emotions Archives

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

Resident Evil 2’s director believes Capcom has become ‘completely numb to how scary’ recent games have been and wants a ‘non-horror mode’

Players of horror games, particularly those with extensive experience, are becoming desensitized to fear, as noted by one player who found the latest Resident Evil installment lacking in genuine scares. Hideki Kamiya, director of Resident Evil 2, believes Capcom has become oblivious to horror elements in recent titles and admits to his own inability to handle scary content. He humorously suggested a lighter version of the franchise with non-scary modes. This raises questions about accessibility in horror gaming, as many players find it difficult to introduce friends to the genre due to its intense fear factor. Kamiya expressed a desire for a non-horror mode, highlighting a disconnect between developers and their audience. The player hopes Capcom will maintain the horror essence of the franchise, longing for a return to the intense fear experienced in Resident Evil 7.

AppWizard

August 31, 2026

Minecraft animated series is still in development – Netflix and Mojang deny rumors of cancellation

The animated series based on Minecraft was announced in May 2024 to coincide with the game's 15th anniversary, with Netflix and Mojang collaborating on the project. Kevin Adams and Joe Xander were appointed as showrunners, and Ashley Bradley was brought in as the writer, with animation by Flying Bark Productions. Updates about the series have been sparse, leading to concerns about its potential cancellation, especially after a reveal at the Annecy Festival in 2026 did not occur. However, representatives from Netflix and Mojang have confirmed that the series is still in production, with development progressing as planned. The timeline for completion is uncertain, with reports suggesting production could extend until 2028, and no official release date has been announced.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Beyond These Stars Arrives Oct 15 on PC Game Pass With Full 1.0 Launch

Hooded Horse and Balancing Monkey Games will release Beyond These Stars on October 15, 2026. The game is a city-building and colony management title set on the back of a sentient Space Whale named Kewa. It will be available on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store, with day-one access for PC Game Pass subscribers. Beyond These Stars serves as a sequel to Before We Leave and features players guiding a civilization called the Peeps while managing resources and Kewa's well-being. The game emphasizes ecological mutualism, where Kewa's happiness affects gameplay. Players will navigate a complex production system and can explore a procedurally generated Galaxy Map with various star systems. The game has received positive feedback from critics and will launch as a complete 1.0 title, bypassing Early Access. The minimum system requirements include a Windows 10 (64-bit) PC with an Intel Core i3-6300 or AMD FX-9370, 8 GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 750 or AMD Radeon R9 380. A free demo is currently available on Steam.

BetaBeacon

August 19, 2026

Pixel Adventure A Space for the Unbound with 97% Rating on Steam Released on Android

A Space for the Unbound is a captivating narrative adventure set in a small Indonesian town during the late 1990s, following high school students Atma and Raya as they navigate supernatural forces and personal struggles.

AppWizard

August 19, 2026

Subnautica 2’s latest 1.2 update is friend focused—finally adding the key mechanic to any great multiplayer game

Proximity chat will be introduced in Subnautica 2, allowing players to engage in local voice chats with audio quality that degrades as they move apart, enhancing communication and adding tension during exploration. The update will also include new player emotes for expressing emotions, improved inventory sharing that notifies players when their backpack is accessed, and a player revive feature that allows teammates to restore incapacitated players. These enhancements aim to enrich player interactions and provide a more immersive multiplayer experience.

AppWizard

August 16, 2026

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve heard videogame music?

Video game music spans diverse genres, enhancing gameplay and evoking emotions. While often confined to the gaming community, it occasionally breaks into mainstream culture, leading to unexpected recognitions in everyday settings. For example, music from The Sims 2 has appeared in various television formats, and L.A. Noire's jazz was heard in a local pub. This phenomenon highlights the increasing presence of video game music in daily life.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

RPG companions need to be hateable, otherwise nobody’s going to love them

Harvey Randall advocates for the inclusion of flawed, obstructive companions in RPGs to enhance storytelling. He reflects on his experience with Baldur's Gate 3, highlighting a romantic encounter with Gale that showcases the impact of character imperfections. In contrast, he critiques Dragon Age: The Veilguard for its lack of compelling character dynamics, resulting in bland archetypes. Randall discusses the "Halo effect," suggesting that flawed characters resonate more with players due to their reflection of real-life complexities. Research indicates that engaging narratives activate neurochemical responses associated with social bonding, fostering emotional connections. He argues that RPGs should embrace character imperfections to create richer interactions and encourage emotional investment from players.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

Helldivers 2 borrows from Dead Space and Silent Hill for its horrific new aliens

The recent update for Helldivers 2 introduces new enemies, the Crusher and the Wretch, to the Illuminate faction, while the anticipated Cultist unit is not included. The update, titled "Devoid of Liberty," presents a new narrative involving a void in Illuminate space, enhancing gameplay and strategy. Players will face challenges from the new foes, which add variety to combat. The update features improved graphics, new weaponry and armor sets, and quality-of-life enhancements, including changes to magazine and backpack reloads. The level cap has been raised to 300.

AppWizard

August 4, 2026

Beast of Reincarnation review

"Beast of Reincarnation," developed by Game Freak, is an action RPG set in a desolate 41st-century Japan, featuring a protagonist named Emma who suffers from the Blight, a condition that affects her emotions and memories while granting her unique powers. The gameplay combines open and linear exploration with fast-paced combat reminiscent of titles like Sekiro and Nier, though enemy placement can feel uninspired outside of major encounters. The game has a rugged art style that captures a post-apocalyptic world but may hinder exploration due to dense graphics. Technical performance issues have been noted, particularly on gaming laptops. The narrative is characterized by mature storytelling and nuanced voice acting in Japanese, focusing on silence and introspection rather than typical humor. Despite its flaws, the game aims to offer a unique experience in the action RPG genre.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Silent Hill: Townfall’s director finds it ‘utterly terrifying to be the next one in the series’ but is still confident fans will enjoy the experience

Silent Hill: Townfall is set to debut a preview at Gamescom, with insights shared by director Jon McKellan and series producer Motoi Okamoto. McKellan expressed the team's mixed emotions about following previous titles, particularly Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill f, describing it as both terrifying and an honor. The game is set in a small foggy town in Scotland named St. Amelia, during 1996, and will explore themes related to the anxieties of the internet's integration into daily life. McKellan mentioned that while they will lean into familiar expectations, they also aim to subvert them with new twists. Okamoto emphasized the importance of maintaining the franchise's core identity of strong psychological horror narratives while allowing for innovation in gameplay styles.