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'Friendslop' dominated 2025 by proving time and time again that graphics are overrated
AppWizard
December 30, 2025

‘Friendslop’ dominated 2025 by proving time and time again that graphics are overrated

In 2025, the PC gaming industry has shifted away from the pursuit of cutting-edge graphics, as advancements have plateaued and often yield only marginal improvements. AI-generated enhancements have not generated the expected enthusiasm, especially given their high costs. Successful games like Peak and REPO demonstrate that engaging gameplay can thrive on budget-friendly PCs, some nearly a decade old. The term "friendslop" describes a genre of games that, despite being labeled low-effort, feature intentional design choices that enhance enjoyment. REPO involves transporting a fragile vase, creating tension and humor, while Peak utilizes immersive sound design and dynamic lighting to convey danger and adventure. Abiotic Factor, a survival game, runs smoothly on older hardware while using modern lighting effects. Larger productions like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Battlefield 6 prioritize performance over graphics, optimizing for mid-range and minimum-spec PCs. The common thread among these titles is that gameplay is prioritized over graphics, suggesting a potential turning point in the industry towards valuing engaging mechanics and narratives over visual fidelity.
Best PC Game Graphics of 2025
AppWizard
December 27, 2025

Best PC Game Graphics of 2025

In 2025, several PC games were noted for their impressive graphics: - Cronos: The New Dawn: Released in September 2025 by Bloober Team, it features breathtaking environments and detailed 3D character models, utilizing Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen technology. - Hell is Us: An indie title that showcases remarkable graphics with Lumen’s advanced lighting capabilities, despite minor pop-ups. - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: Offers high graphical fidelity in an expansive world, using CRYENGINE’s SVOGI for impressive lighting, though it has occasional pop-ins. - Dying Light: The Beast: Improved significantly with a December 2025 Ray Tracing Update, enhancing visuals to rival other major titles. - WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers: Features stunning visuals with Lumen GI and high-resolution textures, despite minor shadow pop-ins. - Doom: The Dark Ages: Utilizes Path Tracing for impressive graphics but suffers from low-quality textures. - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater: Developed by Virtuos Studios, it is visually impressive on Ultra Settings with exceptional 3D characters and lighting. - Silent Hill f: A graphical powerhouse that showcases Unreal Engine 5 capabilities with "True Epic" settings. - Half-Life 2 RTX Demo: Released in March 2025, it introduces real-time Path Tracing, enhancing visuals significantly. - Assassin’s Creed: Shadows: At Max Ray Tracing and Ultra High settings, it features highly detailed characters, crafted environments, and a sophisticated hair-stranding system.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27950 (Canary Channel)
Winsage
September 20, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27950 (Canary Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27950 has been released to the Canary Channel, featuring general improvements and fixes. Key changes include a reversion of Advanced Settings to the previous “For Developers” experience, resolution of installation rollback issues related to specific error codes, and fixes for taskbar app preview misalignment, File Explorer context menu responsiveness, screen flickers during browser use, and audio issues. Dynamic Lighting CPU resource usage has been addressed, and foundational work has been done to enhance gaming performance. Known issues include increased bugchecks for some Arm64 PCs and playback problems with PIX on Windows. Insiders in the Canary Channel should note that builds may not align with specific Windows releases and that a clean installation is required to exit the channel. A desktop watermark is present in pre-release builds.
Roblox Versus Minecraft: Comparing the Giants
AppWizard
July 29, 2025

Roblox Versus Minecraft: Comparing the Giants

In 2025, Roblox has over 380 million monthly active users and nearly 89 million daily players, with a library of more than 5 million user-generated games. Minecraft has approximately 32 million monthly active users and 2.5 million daily players. Roblox features a virtual currency called Robux, allowing players to personalize their experiences and trade virtual items. Minecraft offers modes like Survival and Creative, emphasizing resource management and artistic expression. Roblox's graphics vary by creator, with enhancements like dynamic lighting, while Minecraft maintains a consistent blocky style with recent graphical updates. Both platforms are accessible on multiple devices, with Roblox supporting PC, mobile, Xbox, and VR, and Minecraft available in Java and Bedrock editions, which do not share servers.
First Version of BioShock RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod Released
AppWizard
July 27, 2025

First Version of BioShock RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod Released

A demo for the RTX Remix Mod for the original BioShock game has been released by modders ‘skurtyyskirts’ and ‘watbulb’. This mod introduces real-time Path Tracing to enhance the game's graphics, utilizing improved materials through physically-based rendering (PBR) assets. The mod includes a custom compatibility wrapper to facilitate communication between BioShock, which operates on Unreal Engine 2.5, and RTX Remix. The demo features hundreds of newly crafted textures and assets, with updated lighting effects. The demo is available for download, but users may encounter visual inconsistencies and bugs. Additionally, various RTX Remix Mods for other games are in development, including titles like Tomb Raider 2, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Need for Speed: Most Wanted. Demos for Path Tracing Mods have also been released for games such as Deus Ex and Call of Duty 4.
Microsoft is bringing powerful new AI tools to Windows 11
Winsage
July 24, 2025

Microsoft is bringing powerful new AI tools to Windows 11

Microsoft has rolled out new features for Windows 11, transitioning tools from testing to general availability. Key additions include semantic and agentic search functionalities in the Settings menu, allowing users to express queries in natural language and request specific tasks. The Click-to-Do feature now integrates with Copilot and a new Reading Coach application for context-aware actions. Paint has been upgraded to allow AI-generated stickers and includes a new object select tool for easier image editing. The Photos app will introduce a Relight feature for dynamic lighting effects, limited to devices with Snapdragon X processors. The Snipping Tool has a new “perfect screenshot” feature that uses AI for improved selection, and a new Black Screen of Death and rapid recovery option have reduced crashes and restarts by 22%.
Best Minecraft Shader Packs To Use In 2025
AppWizard
June 22, 2025

Best Minecraft Shader Packs To Use In 2025

Shaders are specialized mods that enhance the visual aesthetics of games by adjusting lighting, shadows, and colors. They can create realism, distinct atmospheres, and evoke emotions through color manipulation. A selection of top shaders for Minecraft includes: - SEUS (Sonic Ether's Unbelievable Shaders) - Known for stunning realism and dynamic lighting effects. - Continuum Shaders - Offers cinematic quality with breathtaking visuals and atmospheric effects. - BSL Shaders - Balances performance and beauty, popular among players. - Chocapic13's Shaders - Provides a customizable experience with various presets for different hardware. - Lagless Shaders - Enhances visuals without compromising performance. These shaders improve the graphical fidelity and immersive experience of Minecraft.
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