discussion Archives

AppWizard

September 22, 2025

The 16+ year-old original Stalker games have Nvidia DLSS support now, which isn’t as crazy as it sounds

On September 18, GSC Game World released a significant patch for its remastered collection, Legends of the Zone, which includes Nvidia's DLSS support. This technology enhances performance and visual fidelity, improving the visual experience of the game, which is more demanding on hardware than its original versions. Community feedback has been positive, with Steam reviews showing a Mostly Positive rating, contrasting with the game's overall Mixed status. Additionally, GSC addressed an infinite quicksave bug earlier this year, further enhancing gameplay and community engagement.

AppWizard

September 20, 2025

A cryptic new Stellar Blade tease suggests more is on the way, and it’s looking a little scary

Shift Up has hinted at a potential new DLC for Stellar Blade, teasing fans with a cryptic image and the message, "In one week..." This announcement comes ahead of the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2025. Stellar Blade has become PlayStation's most popular single-player PC port since its debut on Steam. The teaser suggests a darker theme, possibly aligning with Halloween, leading to speculation about a horror-themed DLC or crossover event, especially following Shift Up's recent collaboration with Resident Evil. The community is excited about the possibility of seeing the protagonist Eve in outfits from the Resident Evil universe.

AppWizard

September 20, 2025

‘There is a chance that they will stay in Roblox’: Newzoo analyst says Gen Alpha is into PC gaming, but isn’t so sure they’re going to age out of their favorite haunt

Generation Alpha, born in or after 2010, is increasingly influencing the gaming landscape, particularly on PC, with platforms like Roblox driving in-game purchases. Emmanuel Rosier noted that the lack of ray tracing support in Battlefield 6 is a strategic choice to avoid alienating younger players, who may not prioritize high-end graphics. He highlighted that PC gaming has a lower entry barrier compared to consoles, as many families already own computers or laptops, allowing access to free-to-play titles. Rosier expressed uncertainty about whether children transitioning from Roblox will naturally gravitate towards traditional gaming franchises like GTA or Call of Duty, suggesting that the average age of Roblox players is increasing without new older players joining. Newzoo's report also suggested that game publishers could benefit from diversifying release schedules, proposing that launching games in May could ease pressure on developers and consumers.

AppWizard

September 19, 2025

Dead by Daylight dev sparks concerns with new job listings looking for gen-AI experience

Behaviour Interactive has a firm policy against including AI-generated content in Dead by Daylight or any other game, despite exploring generative AI tools for internal processes. Two job listings have raised community concerns; one seeks a senior full-stack programmer for backend and frontend features using generative AI, and the other is for a senior technical artist for an unannounced project, requiring experience with generative AI tools like Stable Diffusion. The technical artist role involves evaluating and documenting generative AI's effectiveness in artistic workflows and collaborating with artists. Community reactions are mixed, with some accepting AI for technical issues but expressing concerns about its impact on artistic integrity.

AppWizard

September 19, 2025

Grand strategy titan Paradox’s most divisive game continues fight for redemption as new update overhauls culture and religion

The 'Kaffee' update for Victoria 3 is set to launch on September 23, coinciding with the release of the National Awakening DLC. This update introduces new features such as reworked discrimination traits, a 'cultural fervor' mechanic, and 'obstinance' penalties for faction resistance. Players can support separatism for cultural minority groups and expect gameplay enhancements like improved company categorization, concurrent secessionist movements, and the ability to downsize buildings in response to unrest. Naval battles will allow fleets to be borrowed, and pops will retain their professions even when unemployed. The update also focuses on refining balance, improving AI behavior, and streamlining the experience by reducing the number of pops. Cosmetic improvements include a dynamic theme feature and quality-of-life enhancements.

AppWizard

September 18, 2025

Google’s Phone app may finally get a much-requested feature

Google is working on integrating a native Call Recording feature within its Phone app for Pixel devices. A user on the PixelUsersIndia subreddit shared a screenshot showing a new "Call Recording" setting on their Pixel 9a, which includes options to toggle recording on and off, manage recordings, and enable automatic recording for calls with non-contacts. This feature is confirmed to be compatible with Pixel 6 models and newer, running Android 9 or higher. However, it has not yet been widely rolled out, as users with Pixel 8a and Pixel 10 devices have not seen the feature. The legality of call recording varies by state, affecting its implementation. Recent reports suggest that Google may replace the audio disclaimer for recording with a subtle chime for discretion.

AppWizard

September 17, 2025

Diablo 4’s new season fixes two of its biggest problems, but Blizzard is dodging the finer details

New patch notes for Season 10 of Diablo 4 have been released, introducing chaos armor and new perks, while addressing boss immunity phases. The update includes the removal of boss immunity, replacing it with a shield mechanic for endgame lair bosses. Players can now find a non-helmet variant of the Crown of Lucion, and additional items for each class have been added based on player feedback from the public test realm. Nightmare dungeon sigils will indicate their validity for active Whispers, and rewards from Chaos Rifts will be improved. Infernal Hordes have been revamped, with Soul Spires receiving bonuses and chaos waves spawning less frequently but yielding greater rewards. Class-specific chaos perks have been adjusted, with buffs for Rogues and slight nerfs for Druids. Season 10 is set to launch on September 23.

AppWizard

September 16, 2025

Bethesda deletes Indiana Jones and the Great Circle “fascist” clip after accusations that it mocks Charlie Kirk

Bethesda removed a post from its official X account featuring a clip of Indiana Jones petting a cat and saying, "you don't care much about those fascists, do you?" The deletion occurred shortly after the shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk on September 10, leading to interpretations that the clip referenced Kirk. The game is set in 1937, during the rise of fascism, which adds context to the discussion. Despite the backlash and speculation, the timing of the post's deletion is suggested to be coincidental. Screenshots of the video have circulated on social media, and the political climate has intensified following Kirk's death, with the suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, expected to face charges soon.

AppWizard

September 16, 2025

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford claims “less than one percent of one percent” of Borderlands 4 PC players reported “valid performance issues” via customer support, says “I have personally helped users go from 30FPS to 90FPS+”

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford stated that only about 1% of Borderlands 4 players have contacted customer support regarding performance issues, with less than 0.01% reporting valid concerns. He encouraged players to adjust their settings for better performance, sharing his experience of improving frame rates significantly. Despite his claims, the game's reception on Steam shows approximately 7,770 negative reviews, many citing performance problems. Testing revealed stutters and unsatisfactory frame rates, although some players on high-end setups reported fewer issues. Gearbox has released an "optimization guide" and performance tips in response to player feedback.

AppWizard

September 16, 2025

The Borderlands 4 PC Performance Fiasco, Explained

Borderlands 4 launched to impressive numbers and favorable reviews on Steam, but players have raised concerns about its performance on PC, particularly the need for DLSS and frame generation technologies for satisfactory performance on high-end hardware. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford defended the game's performance, stating it is "pretty damn optimal" and emphasizing the use of tools provided by the studio. Despite updates and an optimization guide from Nvidia, many players, including those with powerful GPUs, reported issues such as frame rate drops. Following recommendations to enable DLSS and frame generation, some players achieved better performance, but dissatisfaction remains regarding the reliance on upscaling technology for optimal gameplay. Pitchford's comments about acceptable default settings achieving only 30 FPS have also been criticized by the gaming community. Digital Foundry expressed disappointment with the game's performance compared to other Unreal Engine 5 titles. Pitchford has promised further updates to improve performance on PC.