disappointment Archives

Winsage

February 18, 2025

Still using Windows 95? This app will no longer work for you

FinalWire Ltd. has released AIDA64 v7.60, which introduces new features and improvements while discontinuing support for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows ME. The application remains compatible with Windows 2000 and later versions. New features include support for AMD Radeon 9070 and 9070 XT GPU cards, new dark themes, support for Asus ROG Ryujin III Series LCDs, integration with Turing LCDs, enhanced compatibility with B840, B850, and B860 chipset motherboards, support for Corsair HX1200i 2023 PSU sensors, improvements in kernel driver security, better support for Intel Arrow Lake-H and Arrow Lake-U processors, and detailed GPU information for AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, as well as Nvidia GeForce RTX 5000 Series cards.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Minecraft creator Notch and his next move

Markus "Notch" Persson, the creator of Minecraft and founder of Mojang Studios, has been largely absent from game development since selling Mojang to Microsoft for .5 billion in 2014. Recently, he launched a social media poll to gauge interest in his next project, considering either a new game or a sequel to Minecraft. He expressed interest in developing a roguelike game but acknowledged the legal challenges of creating a Minecraft sequel without Microsoft's approval. Following the poll, he decided to develop a roguelike dungeon crawler titled "Levers and Chests," despite some fans' disappointment over the lack of a Minecraft sequel. Microsoft has distanced itself from Persson since the acquisition, removing references to him from Minecraft and excluding him from the game's tenth-anniversary celebration. Persson's new project will retain a voxel/pixelated art style reminiscent of Minecraft, and he aims to create a game that honors Minecraft's legacy while respecting Mojang's intellectual property.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Don’t worry about missing Elden Ring Nightreign’s network test on PC—nobody could play it on console either

The Elden Ring Nightreign network test features a series of three-hour sessions, concluding on February 17. The first session faced significant connectivity issues, with many players unable to access the game. FromSoftware acknowledged server malfunctions and restarted the servers, but many players still experienced difficulties. Some players reported successful matchmaking, while others struggled. FromSoftware issued an apology for the server issues and is considering an additional test session. The next session is scheduled for 3 AM UK time, with plans to improve server stability.

Winsage

February 14, 2025

Microsoft makes another tweak to Windows 11’s taskbar – but it’s probably not the change you were hoping for

Microsoft has introduced a new icon on the Windows 11 taskbar that provides access to AI-driven Windows Studio Effects, which enhance video call quality with features like background blurring, simulated direct eye contact, improved lighting, and user centering. The icon appears when compatible applications are using the webcam, allowing users to see which application is accessing it, thus enhancing privacy. However, the feature is limited to devices with specific hardware requirements, including 16GB of RAM and a CPU with a neural processing unit (NPU), potentially restricting access for many users. This initiative is part of Microsoft's strategy to promote AI features, but user feedback has been mixed, with some expressing disappointment over the lack of traditional taskbar functionalities and questioning the necessity of these enhancements for professional use.

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

The Alters is altered again: 11 Bit Studios’ survival game about creating alt-universe versions of yourself on a hostile alien world is delayed

The Alters, developed by 11 Bit Studios, has been postponed from an early 2025 release to an unspecified date later in the same year. The studio announced that the delay is due to a comprehensive assessment of Project Dolly, emphasizing their commitment to quality and the need for additional time to refine mission parameters. The game features players recruiting alternate universe versions of themselves to navigate a hostile alien landscape, with a focus on managing relationships among these variations. A demo of The Alters is currently available on Steam.

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Crysis 4 is officially ‘on hold’ as Crytek lays off 15% of its workforce, saying it ‘cannot continue as before and remain financially sustainable’

Crytek has laid off approximately 15% of its workforce, equating to around 60 employees out of 400, due to challenging market conditions. As a result, the development of Crysis 4 has been put on hold, although it is not officially canceled. The studio will focus on expanding Hunt: Showdown, which has seen increased player engagement following its recent update.

AppWizard

February 7, 2025

Vanished for a year, early access dev returns to announce a crisis taught them ‘videogames ain’t it’ and end development on ‘singleplayer EVE’ they’ve been making since 2019

Astrox Imperium is an early access game on Steam, likened to a "singleplayer EVE Online," allowing players to explore a vast universe with a dynamic economy and extensive ship upgrades. The developer, Masula, announced a reevaluation of priorities due to personal circumstances, stating that video games are no longer a priority for them. Masula plans to transform the Campaign mode into a tutorial and release the game as a complete product, but indicated this would be their last project in game development. The community has had mixed reactions, with many expressing empathy and support for Masula, while also inquiring about the possibility of community involvement in the game's future development.

AppWizard

February 7, 2025

I’m sorry to say Rockstar still won’t tell us when (or even if) Grand Theft Auto 6 is coming to PC

Take-Two Interactive's quarterly financial report indicates that Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled for release in the fall of 2025, but there is no mention of a PC version, leading to speculation that it may not be released until 2026. The game was announced in December 2023, and the absence of a PC version has left fans in suspense. Additionally, Judas, a project from Ken Levine's Ghost Story Games, does not have a definitive release date. CEO Strauss Zelnick noted that Grand Theft Auto 5 has sold over 210 million copies across three console generations and that GTA Online continues to thrive after a decade. There is anticipation that more information about a PC release for GTA 6 may be revealed during Take-Two's Q4 results announcement in May.

AppWizard

February 6, 2025

The Monster Hunter Wilds benchmark is here, and my poor RTX 3070 is now crying sub-60 fps tears

The Monster Hunter Wilds benchmark was released on Steam, revealing that the RTX 3070 may not support high settings as expected. The user, with a 1440p monitor, faced challenges maintaining 60 fps without significant graphical reductions. They switched to the DLSS 4 upscaler, achieving an average of 64.24 fps, although frame rates dropped to around 50 fps during intense weather effects. Ray tracing is not an option, and there are concerns that actual gameplay may yield lower frame rates. Capcom's early benchmark release raises questions about performance but reassures that catastrophic issues are unlikely at launch. Further performance insights are expected once the full game is available.

AppWizard

February 5, 2025

Revenue and bookings dip at EA for Q3

Electronic Arts reported a year-on-year decline in revenue and net bookings for the quarter ending December 2024. The company generated .88 billion in revenue, a three percent decrease compared to the previous year, while net bookings fell six percent to .22 billion. CEO Andrew Wilson expressed disappointment over the financial outcomes, citing underwhelming performances from key titles like EA Sports FC 25 and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. He acknowledged that the results did not meet the company's aspirations.