EA Archives

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

This overlooked Battlefield game is shutting down after 11 years, but only on Xbox and PlayStation consoles — the Steam PC version will live on, to my surprise

Battlefield Hardline, launched in 2015 by Visceral Games with support from DICE and EA, will have its digital availability end on May 22 for Xbox and PlayStation platforms, with online multiplayer support concluding on June 22. Players on Steam and the EA app will retain access to the game and its offline single-player campaign. The game is known for its focus on law enforcement versus criminals, differing from traditional military themes in the Battlefield franchise. EA noted that dwindling player numbers make it unfeasible to maintain online services for older games, with current statistics showing only 10 concurrent players on Steam and a peak of 34 in the last 24 hours.

AppWizard

March 20, 2026

Ultima’s Robert Garriott was worried about there being too many PC games on the market… 37 years ago

Richard Garriott, co-founder of Origin Systems and creator of the Ultima RPG series, attended the 1989 Computer Game Developers Conference as a business strategist. He discussed the decline in sales of in-depth PC RPGs and strategy games, attributing it to decreased PC hardware sales and "product proliferation," where the number of new titles increased significantly, leading to lower sales per title. Garriott noted that while the computer game industry saw a 15-25% annual sales increase, the number of new titles rose by 25-50%, causing confusion among consumers. He expressed concern about the quality of games and the need for publishers to understand these market dynamics. Garriott emphasized the importance of developing unique, high-quality products that cannot be easily replicated on consoles.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Why are PC developers removing Denuvo from their games?

Denuvo is a widely recognized digital rights management (DRM) solution used by major publishers like Square Enix, Sega, and EA to prevent unauthorized copying and modification of games. A study indicated that a game could lose up to 20% of revenue if cracked within its first week. Concerns about Denuvo's impact on game performance have been raised, with reports suggesting that games without it may perform better. Issues with titles like Resident Evil Village and Tekken 7 were attributed to improper implementation of additional protection measures. Tekken 7 eventually removed Denuvo, while Resident Evil Village retained it until April 2023. Amplitude Studios launched its game Humankind without Denuvo due to performance issues found during beta testing. Michał Kiciński, CEO of GOG, argued that DRM complicates the experience for legitimate customers and fails to effectively prevent piracy. Saber Interactive decided not to use Denuvo for Space Marine 2, highlighting the nuanced nature of the anti-DRM movement. Denuvo costs around ,000 per month plus fees for each game activation, making its financial justification less compelling as sales decline post-launch. Square Enix has removed Denuvo from titles like Dragon Quest 1 & 2 Remake and Final Fantasy 16 within six months of release, while Capcom has retained it for longer periods. The decision to remove or avoid Denuvo is influenced by performance issues, financial implications, and operational efficiency considerations.

AppWizard

March 11, 2026

The best FPS games of all time, from a PC gaming veteran

First-person shooters (FPS) have captivated gamers since the early 1990s, with influential titles shaping the genre. - Wolfenstein 3D: Developed by id Software, released on May 5, 1992, for PC (MS-DOS). It established core gameplay with real-time movement and first-person perspectives. - Quake: Developed by id Software, released on June 22, 1996, for PC (MS-DOS, Windows). It transitioned FPS from 2.5D to true 3D rendering, enhancing gameplay speed and introducing vertical aiming. - Half-Life: Developed by Valve, released on November 19, 1998, for PC (Windows, Linux, Mac). It integrated storytelling with gameplay, featuring a silent protagonist and advanced AI. - Counter-Strike 1.6: Developed by Valve, released in September 2003 for PC (Windows, Mac, Linux). Originally a mod for Half-Life, it emphasized teamwork and strategy in competitive gameplay. - Halo 2: Developed by Bungie, released on November 9, 2004, for Xbox and PC. It introduced new perspectives and moral complexities, with a strong online multiplayer experience. - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare: Developed by Infinity Ward, released on November 5, 2007, for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. It transformed military FPS with a cinematic approach and persistent progression in multiplayer. - Left 4 Dead: Developed by Valve, released on November 17, 2008, for PC and Xbox 360. It focused on cooperative gameplay against zombies, featuring a dynamic AI Director. - Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Developed by EA DICE, released on March 2, 2010, for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. It featured large-scale combat and destructible environments, emphasizing squad cooperation. Other notable FPS games include GoldenEye 007, Titanfall, and Bioshock, contributing to the genre's diversity and appeal.

AppWizard

March 7, 2026

Get Up, Samurai. Cyberpunk 2077 Is Coming to Xbox Game Pass

Last month, Xbox Game Pass added The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. In March, Cyberpunk 2077 is a notable release, along with a variety of other games. Xbox Game Pass is available on multiple platforms, with subscription plans starting at a monthly fee. To a T, created by Katamari Damacy's Keita Takahashi, is available for Game Pass Premium, Ultimate, and PC subscribers, featuring a teenager in a T-pose navigating a seaside town. F1 25, the latest in Codemasters' Formula One series, is now available for Game Pass Ultimate and PC subscribers, featuring last season's teams and circuits. Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf is available for Game Pass Ultimate and PC subscribers, continuing the puzzle-platforming journey of its predecessor. Construction Simulator launches on March 10 for Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC subscribers, allowing players to manage a construction company. Cyberpunk 2077 debuts on March 10 for Game Pass Ultimate and Premium subscribers, featuring a mercenary named V in a dystopian setting. DreamWorks Gabby's Dollhouse: Ready to Party is scheduled for release on March 17 for Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC subscribers, based on the animated Netflix series. Microsoft will remove six titles from Game Pass on March 15.

AppWizard

March 4, 2026

Cyberpunk 2077 Headlines Xbox Game Pass March 2026 Lineup

Microsoft announced the Xbox Game Pass lineup for March 2026, featuring the following titles: - March 4: - to a T (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) - Game Pass Premium - EA Sports F1 25 (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) - Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass - March 5: - Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) - Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass - March 10: - Construction Simulator (Cloud, Console, and PC) - Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass - Cyberpunk 2077 (Cloud and Console) - Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium - March 12: - Hollow Knight: Silksong (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) - Game Pass Premium, also available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass - March 17: - DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) - Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass Games leaving Xbox Game Pass on March 15, 2026, include: - Bratz Rhythm & Style (Cloud, Console, and PC) - Enter the Gungeon (Cloud, Console, and PC) - F1 23 (Cloud, Console, and PC) - He is Coming (PC) - Lightyear Frontier (Cloud, Console, and PC) - Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island (Cloud, Console, and PC)

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Cyberpunk 2077, Planet of Lana II, and More

Final Fantasy III is available on Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is also available on the same platforms under the same subscriptions. Upcoming games include to a T on March 4, EA Sports F1 25 on March 4, Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf on March 5, Construction Simulator on March 10, Cyberpunk 2077 on March 10, Hollow Knight: Silksong on March 12, and DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party on March 17. Diablo II: Resurrected became available on February 11 for Cloud, Console, and PC. Call of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale will be updated on March 13. Game Pass members can claim a complimentary in-game bundle for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Call of Duty: Warzone. Titles leaving the Game Pass library on March 15 include Bratz Rhythm & Style, Enter the Gungeon, F1 23, He is Coming, Lightyear Frontier, and Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

Battlefield 6 explains how its Javelin anticheat system works—and it kind of boils down to ‘just trust me bro’

Battlefield Studios' anti-cheat system, EA Javelin, has thwarted over 580,000 cheating attempts in Battlefield 6. Players have expressed skepticism about the accuracy of the developers' claims regarding the percentage of cheaters caught. The Match Infection Rate (MIR) is a metric that includes confirmed cheaters and those suspected based on detection signals, which recently increased from 2.28% to 3.09% in January. The rise in MIR is attributed to improvements in the anti-cheat system's ability to detect stealth cheats and the implementation of a new ban acceleration method on January 26.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

EA Sports FC 26 Tops the Swiss Charts, Minecraft Takes 2nd

EA Sports FC 26 has been the top-selling game in Switzerland for eight consecutive weeks. Minecraft has moved up to second place, while Mario Tennis Fever has dropped to third. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 are now in fourth and fifth places, respectively. Pokémon Legends Z-A has risen to sixth place, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons remains in seventh. Reanimal has fallen to eighth place, while Donkey Kong Bananza and The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild have returned to the top ten, now in ninth and tenth places. The top 10 best-selling games in Switzerland are: 1. EA Sports FC 26 2. Minecraft 3. Mario Tennis Fever 4. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 5. Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 6. Pokémon Legends Z-A 7. Animal Crossing: New Horizons 8. Reanimal 9. Donkey Kong Bananza 10. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

Mobile revenue remained flat across 2025, but PC gaming “sees another record year” | Sensor Tower State of Gaming 2026

Digital intelligence and analytics firm Sensor Tower's State of Gaming 2026 report reveals that mobile game revenue has remained flat, while PC and console gaming revenues have surged by 13%. In 2025, there were 52 billion downloads across all platforms, with mobile games downloaded at a rate of 95,000 per minute, although this represents a decline from 2024. Mobile game revenue increased by only 1%, indicating a shift towards retaining and monetizing existing players. In contrast, PC gaming, particularly on Steam, achieved record gains in units sold and revenue, driven by AA and AAA publishers. The shooter genre performed strongly, with Battlefield 6 as the best-selling game, followed by EA Sports FC 25 and 26. In the free-to-play category, Skate was the most downloaded title. Indie games like R.E.P.O. and Peak were recognized as top sellers. Data trends indicate that PC gamers are generally younger, while hypercasual gamers tend to be female. The strategy genre gained traction in mobile gaming, led by Last War: Survival and Whiteout Survival.