Development Archives

AppWizard

September 1, 2026

A 38-year-old NES platformer is getting a Steam remake by its original husband-and-wife team, as the pair’s ‘final major game product’

The Battle of Olympus, originally launched on the NES in 1988, is set to be remade by its original creators, programmer Yukio Horimoto and artist Reiko Oshida, who were in a romantic relationship during the game's development. The remake will feature redrawn pixel art and refined gameplay for modern PC players, while maintaining the original's spirit. It is scheduled for early access on Steam in January 2027 and will be the Horimotos' final major game product. The game was inspired by Greek mythology and The Legend of Zelda 2.

AppWizard

September 1, 2026

Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded are officially over as 1047 Games says it’s probably done making arena shooters

1047 Games has announced it will cease development on the PvP arena shooter Empulse and its predecessor Splitgate: Arena Reloaded due to insufficient revenue to cover operational expenses. The studio will continue to exist but will shift its strategic focus to future projects. The original Splitgate: Arena Warfare launched in 2019 and gained significant popularity, but the follow-up titles did not achieve similar success, resulting in layoffs shortly after Empulse's launch. Despite discontinuing dedicated servers, the studio will support both Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded through peer-to-peer matchmaking, allowing players to host matches indefinitely. Empulse will receive a final new map and a price reduction. 1047 Games expressed gratitude to its team members and players for their contributions and support.

AppWizard

September 1, 2026

Blizzard doing ‘a thorough scrub’ of illegitimate World of Warcraft Mythic-Plus dungeon rankings, with more changes to come

Blizzard Entertainment is reviewing World of Warcraft Mythic Plus Dungeon rankings due to concerns over players purchasing carries, following the introduction of rewards for the top 1% during the Midnight expansion. Game director Ion Hazzikostas confirmed that the team is thoroughly examining this issue and will provide updates soon. The competitive rankings have led to discussions about the rapid increase in cutoff scores and the prevalence of paid invitations for +21 level groups. Players have faced penalties for obtaining Mythic raiding mounts through real-money transactions, causing confusion over legitimate practices. The percentage-based ranking system has increased participation in Mythic Plus dungeons but resulted in lower retention rates compared to the previous season. Community feedback on the new rewards has been mixed, with some players feeling stressed by the uncertainty of the cutoff. Class balance has also become a concern, as successful teams tend to favor specific "meta" specs, potentially limiting accessibility for other players. Blizzard aims to keep dungeons accessible for all classes while considering specialization-specific cutoffs for future seasons.

AppWizard

September 1, 2026

After the debacle of Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt says The Witcher 4 is already running on PC and consoles, promises ‘it’s going to run’ on all target platforms

Cyberpunk 2077 was initially unsuccessful, plagued by bugs and glitches, particularly on PlayStation 4, leading to its removal from the PlayStation Store by Sony. After being reinstated six months later, it came with a warning about ongoing issues. CD Projekt Red's co-CEO Michał Nowakowski noted that the studio's ambition to develop the game primarily for PC contributed to its rocky launch, as they underestimated the challenges of scaling it for consoles. Learning from this experience, CD Projekt Red is adopting a more cautious approach for The Witcher 4, ensuring smooth performance across all platforms and addressing any issues before proceeding. The targeted release for The Witcher 4 is set for 2028, with a focus on quality and stability.

AppWizard

September 1, 2026

Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 is shaping up to be Google’s best beta yet

Android 17 QPR2 has reached Platform Stability with the release of Beta 4, locking the application programming interfaces (APIs) and allowing developers to refine their apps. The update focuses on system polish and bug fixes rather than new features. Google has addressed issues affecting Pixel users, including overheating, unexpected reboots, gesture navigation glitches, battery charging limitations, Recents screen problems, Bluetooth audio inconsistencies, and screen-recording complications. Hardware support enhancements include fixes for USB-C XR mirroring, compatibility with 3D smart-glasses displays, and improvements to low-light Face Unlock functionality. The beta journey began on July 20, with Beta 1, followed by Beta 2 on August 3 and Beta 3 shortly after. Beta 4 includes critical bug fixes such as resolving thermal management issues, battery charging behavior, gesture navigation refinements, and fixes for the transparent status bar during full-screen video playback. Other improvements address app drawer search issues, Bluetooth audio routing, Recents screen freezing, and screen-recording audio bugs. Beta 4 reinstates screen mirroring for USB-C XR glasses and resolves issues with 3D mode for smart glasses. Feedback from early testers has been positive, with reports of reduced lag and improved performance. However, some users have noted oversized text and lower display resolution issues, which can be resolved by rebooting. A persistent Bluetooth routing issue for incoming calls has been reported across all QPR2 betas. The update is being rolled out to various Pixel phones and tablets, with a download size of approximately 671MB on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Existing Pixel owners in the beta program will receive the update over the air, but exiting the program after installation may result in data loss.

Winsage

September 1, 2026

Windows 95’s taskbar didn’t come from Steve Jobs’ NeXT Dock, and a former Microsoft VP explains what did

The Windows 95 taskbar was not inspired by the NeXT Dock, as clarified by former Microsoft executives Joe Belfiore and Brad Silverberg. Instead, its design was influenced by a Microsoft project called Cairo, which aimed to provide users with easy access to information. The taskbar was created to address usability issues from Windows 3.1, specifically to help users keep track of minimized windows. In 2021, with the release of Windows 11, Microsoft introduced a centered taskbar and later allowed it to be repositioned to any edge of the screen, reflecting a commitment to user experience.

AppWizard

August 31, 2026

Minecraft animated series is still in development – Netflix and Mojang deny rumors of cancellation

The animated series based on Minecraft was announced in May 2024 to coincide with the game's 15th anniversary, with Netflix and Mojang collaborating on the project. Kevin Adams and Joe Xander were appointed as showrunners, and Ashley Bradley was brought in as the writer, with animation by Flying Bark Productions. Updates about the series have been sparse, leading to concerns about its potential cancellation, especially after a reveal at the Annecy Festival in 2026 did not occur. However, representatives from Netflix and Mojang have confirmed that the series is still in production, with development progressing as planned. The timeline for completion is uncertain, with reports suggesting production could extend until 2028, and no official release date has been announced.

AppWizard

August 31, 2026

We Tried Crumbl’s New Minecraft Cake (And We’re Tired Of Mediocre)

Crumbl Cookies has collaborated with Minecraft to introduce a rotating menu featuring six themed treats, including five cookies and one cake inspired by the Minecraft grass block. The cake visually resembles the grass block but has several shortcomings, including stiff, grainy, and excessively sweet cream cheese frosting. The cake's texture is dry and rubbery, with a confusing flavor profile that combines vanilla cinnamon sponge, cinnamon brown sugar topping, and chocolate crumb streusel, resulting in an underwhelming taste. The overall product is rated 5/10 Sporks.

AppWizard

August 31, 2026

Haunted Chocolatier’s development has been ‘very productive’ in recent months, Eric Barone says: ‘Working on Haunted Chocolatier is what I’m most eager and driven to do’

Eric Barone, known as ConcernedApe, is actively working on his game Haunted Chocolatier and has expressed satisfaction with the progress made despite his busy schedule. He emphasizes his commitment to quality, stating he will not rush the game's release. Barone enjoys playing the game in its unfinished state and believes players will enjoy it when completed. He has not provided a timeline for the game's launch and acknowledges the challenge of maintaining enthusiasm during the wait. Barone previously mentioned that Haunted Chocolatier is significantly larger than Stardew Valley, featuring extensive maps, diverse monsters, and enhanced item systems.

Winsage

August 31, 2026

Whatever happened to Minesweeper and 3D Pinball on Windows?

Microsoft included the Solitaire Collection with Windows 10 and Windows 11, while many classic games required separate downloads. The company has shifted focus towards its Xbox platform, leading to the discontinuation of games like 3D Pinball: Space Cadet due to technical challenges. Raymond Chen noted that the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit architecture caused significant issues for 3D Pinball, including a bug where the ball would pass through objects. Ultimately, the decision was made to exclude Pinball from the product lineup to avoid the complexities of porting its code.