early access phase Archives

AppWizard

August 29, 2026

Valve assures Deadlock players hungry for its next big update that it will notify them, ‘or order a ton of pizza’, when it’s ready

Deadlock, a hybrid MOBA-shooter in pseudo-early access, has generated significant anticipation among players. The recent Old Gods, New Blood update introduced six new heroes and other enhancements. Valve hinted at a large content update and two smaller updates focused on ranked mode and item adjustments. However, a communication from developer representative Yoshi indicated delays in the anticipated update due to playtesting and iteration processes. Despite being invite-only, Deadlock has evolved over the past year, with signs pointing toward a potential transition to open beta. The development team is responsive to community feedback, suggesting a commitment to the game's future.

AppWizard

August 24, 2026

Ray Chase, the voice of Cyclops in X-Men ’97, has ‘1,000 freaking hours’ in Slay the Spire and is running a ‘smell build’ in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: ‘ I wear perfumes and walk into battle with my fancy boy outfit’

Ray Chase began his gaming journey on a DOS computer and was influenced by shareware games from his grandfather, including Duke Nukem 1 and 2, Ken's Labyrinth, and Wolfenstein 3D. He is a voice actor known for roles in hundreds of games, including Noctis in Final Fantasy 15 and Cyclops in X-Men '97. He is currently involved in the dating simulator Date Everything and is working on its next chapter. Chase enjoys playing Deltarune Chapter 5, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Mina the Hollower, praising their unique features. He has logged 600 hours in Slay the Spire, which he played from early access to release, and considers it one of his favorite games alongside Brotato. He uses Reaper and Audacity for voice recording and maintains a tidy desktop with minimal items.

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

Sword & Shield Simulator Now Available on PC

Sword & Shield Simulator is a PC game currently in Early Access, developed by Wildlands Interactive and co-published with Ultimate Games S.A. Players assume the role of a medieval blacksmith, forging weapons and armor while gathering resources from battlefields. The game features advanced blacksmithing mechanics, including modular sword and shield assembly, and incorporates resource gathering activities like tree felling, hunting, and mining. It includes mini-games such as lockpicking and crossbow shooting, and players can manage their smithy and engage in trading. The game world consists of three regions—Danburg, Bloodlands, and Grainmill—offering over 140 story missions and side quests. Future updates will add the Talstein region and new content. The game is expected to remain in Early Access for about six months, with plans to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2026/2027. Minimum system requirements for PC include Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Core i5-10400F or equivalent CPU, 8 GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 1070 8GB or equivalent GPU, and 8 GB of available SSD space.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Believe the hype for Wardogs, possibly the next great multiplayer FPS

Wardogs, a military simulation first-person shooter from the creators of Battalion 1944, will enter early access on September 10. The game supports up to 100 players in player-versus-player action and features a mode where three teams compete for control over a territory on a large map. Players earn account-level currency through various actions, which can be spent on gear, creating a personal stake in survival. The game encourages collaborative play and strategic loadout management, offering generous cash rewards for gameplay. Preorders are available, and players can request refunds if they find the beta unsatisfactory. The studio has committed to avoiding monetization during early access, with cosmetic skins earned through gameplay. Wardogs is designed as a PC-first FPS and will support community servers.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

Titan Quest 2’s new class is a dream for lovers of the Diablo Necromancer

Titan Quest 2 has introduced its sixth Mastery, Spirit, which focuses on minion manipulation and is appealing to fans of the Necromancer archetype. Players can summon Eidolon Guards and a greater summon called Athanekros, with skills that allow for healing and buffing allies. The update also includes a skill called Soul Vortex, which draws enemies in and supports minions. Additionally, update 0.7.0 increases base movement speed, introduces a basic crafting system with four actions, and includes balancing adjustments across existing Masteries. The patch aims to enhance gameplay while maintaining the thrill of item hunting.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Fields of Mistria 1.0 changes: What’s new in the full release version?

Fields of Mistria 1.0 has been fully released after two years of early access, featuring significant updates and enhancements. The town's story is complete, with repairs following an earthquake finalized. Players can now experience ten heart events for datable characters, allowing for deeper relationships. Marriage and children have been introduced, enabling players to start families. The Saturday Market has two new merchants, Stillwell and Zorel. An achievements system rewards players retroactively, and there is no need to start a new save file to access the new content. Key updates include the completion of the Town Repair Questline, an increased Town Renown Cap, the addition of the Mistril Town Rank Event, and new quests. Beta localizations for seven languages have been added. Gameplay enhancements include new perks, customizable house exteriors, and engagement ring crafting. Quality of life improvements include player character rotation and improved drop rates from treasure chests. Art enhancements and new soundtracks have been introduced, along with substantial performance improvements and bug fixes.

AppWizard

August 2, 2026

Open-World Survival Game with Over 80K Wishlists Just Got Its PC Release Date (And It’s Soon)

Delverium, an indie sandbox survival game from Sagestone Games, is set to enter Early Access on PC via Steam on September 22nd. The game has over 80,000 wishlists and features pixel graphics, open-world survival, and farming simulations. Players can explore a vast pixel-art world, engage in activities like fighting, fishing, farming, and foraging, and play solo or cooperatively with up to eight friends. A free demo was showcased during February’s Steam Next Fest, and the game has been refined based on player feedback from a recent playtest. The Early Access version will include core gameplay, cooperative play, and full controller support, and is expected to perform well on the Steam Deck. The Early Access phase is planned to last approximately two years, during which new content will be added based on player feedback. Pricing details are not yet available, but it is expected to be lower during Early Access.

AppWizard

July 7, 2026

My first 40 days in Moonlight Peaks started off with juicy feuds, but its anemic character writing is starting to show through

A new farm simulation game, Moonlight Peaks, has been released, featuring gameplay elements such as cultivating crops, foraging, tending to animals, forging friendships, crafting, mining, and fishing. The game introduces four feuding families of supernatural beings, adding drama to the narrative. Initial impressions suggest that while the characters provide entertainment, the game struggles with tone consistency, particularly with the portrayal of Orlock, a comedic vampire patriarch, and the serious dynamics involving his daughter, Mina. Moonlight Peaks faces competition from the upcoming game Fields of Mistria, and the reviewer is currently unconvinced of its value in the market.

AppWizard

June 5, 2026

RuneScape Dragonwilds leaves early access with full launch on PC and consoles on September 15

Becoming a member of GB MAX provides access to a global B2B leadership community in the gaming, entertainment, and tech industries, along with a VIP ticket to the GamesBeat Next event on November 2-3 in San Francisco. Jagex announced that RuneScape: Dragonwilds will launch on September 15, 2026, for PC and consoles, transitioning from early access after achieving over one million sales. The launch will include the Scorned Wilderness update and content from the Umbral Sands expansion. RuneScape: Dragonwilds is an open-world, co-op crafting and survival game set in the continent of Ashenfall, allowing solo or team play. It features quests, skill leveling, battles against dragons, and emphasizes player feedback in its development. The game will be available on Steam and the Epic Games Store, with crossplay capabilities and approximately 20 hours of content at launch.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

Subnautica 2 promises to add ‘one of the most requested’ features, but sorry, it’s not a knife you can stab fish with

Subnautica 2 was launched last month and has received positive feedback from players and critics. The game is currently in its early access phase, with design lead Anthony Gallegos indicating that numerous updates and enhancements are planned. A beloved feature from the original Subnautica will return, while the ability to confront aggressive sea creatures is currently not included. Players can explore mods for alternative combat options with ocean inhabitants. The game is expected to evolve with new content and features.