios. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the original creator, has repurchased the rights from Riot and plans to revive development, with an early access release date set for January 13, 2026. The team has rehired over 40 members, bringing the total workforce to 50. Collins-Laflamme has advised potential players to manage their expectations regarding the game's unfinished state during early access. The team is returning to the original game version, merging over 300 GitHub branches into a single working branch to prepare for the launch. Hytale and Hypixel Studios are now independent again, with a commitment to realizing the original vision from the 2018 trailer.

AppWizard

November 28, 2025

Schedule 1 creator had a backup plan if Steam rejected it—pack up the product, don a farmer’s hat, and ‘pivot it to be a farming game’ like Stardew Valley

Schedule 1 was a standout success in 2025, topping sales charts and attracting an all-time peak of 459,000 players on Steam, with a 24-hour peak of over 13,500 players. The game's creator, Tyler, had a contingency plan to pivot the game to a farming theme if Steam rejected it due to its drug-related content.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

After miracle revival, Hytale head “now assembling a dedicated team” to satisfy fans of a key genre that’s only grown since the Minecraft-inspired game’s reveal: cozy and farming games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing

Hypixel has formed a specialized team for Hytale, focusing on cozy gaming elements like cooking, farming, and caring for voxel animals. The game has faced a tumultuous development journey, including a sale to Riot Games and a recent reacquisition by its original owners. Hytale's gameplay will feature a cooking system that provides unique buffs instead of a traditional hunger system, with activity-based meals, combat meals, feeding NPC villages, quality systems, and food mastery. The game will also include a tribute to the late Minecraft player Technoblade, acknowledging his impact on the community and the developers. Hytale is aiming for an early access launch, with progress being made despite an uncertain timeline.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

Former Starcraft 2 devs’ new space FPS is happy to take risks because “there’s never been a game quite like” it before

Dustin Browder and Jason Chayes have founded Moonshot Games under Mike Morhaime's Dreamhaven, with their first project being a game called Wildgate. Wildgate combines elements of extraction shooters, ship management, and classic space games into a cohesive first-person shooter. The development team drew inspiration from games like Sea of Thieves and examined battle royales for competitive play design. Browder emphasized the importance of game balance and community feedback, noting that Wildgate is a unique project without a definitive template. The game is currently available on Steam for half price until December 4.

AppWizard

November 26, 2025

Hytale is “coming together at last” according to dev, who says 60 playtesters have just given the Minecraft-inspired game their stamp of approval: “Long way to go but momentum is key”

Hytale has returned to its original creators at Hypixel after a period of cancellation and studio closure. CEO Simon Collins-Laflamme reported positive feedback from a recent playtest involving over 60 participants, which included valuable bug reports. The team is planning large-scale server tests and PvP events. Hypixel will also release a blog post featuring gameplay footage and screenshots from playtesters. The transition back to Hypixel is seen as a rescue mission for the game, with a commitment to a decade of support and a focus on the original vision. An Early Access date is anticipated.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

‘It wasn’t fun for the first 7 years’ says maker of fantasy sim Tavern Keeper, which spent more than a decade in development

Tavern Keeper is a fantasy simulation game that allows players to manage a pub, featuring extensive animations and user-friendly item design tools. It was released on Steam in November after over a decade of development, during which six versions were created. The game includes an interactive audiobook-style story system with RPG-like dialogue choices. Greenheart Games explored various systems that did not make it into the final game, including a quest system involving heroes, which was ultimately deemed disconnected from the tavern theme. The game incorporates complex mechanics such as temperature effects, food spoilage, and cleanliness impacting the tavern's atmosphere. The development process faced challenges, particularly in achieving a fun gameplay experience, which took several years to realize.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

The dev that saved Minecraft’s most exciting sandbox successor warns it’s “not good enough, I genuinely mean it”

Simon Collins-Laflamme, the founder of Hytale, has revived the game after it was shelved by Riot Games. He assembled a team of over 30 developers and stated that the game is not yet polished. Collins-Laflamme emphasized the importance of transparency, admitting that Hytale is not good enough in its current state. The team decided to use an older game build instead of a newer cross-platform engine, which would have delayed progress. He acknowledged the lack of game progression mechanics and expressed a desire for more time to enhance the experience. Collins-Laflamme is open to feedback and sees it as crucial for improvement. He is confident that the game will be acceptable at release but recognizes the challenges ahead, including bug fixes and design refinements.

Winsage

November 21, 2025

Microsoft exec finds AI cynicism ‘mindblowing’

Mustafa Suleyman, head of AI at Microsoft, expressed frustration with skeptics of AI advancements during the company's Ignite event, highlighting a disconnect between Microsoft and its user base. Despite impressive AI capabilities, many developers are skeptical about Microsoft's Copilot, with concerns about the quality of code generated by AI. CEO Satya Nadella claimed that 30 percent of the company's code is now AI-generated. Suleyman's comments suggest a detachment from customer realities, as there is little evidence of user demand for increased AI integration in Microsoft products. The implementation of AI raises questions about balancing innovation with user needs.

Tech Optimizer

November 20, 2025

Microsoft touts scalability of its new PostgreSQL-compatible managed database

Azure Database and Cosmos DB for PostgreSQL serve distinct purposes, with Azure Database suited for traditional applications and Cosmos DB for distributed, sharded workloads. HorizonDB is a new PostgreSQL solution designed for the AI era, integrating legacy transactional systems with features like retrieval-augmented generation, intelligent agents, and embedding-heavy functionalities. It aims to streamline development by consolidating databases and machine learning endpoints. PostgreSQL's support for vector indexes is a key factor in its adoption by AI developers, and Microsoft is enhancing this in Azure HorizonDB with advanced filtering capabilities using the DiskANN vector index. This optimization allows for early data filtering in the processing pipeline, improving efficiency and performance.