NewApp Digest
search bot

Early Access Release

Subnautica 2 set for early access release in May as Krafton signals surrender: 'We look forward to working with Ted Gill to support a smooth transition and work toward a successful launch'
AppWizard
March 18, 2026

Subnautica 2 set for early access release in May as Krafton signals surrender: ‘We look forward to working with Ted Gill to support a smooth transition and work toward a successful launch’

Krafton announced that Subnautica 2 will enter early access in May. This announcement follows a leadership change at Unknown Worlds, with Ted Gill set to reclaim his position as CEO. Steve Papoutsis, the current head of Unknown Worlds, expressed gratitude to the team for their hard work on the game. The early access launch is anticipated to lead to a full release in 2025. Krafton faces a financial obligation related to a 0 million bonus tied to the leadership dispute, with the deadline extended until September 15, 2026. Papoutsis highlighted the importance of collaborating with Gill for a smooth transition.
Minecraft meets Wind Waker? Hytale with airships? Everwind is Steam's latest big early access release, and it could be a winner with time
AppWizard
March 17, 2026

Minecraft meets Wind Waker? Hytale with airships? Everwind is Steam’s latest big early access release, and it could be a winner with time

Two fantasy-themed sandbox titles, Hytale and Enjoy Studio's Everwind, have recently emerged, with Everwind featuring airships as a unique gameplay element. The game invites players to scavenge, craft, and explore in a procedurally generated world made of destructible voxel blocks, reminiscent of Minecraft. Players gather resources to create weapons, armor, tools, and furniture, while the game’s aesthetic evokes a muted, medieval fantasy atmosphere. Everwind's world consists of vast oceans and diverse islands, some floating in the sky. Players can engage in crafting and combat, with a stamina-based system that enhances gameplay. The process of salvaging and constructing airships involves scanning parts for blueprints and gathering essential components. Initial experiences may include challenges such as resource scarcity and unexpected events, but these can lead to deeper exploration. Air travel mechanics allow players to set speed and elevation, though early travel can be slow and lacks engaging distractions. The game is currently in early access and has the potential for growth and improvement over the next year.
silver Android smartphone
Winsage
January 21, 2026

Someone got Windows 95 running in the newest sandbox game, Hytale

A modder named iamcxv711 successfully ran Windows 95 within Hytale just one week after the game's early access release. They demonstrated the ability to navigate Windows 95 menus and applications in Hytale. Additionally, the modding community has created a mod to experience Hytale within Hytale and has run the classic game Doom inside Hytale. iamcxv711 is also working on a project to synchronize servers between Hytale and Minecraft, allowing interactions between players on both platforms. TheGamer is providing guides to help players explore Hytale's features and modding potential.
Hytale Feels Like Little More Than A Neat Minecraft Texture Pack
AppWizard
January 16, 2026

Hytale Feels Like Little More Than A Neat Minecraft Texture Pack

Hytale is an early access game that has been in development for a decade, facing a cancellation by Riot Games before its revival in November. The game features mechanics such as jumping two blocks high and a combat system that requires timing for attacks, which are similar to potential mods in Minecraft. Hytale includes familiar mobs like skeletons, spiders, zombies, and golems, alongside new creatures like goblins and Kweebecs, and a mysterious area known as the Void. Crafting in Hytale is more complex than in Minecraft, requiring multiple workstations, and workbenches can recognize adjacent chest contents. Despite its unique elements, Hytale often feels derivative of Minecraft, with similar sounds and inventory mechanics. Future updates, including an anticipated Adventure Mode, aim to introduce RPG-like storylines and quests. The game currently faces balancing issues but remains visually appealing, though it has not surpassed Minecraft's foundational elements.
Hytale's mammoth pre-orders have covered "the next two years of development," proving the Minecraft challenger is really here to stay
AppWizard
January 12, 2026

Hytale’s mammoth pre-orders have covered “the next two years of development,” proving the Minecraft challenger is really here to stay

Hytale is set to launch on January 13, 2026, and is expected to attract over one million players on its early access release day, according to Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of Hypixel Studios. The game's development has been ongoing for over a decade, and its financial backing for the next two years has been secured through pre-sales. After Riot Games discontinued its involvement, Collins-Laflamme resumed development with a focus on community collaboration. He announced that pre-orders have ensured a solid foundation for the project, expressing optimism about Hytale's future.
Minecraft-like RPG Hytale expects "over 1 million players" at launch, Hypixel lead reflects on its "incredibly difficult" development: "No sacrifices, no Hytale"
AppWizard
January 12, 2026

Minecraft-like RPG Hytale expects “over 1 million players” at launch, Hypixel lead reflects on its “incredibly difficult” development: “No sacrifices, no Hytale”

Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of Hypixel, has reflected on the challenges and personal sacrifices made during the development of Hytale, which is set to launch on January 13, 2026, with expectations of over 1 million players logging in. He has expressed that the past few months have been difficult for his family due to his commitment to reviving the game and rebuilding the team. After being acquired by Riot Games, Hytale faced cancellation in June 2025 but was reclaimed by Collins-Laflamme and his team, leading to an upcoming early access release. The Hypixel team is encouraging fans to download the launcher to prevent server issues at launch. Collins-Laflamme hinted at the realization of a long-held dream feature for the game.
Minecraft-like Hytale has already sold enough to fund the next two years of development, and it's not even out yet
AppWizard
January 12, 2026

Minecraft-like Hytale has already sold enough to fund the next two years of development, and it’s not even out yet

Hypixel Studios announced that pre-launch sales of Hytale have generated enough revenue to fund the next two years of the game's development. The early access release is scheduled for January 13. Hytale has been in development since 2015 and was previously halted by Riot Games, which acquired Hypixel in 2020. Hypixel co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme acquired the game from Riot at the end of last year. He predicts that Hytale will attract one million players on its release day and encourages players to download the game’s launcher in advance. The game will be available for purchase only through the studio’s website during early access. Hytale offers three purchasing options: the standard edition at .99, the Supporter Edition at .99, and the Founder's Edition at .99, with the latter two editions including exclusive cosmetic outfits and capes.
Crimson Desert, Atomic Heart 2, Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy and more — every Xbox and PC game shown during New Game Plus Showcase
AppWizard
January 8, 2026

Crimson Desert, Atomic Heart 2, Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy and more — every Xbox and PC game shown during New Game Plus Showcase

The New Game Plus Showcase, created by content creators, aims to generate excitement around video game announcements without charging developers for participation. The inaugural showcase occurred on January 8, 2023. Deep Dish Dungeon is a dark survival game combining base-building mechanics and survival elements, available for wishlist on Steam, with plans for release on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5. The Blood of Dawnwalker is an open-world fantasy ARPG where players live as a human by day and a vampire by night, set for release in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5. Prologue: Go Wayback! is a survival game featuring procedurally generated maps, currently in Early Access on Steam for [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: In the gaming landscape, the period following The Game Awards often sees a lull in major presentations until the summer showcases like Summer Game Fest or the Xbox Games Showcase. However, this year has marked the emergence of a notable event—the New Game Plus Showcase, commonly referred to as New Game+. This initiative, crafted by content creators, aims to rekindle "genuine excitement and conversation" surrounding video game announcements. Uniquely, it does not impose fees on developers for participation, setting it apart from many other industry events. Announced on December 29, the inaugural showcase took place on January 8 at 1 P.M. PT / 4:00 P.M. ET. Deep Dish Dungeon This intriguing dark survival game from Pokuch and META Publishing presents an engaging blend reminiscent of Valheim and Prey, combining base-building mechanics with survival elements and mysterious alien powers. Gamers can wishlist it now on Steam, with plans for release on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC platforms like Steam, GOG, Epic Games, and PS5. The Blood of Dawnwalker A captivating gameplay presentation and developer interview highlighted The Blood of Dawnwalker, an open-world fantasy ARPG where players navigate life as a human by day and a vampire by night. The showcase emphasized the dynamic interactions within the game world, which reacts to player actions. This title is anticipated for release in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5. Prologue: Go Wayback! Brendan "PLAYERUNKNOWN" Greene shared insights into his new survival game, Prologue: Go Wayback!, during the showcase. The game features procedurally generated maps and deeper survival mechanics, currently available on Steam in Early Access for .99, with a free demo accessible for players. Beautiful Light A fresh glimpse into Beautiful Light, an extraction shooter inspired by STALKER, revealed intense combat scenarios against mutants and other players, set against atmospheric backdrops. This title is slated for a December 2026 release on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Project Shadowglass Starhelm Studios provided an exclusive look at Project Shadowglass, an immersive sim that challenges players to orchestrate daring heists in a dark fantasy realm. Unlike many retro-style pixel graphics games, this title adopts a first-person perspective, enhancing its unique appeal. It is set to launch on Steam, with wishlist options available now. Aphelion DON'T NOD showcased Aphelion, a sci-fi action-adventure game featuring an astronaut named Ariane who must navigate a perilous frozen world to rescue her partner, Thomas. The presentation highlighted the game's musical elements and is expected to release on Xbox, Steam, and PS5 in late 2026. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn A developer interview for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a third-person ARPG from Owlcat Games, explored character creation and the game's world responsiveness. Set in the beloved sci-fi universe of the TV show, it promises an engaging experience for fans and newcomers alike. Distant Shore: BRETAGNE Distant Shore's latest title is an action-adventure physics-based puzzle game where players manipulate objects in their environment using magnetic forces. Currently available for wishlist on Steam, it promises to offer a unique gameplay experience. Avowed Obsidian Entertainment discussed Avowed, a fantasy RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe. The developers revealed updates including new playable races and enhancements to weapon classes. Notably, the game will also be available on PS5, with preorders now open. Grounded 2 Obsidian also presented Grounded 2, showcasing new insect encounters and various items players can craft. The highlight was the ridable ladybug buggy mount, equipped with a water gun, adding a whimsical touch to the survival experience. Outward 2 The sequel to Nine Dots' immersive RPG, Outward 2, is set to challenge players with a more difficult survival experience. The developers shared insights during the New Game Plus showcase, with an Early Access release planned for Q3 2026 on PC. Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call Inspired by Fable and The Elder Scrolls, Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call is an open-ended action RPG that emphasizes player freedom and deep interactions within its fantasy world. It is expected to launch on PC in 2026, with console releases to follow. Dragontwin Draconic Interactive AB is developing Dragontwin, an open-world strategy RPG that allows players to customize and fly dragons into combat. Currently in Early Access for Patreon supporters, it will be available on PC and consoles later. Atomic Heart DLC #4 The showcase featured a first-look teaser for the upcoming fourth DLC for Atomic Heart, generating anticipation among fans eager for new content. The CUBE Mundfish revisited The CUBE, an MMO shooter set on a massive, rotating cube in the sky. This unique environment promises to shift gameplay dynamics, and players can wishlist it now on Steam. IMMORTAL: Gates of Pyre IMMORTAL: Gates of Pyre, an RTS that combines accessible gameplay with complex mechanics, was highlighted in a developer interview. It has been in development for five years and is set to launch on Steam in the future. ExeKiller ExeKiller is a retro-futuristic western action game that blends various gameplay styles, offering players the freedom to approach quests in multiple ways. It is currently available for wishlist on Steam. Far Far West Developer Evil Raptor is crafting Far Far West, a co-op shooter where players embody robot cowboys tackling bounties. This title is set to launch on PC in 2026, appealing to fans of cooperative gameplay. Erosion Erosion presents a captivating open-world roguelike experience with time-looping mechanics and a strong narrative focus, set in a post-apocalyptic Wild West. A playtest is currently live on Steam, with a full release planned for Spring 2026 on both Steam and Xbox. The Division 2: Survivors and The Division 3 The Division 2 developers showcased the upcoming winter-themed extraction mode, Survivors, while also confirming the development of The Division 3 and a mobile game inspired by the original title." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].99, with a free demo available. Beautiful Light is an extraction shooter inspired by STALKER, scheduled for release in December 2026 on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Project Shadowglass is an immersive sim focused on orchestrating heists in a dark fantasy realm, set to launch on Steam. Aphelion is a sci-fi action-adventure game featuring an astronaut navigating a frozen world, expected to release on Xbox, Steam, and PS5 in late 2026. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is a third-person ARPG set in the sci-fi universe of the TV show, featuring character creation and world responsiveness. Distant Shore: BRETAGNE is an action-adventure physics-based puzzle game where players manipulate objects using magnetic forces, available for wishlist on Steam. Avowed is a fantasy RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, with updates on playable races and weapon classes, and will be available on PS5. Grounded 2 features new insect encounters and a ridable ladybug buggy mount, enhancing the survival experience. Outward 2, the sequel to Nine Dots' RPG, will offer a more challenging survival experience, with Early Access planned for Q3 2026 on PC. Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call is an open-ended action RPG emphasizing player freedom, expected to launch on PC in 2026. Dragontwin is an open-world strategy RPG allowing players to customize and fly dragons, currently in Early Access for Patreon supporters. Atomic Heart DLC #4 was teased during the showcase, generating anticipation for new content. The CUBE is an MMO shooter set on a rotating cube, available for wishlist on Steam. IMMORTAL: Gates of Pyre is an RTS combining accessible gameplay with complex mechanics, set to launch on Steam in the future. ExeKiller is a retro-futuristic western action game that allows multiple gameplay styles, available for wishlist on Steam. Far Far West is a co-op shooter featuring robot cowboys, set to launch on PC in 2026. Erosion is an open-world roguelike with time-looping mechanics, currently in playtest on Steam, with a full release planned for Spring 2026 on Steam and Xbox. The Division 2 developers showcased the upcoming winter-themed extraction mode, Survivors, and confirmed the development of The Division 3 and a mobile game.
Search