Development Archives

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Google Cloud Games boss claims AI lets devs make more games and “take more risks”

Jack Buser, Global Director for Games at Google Cloud, believes AI will transform game development by accelerating production timelines and allowing developers to take creative risks. The integration of AI has increased, with industry leaders like Bethesda's Todd Howard interested in using it for data tasks, while former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra criticized Pearl Abyss for using AI in asset creation. Buser argues that AI tools can reduce repetitive tasks, enabling more innovation and creativity, potentially leading to more frequent game releases. He anticipates that public perception of AI will improve as players experience faster game production. However, there are concerns about the potential loss of artistry in game creation due to the focus on efficiency.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

The 7th Guest Remake launches in June, bringing back one of the earliest PC CD-ROM games

PC CD-ROM drives led to the development of notable games like Myst, Star Wars: Rebel Assault, and The 7th Guest. Nintendo secured rights for The 7th Guest for a planned SNES CD add-on, which was never released. In 2023, The 7th Guest was re-released on the Nintendo eShop after three decades. Vertigo Games is remaking The 7th Guest, featuring reimagined puzzles and environments, with a scheduled launch on June 4th, priced at .99, available on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC, with a Nintendo Switch version expected later. Owners of The 7th Guest VR on Steam or PlayStation will access the remake for free, and those who purchase the remake on Steam or PS5 will receive The 7th Guest VR for free on Steam VR or PlayStation VR2.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

The Ubisoft studio that spent 10 years making Black Flag spinoff Skull and Bones comes full circle by remaking Black Flag

Ubisoft has officially announced the remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, developed primarily by Ubisoft Singapore. The development involves a collaboration with multiple studios, including Ubisoft Barcelona, Belgrade, Blue Byte, Bordeaux, Bucharest, Chengdu, Da Nang, India, Kyiv, Montpellier, Montreal, Philippines, Quebec, Shanghai, and Sofia. The project follows the challenges faced by another Ubisoft title, Skull and Bones, which has experienced multiple delays since its announcement in 2017.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Slay the Spire 2 dev says an early idea was to actually reduce the card pool, but players hated it: ‘We need new stuff!’

Casey Yano, co-founder of Mega Crit Games, discussed the development of the sequel to Slay the Spire in an interview with Edge magazine. He cited the Dark Souls series as a key inspiration, particularly in terms of character building and player choice. Feedback from playtesters led the team to reevaluate their initial ideas, resulting in a more nuanced approach that retains core mechanics while introducing new features. Despite some criticism regarding recent updates, Yano indicated that the sequel will continue to evolve based on player feedback, similar to the original game's seven years of post-launch support. He also confirmed that the game will maintain a definitive endpoint, expressing skepticism about the inclusion of an 'infinite mode' due to concerns that it could diminish the excitement of deckbuilding.

Winsage

April 23, 2026

Get Linux on your ancient 486 Windows 95 desktop using WSL9x — very old Windows PCs can cooperatively run very modern Linux kernels

A computer enthusiast has developed a tool called WSL9x, which allows users to run contemporary Linux kernels on early versions of Windows (from Windows 95 onward) and on machines with 486 CPUs. WSL9x enables the simultaneous operation of Windows and Linux applications without relying on hardware virtualization. The architecture includes a client program, wsl.com, which manages a DOS window for the console driver. Meanwhile, the Linux community is phasing out support for the Intel 486 CPU, with developers removing related support options in the Linux kernel, marking the end of support for this processor.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Polls will appear in the Max messenger before the May holidays

The national digital platform will introduce features similar to those found in popular messaging apps, including group chat polls and custom sticker pack creation, expected to launch before the May holidays. The testing phase for comments in channels is set to conclude by summer. The platform currently has 110 million registered users, with over 80 million active daily. Following the blocking of Western services, Max has gained popularity among the Russian audience and aims to incorporate essential community features to enhance user experience.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Parents of Instagram and Messenger teens can see what they’re asking AI.

Meta has introduced a feature that allows parents to monitor the inquiries their teenagers make to the company's AI on platforms such as Instagram and Messenger. This feature is available in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Brazil, providing insights into the topics explored by teens with Meta's AI over the past week. It also extends to Facebook, although the platform's relevance among younger users is decreasing. The initiative is part of Meta's efforts to safeguard young users, including alerts to parents about searches related to self-harm.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Releasing PlayStation games day one on PC isn’t “a good strategy” for its AAA titles, former Sony head says, but he hasn’t seen proof its abandoning the platform altogether

Former PlayStation head Shuhei Yoshida discussed Sony's strategy for PC game releases at the Powerhouse Museum's ALT. Games Festival, stating he has seen no evidence of Sony moving away from its commitment to PC ports. He noted that during his time at PlayStation, there was a policy preventing AAA games from being released on other platforms like PC. Yoshida acknowledged concerns from some fans about first-party titles being ported to PC but believes it hasn't significantly affected PS5 adoption. He emphasized the importance of staggered release schedules for maintaining the value of PlayStation exclusives. Despite rumors about changes in Sony's approach to PC ports, particularly for single-player titles, Yoshida remains unconvinced of any strategy shift. He also mentioned the competitive landscape, including the potential impact of Microsoft's next Xbox device on Sony's decisions.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

The next Heroes of Might and Magic is launching in early access this month — ‘We want to do all of the development with community in mind’ says dev

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is set to launch in early access on April 30, 2026. This will be the first new entry in the series in over a decade. Community manager Bart Podress-Leszek stated that the early access strategy aims to foster dialogue with players and incorporate their feedback into the game's development. He acknowledged the complexities of the early access phase and emphasized the team's commitment to responsive development.

Winsage

April 23, 2026

Microsoft says it’s ‘directly influenced’ by feedback from Windows 11 users when it comes to fixing the OS

Microsoft is committed to enhancing Windows 11 by engaging with user feedback, particularly from its community of testers. During a meeting with Windows Insiders, leadership emphasized their influence from user insights. Pavan Davuluri, head of Windows, expressed excitement about focusing on user feedback, particularly addressing fundamental issues rather than adding new AI features. Microsoft plans to revamp Windows 11 by 2026, but skepticism exists among users regarding the company's sincerity in improving the operating system. Common criticisms include concerns about the team's passion for the product and accusations that UX designers prioritize aesthetics over quality. To overcome skepticism, Microsoft needs to demonstrate tangible improvements and effectively address bugs and enhance quality assurance processes.