exclusivity Archives

AppWizard

February 1, 2026

Epic Games Store quietly offers two PC free games ahead of usual gieaway schedule

The Epic Games Store has established itself as a strong competitor in digital distribution by securing exclusive deals with developers, enhancing its library with titles like Fortnite and Control. The platform engages users through regular giveaways of popular titles and seasonal events, fostering community interaction. It continues to grow its user base and library while investing in technology and user experience to maintain its market position.

AppWizard

January 29, 2026

Nioh 3 just got a Steam demo, and given Team Ninja’s history I’m surprised how well it runs on my aging rig

Team Ninja's recent release, Rise of the Ronin, faced performance issues on PC, including stuttering, framerate fluctuations, and crashes, similar to problems seen in their earlier title, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Nioh 2 also had launch challenges, while Ninja Gaiden 4 performed decently but lacked customizable settings. Players with a Ryzen 5 5600H and 16GB RAM experienced mixed results with Nioh 3, achieving around 60 fps at 1080p on "very low" settings, but framerate could drop to 44 fps in the open world. The introduction of frame generation support in Nioh 3 improved performance, allowing players to use higher graphics settings while maintaining at least 60 fps. Players reported minimal input lag during the demo, and the game was found to be demanding on platforms like the Steam Deck OLED.

AppWizard

January 20, 2026

This massively multiplayer roguelike with Hades combat won my heart, and it’s fixing my biggest worry by coming to Steam

33 Immortals will be released on Steam this summer after a year of exclusivity on the Epic Games Store and Xbox/PC Game Pass. Developed by Thunder Lotus Games, it launched in March 2025 and received positive reviews. The game features a shared hub world where players can join lobbies of up to 33. Experienced players can unintentionally make encounters easier for newcomers, leading to balance issues. A roadmap for 2026 includes new content, such as the Gluttony weapon and a third map, Paradiso. The game is priced at .99 / £15.99 on the Epic Games Store and supports crossplay with Steam users.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

GOG crawls out from under CD Projekt Red with a new owner and teases ‘ambitious’ plans for classic game ‘rescue missions’ starting next year

GOG, a digital storefront known for classic and DRM-free gaming, has transitioned to the ownership of Michal Kicinski, a co-founder of GOG, which launched in 2008. Under Kicinski's leadership, GOG aims to expand its library of classic titles and enhance the gaming experience, although specific initiatives have yet to be detailed. CD Projekt Red will continue to support GOG, ensuring that both existing and upcoming titles from the studio remain available on the platform. GOG may also serve as a refuge for unconventional titles, as demonstrated by the psychological horror game Horses, which was banned from other platforms but found success on GOG.

Winsage

December 24, 2025

Game platform Steam to end support for system 32-bit Windows

Valve has announced the end of support for 32-bit Windows operating systems on its Steam platform, transitioning to a native 64-bit architecture to improve security and performance. Support for the 32-bit client will continue until January 1, 2026, after which it will no longer receive updates or security fixes. Users on 32-bit systems may experience a decline in service quality and access to new features. The decision is driven by memory limitations of 32-bit systems, which can only address a maximum of 4 GB of RAM, and the enhanced security capabilities of 64-bit systems. The latest Steam update also includes support for the Nintendo Switch 2 controller, compatibility with GameCube Adapters in Wii-U mode, and improvements to "Gyro Modes" along with various bug fixes. Users are encouraged to upgrade to 64-bit systems to avoid service disruptions.

AppWizard

December 19, 2025

Lords of the Fallen 2 boss says Epic Games Store exclusivity doesn’t matter because the “majority of PC players who want a specific game will buy it” anyway

Lords of the Fallen 2 will launch exclusively on the Epic Games Store for PC. Marek Tyminski, CEO of CI Games, believes this decision will have minimal impact on the game's audience, as most eager PC gamers are likely to purchase it from Epic. Sales data from North America and Europe supports this assertion, while figures from Asia will be excluded for the first year post-launch. Epic made a "significant investment" in the project, which may have eased financial pressures on the development team. The game is scheduled for release in 2026, and its director has hinted at exciting developments in level design and captivating characters, with fans eager for gameplay enhancements.

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

WhatsApp Launches EU Interoperability for Encrypted Cross-App Messaging

Meta Platforms Inc.’s WhatsApp is rolling out interoperability features across Europe, allowing users to send messages to individuals on third-party applications starting in November 2024. This initiative is in response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires dominant tech companies to enhance competition by opening their platforms. Users will be able to communicate while maintaining end-to-end encryption, a process that has taken over three years to develop. Users must opt-in to receive messages from third-party applications, and the initial rollout is limited to specific partners. The interoperability allows for sharing text, images, voice messages, videos, and files. Meta's engineering team adapted WhatsApp's infrastructure to accommodate external services while upholding encryption standards. Concerns have been raised about potential security vulnerabilities and the implications of proposed regulations like "Chat Control" that could conflict with encryption efforts. This development could influence competitive dynamics in the messaging sector, providing smaller applications like BirdyChat and Haiket visibility by integrating with WhatsApp’s large user base. Compliance with the DMA helps Meta avoid fines while risking dilution of WhatsApp's market dominance. Privacy implications are a significant concern, with discussions around how interoperability could facilitate surveillance or compromise user security. Meta's journey involved regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with DMA objectives, and the success of this initiative could set a precedent for global standards in digital communication.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

It took a full 10 years but one of Ubisoft’s most popular games finally has achievements on Steam

Ubisoft has announced that Steam achievements are now available for Rainbow Six Siege, a feature that took ten years to implement since the game's launch in 2015. Achievements previously unlocked through Ubisoft Connect will automatically be recognized on Steam during the next login, eliminating the need for players to replay challenges. This update aligns with Ubisoft's trend of returning to Steam and enhancing older titles with new features.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

‘Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’ May Come To PC Sooner Than You Think

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is anticipated to transition to PC soon, as suggested by a now-removed ESRB listing. This marks a significant shift for a first-party PlayStation exclusive, indicating a potential change in strategy for PlayStation regarding PC releases. The game has received seven nominations at this year's Game Awards and has been praised by critics. It is currently available on PlayStation 5.

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

PlayStation’s Best-Selling PC Game Revealed (and It’s on Xbox, Too)

Helldivers 2 has sold approximately 12.7 million copies on PC since its release in February 2024, making it the best-selling PlayStation first-party game on that platform. It has also contributed to a total of around 20 million copies sold across platforms, with 12.6 million on Steam, 5.4 million on PS5, and 1.4 million on Xbox. The game is noted as the fastest-selling PlayStation game of all time. Other notable sales figures include Horizon Zero Dawn at around 4.5 million units on Steam, God of War at approximately 4.2 million copies, Days Gone at around 3.4 million, and Marvel’s Spider-Man at an estimated 2.7 million copies sold. Collectively, these five titles account for about 27.5 million units sold, contributing to an estimated 43 million copies of PlayStation-published games sold on Steam, generating around .5 billion in gross revenue for PlayStation. Alinea's analysis indicates a decline in sales velocity for newer titles compared to their predecessors, highlighting the importance of timing game releases on PC to balance PS5 software sales and growing PC audience demand.