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Minecraft World Theme Park Opening in Greater London Next Year
AppWizard
September 29, 2026

Minecraft World Theme Park Opening in Greater London Next Year

Merlin Entertainments and Mojang Studios are collaborating to create the first-ever Minecraft theme park, named Minecraft World, which will open in 2027 at Chessington World of Adventures. The project has a budget of £50 million and will feature a roller coaster that takes guests on a minecart journey through the Nether. The park will include interactive adventures, themed dining experiences, and block-built playscapes, as well as merchandise stores. The developers are working closely with Minecraft creators to ensure authenticity. Minecraft World is located 35 minutes by train from London Waterloo.
Gears of War story director laid off mere days after E-Day went gold
AppWizard
September 27, 2026

Gears of War story director laid off mere days after E-Day went gold

The development team behind Gears of War: E-Day is experiencing layoffs due to corporate restructuring at Microsoft’s Xbox division. Story director Juan Vaca announced on LinkedIn that he is seeking new opportunities after being laid off. Gears of War: E-Day has gone gold and is set for release on October 6, having sold over one million copies.
It took CD Projekt two years to design Phantom Liberty's Chimera Tank boss fight: 'We were iterating over and over'
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

It took CD Projekt two years to design Phantom Liberty’s Chimera Tank boss fight: ‘We were iterating over and over’

The Chimera Tank boss fight in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty features protagonist V and President Myers against a spider-tank inspired by Ghost in the Shell, set in a Barghest facility. Game director Gabe Amatangelo and creative director Igor Sarzyński discussed the challenges of its production on CD Projekt's AnsweRED podcast, highlighting it as an example of collaboration across gameplay, narrative, art, and worldbuilding. Art director Paweł Mielniczuk noted that it took two years to develop the boss fight, which went through four iterations. Sarzyński described the Chimera as one of the most expensive art assets ever created. Some players felt the fight could have been better balanced, comparing its difficulty to a battle in The Witcher 3: Hearts of Stone.
Manor Lords publisher isn't worried about launching a game on GTA 6's release date - PC players "looking to steal cars" might check out its new management sim instead
AppWizard
September 26, 2026

Manor Lords publisher isn’t worried about launching a game on GTA 6’s release date – PC players “looking to steal cars” might check out its new management sim instead

Hooded Horse is set to launch its medieval management simulation, Blacksmith Master, on November 19, the same day as the release of GTA 6. Despite industry concerns about releasing alongside a blockbuster, Hooded Horse believes that GTA will not negatively impact their game's release. The gaming industry has seen several high-profile games delay their launches to avoid the crowded November schedule, with the director of the Fable reboot indicating that GTA's release influenced its postponement until next year.
Your Googlebook has a hidden app that turns its Glowbar into a disco
AppWizard
September 25, 2026

Your Googlebook has a hidden app that turns its Glowbar into a disco

Google has introduced a hidden feature called the Glowbar Disco app in its new line of Googlebook laptops. This app transforms the laptop's lid light strip into a music-synced light show. The Glowbar is a design element across various manufacturers, indicating battery status and Gemini activity. Alexander Kuscher, Google’s Senior Director of Product for Laptops and Tablets, mentioned this feature during an interview, inviting users to explore it. Users had previously experienced the disco mode during demonstrations, but the method to access it was not disclosed until Kuscher's comments. The Glowbar is also functional, displaying essential information and responding to device activity, with plans for developers to create applications utilizing its capabilities.
Microsoft is set to revamp the design of outdated dialogue boxes in Windows 11
Winsage
September 22, 2026

Microsoft is set to revamp the design of outdated dialogue boxes in Windows 11

Microsoft is modernizing the user experience in Windows 11 by redesigning all legacy dialog boxes in response to user feedback. March Rogers, Microsoft's design director, is leading this initiative to ensure consistency across the platform. Specific examples of outdated interfaces include the Speech settings dialog and the Windows recovery menu. Microsoft is using two strategies for updates: incremental updates, which introduce a dark theme across system dialogs, and comprehensive redesigns using the WinUI 3 framework. The Run menu has been completely revamped with a dark theme and improved features, while the previous version remains available for user preference. These updates are currently in test builds of Windows 11. Additionally, Microsoft is rolling out security patches and an emergency patch for issues from the September update.
The Blood of Dawnwalker sequel may not have the divisive time mechanic that so many players dislike: 'We will not force it,' game director says
AppWizard
September 17, 2026

The Blood of Dawnwalker sequel may not have the divisive time mechanic that so many players dislike: ‘We will not force it,’ game director says

The Blood of Dawnwalker features a time mechanic that serves as a limited resource, creating a sense of urgency that some players find restrictive. Shaun Prescott expressed a desire for a more leisurely gameplay experience, which has led to the creation of the "Better Story Timer" mod, the most popular modification for the game. Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the studio CEO, acknowledged player feedback regarding the time mechanic and indicated that it may be adjusted in the sequel, aiming to enhance urgency without compromising the overall experience. He noted that players can complete around 80 percent of the content despite the time constraint and observed a decline in complaints as more players finished the game, discovering they had more time than expected. The studio is also seeking a lead writer for the next installment in the Dawnwalker series.
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