development studio Archives

AppWizard

December 20, 2025

Steam will always dominate over the Epic Games Store because people don’t want to “cheat on [their] home library with some other shop,” says Witchfire lead

Adrian Chmielarz, co-founder of The Astronauts, discussed the dominance of Steam over the Epic Games Store (EGS) in a recent interview. He noted that while his game Witchfire benefited from being a timed exclusive on EGS, he criticized EGS for lacking community engagement features like written reviews and forums, which are essential for fostering emotional connections with users. Chmielarz argued that EGS is primarily a transactional platform, limiting its appeal compared to Steam, which offers a more engaging shopping experience. He emphasized that community features significantly influence a platform's success in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

Horror game maker accuses Valve of ‘censorship’ after its game about nude human ‘Horses’ is rejected by Steam: ‘Lawful works should not be made unreachable by a monopolistic storefront’s opaque decisions’

On December 2, Santa Ragione, an Italian game development studio, will release its first-person horror adventure game, Horses, which explores themes like familial trauma and totalitarian power. The game features grotesque imagery set in a ranch environment with nude individuals wearing horse masks. Before its release, Horses received attention at events such as IndieCade and SXSW Sydney. However, Santa Ragione faces potential closure after being banned from Steam due to concerns over content perceived as depicting sexual conduct involving a minor. The studio criticized Steam's lack of clarity in content guidelines and the absence of options for resubmission or appeal. While Epic Games raised issues about visible nudity, the contentious scene in question was not included in external builds until late 2024. Santa Ragione expressed concern over the inconsistency of content standards between different platforms and lamented the loss of access to Steam, which accounts for over 75% of PC game sales. They argue that the ban reflects moralizing censorship and advocate for artistic freedom in gaming.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

New Hearts of Iron 4 DLC expands three major WW2 players, but it’s the factions rework I’m most excited about

Hearts of Iron 4 has released its latest DLC, No Compromise, No Surrender, which enhances gameplay and introduces new content focused on conflicts in Asia. The faction system has been overhauled with over 60 rules and 150 goals, improving player strategy. Military doctrines have been revamped, introducing a 'grand doctrine' for cohesive strategies across land, sea, and air, along with enhancements to naval combat. The DLC emphasizes gameplay for Japan, China, and the Philippines, each presenting unique challenges and strategic choices. No Compromise, No Surrender is available on Steam for .99 or as part of Expansion Pass 2 for .99.

AppWizard

November 7, 2025

Take-Two’s big boss Strauss Zelnick says it got the ‘perfect result’ from slimmed-down mob tale Mafia: The Old Country, so I’d brace for more games like that if I were you

The latest installment of the Mafia franchise, Mafia: The Old Country, received a lukewarm reception due to its linear design and conventional mob narrative, which resulted in a predictable experience. However, it exceeded sales expectations according to Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two, indicating a positive market reception. The author expresses a desire for more ambitious storytelling from Hangar 13, citing previous successes and missed opportunities for deeper engagement in this title. There is hope that Take-Two will recognize the potential for bolder narrative choices in future projects.

AppWizard

November 1, 2025

Europa Universalis V (PC) Review

In 1993, French game designer Philippe Thibaut released the tabletop game Europa Universalis, which focused on the geopolitical dynamics of European powers from the late 15th century to 1792. The game was complex, featuring nearly 1500 counters and extensive manuals, with some sessions lasting over 60 hours. Thibaut collaborated with Paradox Development Studio to adapt the game for PC, launching the video game version in late 2000, which introduced real-time gameplay with a pause feature and an open-ended structure. As of 2025, the franchise has evolved to include four mainline titles and a spin-off, culminating in Europa Universalis V, which introduces a new starting date of April 1, 1337, and ends on December 31, 1836. The game features a detailed world map with 28,570 locations and 1,523 playable nations. New features include a revamped military system, balancing estates, and scripted situations that reflect real-world events. Despite advancements, Europa Universalis V has a high barrier to entry, particularly for newcomers, and may require additional content to reach its full potential. The game has shown stability on mid-range systems, though performance on handheld devices may be lacking.

BetaBeacon

October 2, 2025

FIFA Heroes is a New 5-on-5 Football Game Coming to Consoles, Android and iOS in 2026

FIFA, along with Solace, has unveiled a new arcade-based football game called FIFA Heroes. The game will be coming to PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android in 2026, but there is no word on a PC version. It will be a 5-on-5 football game with a focus on mascots and legends from the sport. FIFA Heroes will feature dynamic physics and arcade-styled gameplay, allowing players to use epic power moves. The game will include multiplayer modes and a PvE career mode where players can progress their own club through challenging matches. FIFA Heroes will also feature official FIFA mascots as playable characters, with three mascots from host nations included at launch.

AppWizard

August 22, 2025

Team Cherry says Silksong’s long dev time was nothing but fun

Team Cherry, the Australian development studio behind Hollow Knight, discussed the development of its sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, emphasizing that the extended timeline has been a creative and enjoyable process. Co-founder Ari Gibson stated that there were no significant roadblocks during development, attributing the lengthy process to the small size of the team and the time required to create a game. The original Hollow Knight has sold 15 million copies since its release, growing from 2.8 million in 2019. The studio chose to maintain a low profile during Silksong's development to avoid souring fan anticipation. A launch date for Hollow Knight: Silksong has been set for September 4th.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Coatsink’s founders are leaving the company

Coatsink, an indie game development studio, is undergoing a leadership change as its founding trio—CEO Tom Beardsmore, CDO Paul Crabb, and COO Eddie Beardsmore—will step down from their roles by the end of the year after 14 years. Richard Snowdon, who has been with Coatsink since 2015 and served as head of studio since 2022, will become the new CEO. Snowdon has prior experience at Eutechnyx, Double Eleven, and Accenture.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

I dove deep into Steam’s 4X Fest, and these are the six best games on discount you should grab before the sale is over

The Steam 4X Fest is currently running until August 18 at 10 am PT, focusing on 4X strategy games. Notable titles featured include: - Age of Wonders: Planetfall (2019, Triumph Studios, .19 / £8.49): A sci-fi 4X game with quirky factions and mod support. - Stellaris (2016, Paradox Development Studio, .99 / £8.74): A complex game set in space, offering unique playthroughs through procedural generation. - Galactic Civilizations 4 (2023, Stardock Entertainment, .99 / £15.24): An approachable 4X game allowing players to craft spaceships and choose various strategies. - Age of Wonders 4 (2023, Triumph Studios, .99 / £25.19): Features asymmetrical factions, cross-platform multiplayer, and customization options. - Civilization 6 (2016, Firaxis Games, .99 / £4.99): A popular entry in the series with engaging gameplay and expansions that enhance replayability.

AppWizard

July 30, 2025

Neptunia Game Maker R:Evolution Launches On PC Via Steam August 26, 2025

Idea Factory International will release the PC version of Neptunia Game Maker R:Evolution on Steam on August 26, 2025. The game features character designs by Tsunako and Katsuyuki Hirano and follows Older Neptune as she revitalizes a gaming company. Players will engage in real-time game creation, making strategic decisions and utilizing items found in dungeons to enhance development. The combat system has been overhauled to a more action-oriented style with chain attacks and transformative specials. The game is also available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.