Doom Eternal Archives

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

Unreal Engine often gets flack for games running poorly or stuttering, but as Avowed demonstrates, it’s really about how devs use it and the pressures of time

Black Myth: Wukong, Frostpunk 2, Palworld, Stalker 2, Tekken 8, Silent Hill 2, and Avowed are all developed using Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). These games have shown inconsistent performance on PC platforms, with social media often blaming UE5. Avowed, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, has erratic frame rates and unconventional upscaling techniques but is visually impressive and generally smooth. Silent Hill 2, developed by Blooper Team, faced bugs and inconsistencies at launch, although patches have been released. Both Obsidian and Blooper Team have experience with Unreal Engine, raising questions about performance issues. Critics compare UE5 unfavorably to Id Tech 7, a proprietary engine known for high performance, due to the extensive customization available to its developers. Unreal Engine is versatile for game development and other applications but presents challenges in transitioning from simple projects to AAA games. Epic Games is addressing common issues like shader compilation stutter and traversal stutter in UE5, but large developers face challenges in updating code without introducing new issues. The timing of game releases often leads to less-than-ideal launch states, with the expectation of post-launch fixes. Avowed may also require adjustments after release, depending on its commercial success and the resources available to Obsidian, who is also working on a sequel to The Outer Worlds using UE5. The main challenge for developers is time, which affects the quality of game releases.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

33 Games Under $10 in the Steam Winter Sale

The Steam Winter Sale is currently offering discounts on a wide variety of games, including older titles that provide good value. Notable deals include The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition for .99, Stardew Valley at 40% off, DOOM Eternal for under , Hollow Knight for .99, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI for .99, and Overcooked 2 at 75% off. Other games mentioned include Disco Elysium, Fallout 4, Fallout: New Vegas, Skyrim, Divinity: Original Sin, Cozy Grove, Unpacking, The Master Chief Collection, and various Total War games.

AppWizard

December 19, 2024

14 Days of PC Game Pass for $1 – Here’s what to play this Holiday

PC Game Pass offers an extensive library of hundreds of games for a monthly fee of .99, with a limited-time offer allowing new subscribers to access it for for the first 14 days. The subscription includes an EA Play membership, providing additional benefits for popular titles and access to new releases on their launch day. Notable games available include Diablo IV, Dead by Daylight, Rainbow 6 Siege, No Man’s Sky, DOOM Eternal, Psychonauts 2, Lies of P, Titanfall 2, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.

Winsage

December 6, 2024

Forget white Christmas. Microsoft “predicts” the world will melt before the end of the year.

A bug in Microsoft's weather systems caused the Windows 11 weather widget and other displays to show temperatures as high as 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This anomaly has been reported by users, with one screenshot showing a temperature of 30,014 degrees Fahrenheit. The issue is attributed to a programming error, as the Earth's surface temperature is generally much cooler than this figure.

AppWizard

November 27, 2024

10 PC games you shouldn’t miss on your OLED monitor

PC gaming offers superior performance and visuals compared to modern consoles, especially with advancements in graphics cards and CPUs. OLED gaming monitors enhance this experience with per-pixel dimming, deep blacks, vibrant HDR, and quick response times. The following PC games are particularly notable for their performance on OLED monitors: 10. Destiny 2 (2019) - A free-to-play title with impressive visuals and regular content updates, excelling in online multiplayer experiences. 9. Resident Evil 4 (2023) - A modern remake featuring a tight narrative and cutting-edge visuals, showcasing diverse environments. 8. Hogwarts Legacy (2023) - An immersive experience in the Wizarding World with excellent HDR implementation and intricate details. 7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) - Features tactical missions and impressive graphics, particularly in night missions. 6. Need for Speed Unbound (2022) - Combines photorealistic graphics with a unique style, captivating players with lifelike reflections. 5. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019) - Offers stunning visuals and engaging narrative, particularly during lightsaber battles. 4. Ori and the Will of the Wisps (2020) - A visually enchanting platformer with vibrant colors and intricate details. 3. Doom Eternal (2020) - Delivers intense action with impressive lighting and textures, making it visually stunning. 2. Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) - Sets a new standard for visual fidelity with realistic shadows and lighting, particularly in Night City. 1. Dead Space (2023) - A remake that enhances visuals while retaining core elements, creating an immersive experience with atmospheric design. Investing in an OLED monitor can significantly enhance the gaming experience, showcasing the capabilities of these titles.

AppWizard

November 15, 2024

Best PC Games to Play (2025)

PC gaming is thriving with a wide variety of titles catering to different tastes. Notable PC games include: 1. Baldur’s Gate 3 - Features deep role-playing mechanics and engaging storytelling with turn-based combat and character customization. 2. Elden Ring - An action RPG with challenging combat and an expansive open world, including a new DLC titled "Shadow of the Erdtree." 3. Cyberpunk 2077 - Set in a futuristic world, it combines action with narrative depth and character customization. 4. Red Dead Redemption 2 - Offers a richly detailed open world and compelling narrative in a Wild West setting. 5. Disco Elysium - A detective RPG focused on dialogue and decision-making within a unique world. 6. Hades II - A fast-paced roguelike where players battle through the underworld. 7. Half-Life: Alyx - A benchmark for VR gaming with a gripping narrative. 8. Doom Eternal - An intense first-person shooter against demonic forces. 9. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - An epic RPG with an expansive world and intricate quests. 10. Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Features strategic turn-based combat and cooperative multiplayer gameplay. Top games currently on Steam include: 1. Counter-Strike 2 - 563,733 current players, 1,442,806 peak players. 2. Dota 2 - 312,401 current players, 797,599 peak players. 3. Banana - 212,617 current players, 483,731 peak players. 4. Call of Duty® - 208,292 current players, 313,313 peak players. 5. Rust - 90,821 current players, 182,603 peak players. 6. THRONE AND LIBERTY - 84,819 current players, 229,014 peak players. 7. PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS - 83,168 current players, 755,939 peak players. 8. Grand Theft Auto V - 61,381 current players, 172,551 peak players. 9. Baldur’s Gate 3 - 55,111 current players, 107,242 peak players. 10. Factorio - 48,876 current players, 118,166 peak players. PC Gamer’s Top 10 Games of 2024 include: 1. Baldur’s Gate 3 - 97% rating. 2. Disco Elysium. 3. Elden Ring. 4. Minecraft. 5. Persona 5 Royal. 6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. 7. Half-Life 2. 8. Balatro. 9. Stardew Valley. 10. Doom (1993). Popular multiplayer games include Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, Apex Legends, and Among Us. Free-to-play games with critical acclaim are Dota 2, Fortnite, Path of Exile, and Warframe. Classic PC games include Half-Life 2, Portal, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Minecraft. Recommended games for low-spec hardware include Stardew Valley, Terraria, FTL: Faster Than Light, Celeste, and Undertale.

AppWizard

November 1, 2024

One of the Newest Bethesda Games Is Now Entirely Free to Own

Ghostwire: Tokyo, developed by Tango Gameworks and released in 2022, is currently available for free on the Epic Games Store until November 7th. The game has received generally positive reviews from critics and players. Additionally, it will be offered at no cost on PlayStation 5 starting November 5th as part of the PS Plus subscription service for November 2024, alongside other titles. The game features a supernatural storyline set in a detailed rendition of Tokyo, where players combat supernatural threats using elemental powers and ghost-hunting skills. A free update, the Spider’s Thread, adds new content and enhancements to the game.

AppWizard

October 31, 2024

Steam now requires developers to tell people when their games have kernel mode anticheat

Kernel mode anticheat software has become a controversial topic in the gaming community, with concerns about game performance and system security on one side and a demand for effective cheating measures on the other. Steam has introduced a feature that requires developers to disclose the type of anticheat software used in their games, making it mandatory for those using kernel mode anticheat. This change aims to enhance transparency for players before purchasing games. Kernel mode anticheat was first implemented in 2020, leading to debates, particularly regarding Doom Eternal. Activision introduced the Ricochet kernel mode anticheat for Call of Duty in 2021, promising it would only activate during gameplay, which received mixed reactions. EA followed with similar assurances in 2023.

AppWizard

October 30, 2024

Homeworld 3 ditches controversial Denuvo, the latest in a line of PC games to drop the DRM

Homeworld 3 has removed Denuvo DRM protection, which has been positively received by the gaming community. This change was noted by Neowin, highlighting a reduction in the game's executable file size from around 400MB due to the removal of Denuvo, and the absence of Denuvo on its Steam page. The game, developed by Blackbird Interactive and published by Gearbox, was released in May 2024 and received a mixed reception, especially regarding its storyline. The removal of Denuvo is part of a trend, as other games like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Resident Evil Village, PayDay 3, Doom Eternal, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard have also eliminated Denuvo. This decision is often made after a game's initial sales phase to mitigate piracy risks. Homeworld 3's removal of Denuvo is seen as a strategic move to improve its reputation ahead of a significant update scheduled for November.

AppWizard

October 30, 2024

Gearbox has removed Denuvo from Homeworld 3

Gearbox has removed the Denuvo anti-tamper technology from Homeworld 3, which was launched on PC in May 2024, about five to six months after its release. Despite this removal, the game has a "Mostly Negative" rating on Steam, with players praising the graphics but expressing dissatisfaction with other aspects. The addition of Denuvo was a last-minute decision that frustrated many players. Other publishers, including KRAFTON and NEOWIZ, have also removed Denuvo from their titles. Notable games that have shed Denuvo include Wolfenstein Youngblood, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Doom Eternal, Mortal Kombat 11, Tekken 7, and various titles from Square Enix such as The Diofield Chronicle and Forspoken. Homeworld 3 peaked at 9,000 concurrent players but has recently seen a decline to only 60 active players in the last 24 hours.