festival Archives

AppWizard

December 26, 2025

Mark’s most anticipated PC games for 2026

- First Light is an upcoming game from IO Interactive that reimagines the Bond formula, combining stealth mechanics with action-oriented narratives, featuring high-speed chases and shootouts. - The Blood of Dawnwalker, developed by Rebel Wolves, is a vampire RPG inspired by The Witcher series, focusing on a character named Coen who must reclaim his family from a bloodsucker, with dynamic quest mechanics influenced by the time of day. - Forza Horizon 6 is set in Japan and aims to replicate diverse biomes and dynamic weather, offering an open-world car collecting experience with urban landscapes and mountain passes. - Star Wars: Galactic Racer features racing mechanics set in the Star Wars universe, allowing players to pilot hovering crafts through off-road trails while experiencing high-speed races.

AppWizard

December 24, 2025

Uh-oh, I think I’m finally all gacha’d out

The author has been involved in gacha games and RNG mechanics for over a decade, starting with mobile games like Love Live! School Idol Festival. They transitioned to various titles, including Genshin Impact, which launched in 2020 and expanded the gacha genre's audience. The author notes the overwhelming number of games from HoYoverse, such as Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero, and expresses concern about the sustainability of the market due to the rapid release of new titles and the fear of missing out. They highlight the transient nature of live service games, with many shutting down within a year, leading to doubts about investing time and money in them. Despite these concerns, the author still feels a desire for the excitement of gacha games and their character-driven narratives, suggesting that a reduction in the number of available titles could enhance the gaming experience.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds “Minecraft Pack” Now Available

Players can now join characters from Minecraft, including Steve, Alex, and the Creeper, in Sonic Racing Crossworlds. An in-game Minecraft Festival will occur from October 9th at 8:00 PM (ET) until October 12th at 7:59 PM (ET), offering a racing experience with various prizes. The Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - Minecraft Pack features playable characters, a minecart vehicle, a Minecraft World track, remixed Minecraft music, six unique emotes per character, and additional immersive sound effects.

AppWizard

December 11, 2025

‘Minecraft’ & ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ Filmmakers Board Tim Blake Nelson & Mireille Enos Pic ‘On The End’

Filmmaking duo Jared and Jerusha Hess will serve as executive producers for Ari Selinger’s feature film debut, On The End, which stars Tim Blake Nelson and Mireille Enos. The film won Best Narrative Feature and Best Actress for Enos at the Rome International Film Festival. It tells the story of Tom, a mechanic from Montauk, who faces challenges from the town of East Hampton while developing a relationship with Freckles, another outcast. The film is produced by Wise Child Studios and Red Barn Films, with Submarine Entertainment handling sales. The cast includes James Badge Dale, Lois Smith, Anna Chlumsky, Desmin Borges, Matthew Maher, Glenn Fleshler, Michelle Hurd, and Sawyer Spielberg. On The End premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and has been showcased at the Hamptons International Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, and Newport Beach Film Festival, receiving positive reviews.

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

The biggest-budget, most notorious space game around is holding a huge free trial, with over 200 ships you can try

Star Citizen has surpassed 0 million in crowdfunding and sales. The Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) 2955 is currently taking place in Orison, showcasing a collection of spacecraft and vehicles, allowing players to test nearly 200 ships for free. The event runs from November 20 to December 3. Star Citizen alpha 4.4 has been released, introducing the new star system Nyx, along with new missions, weapons, and a revamped injury system. The expo will feature a rotating list of ships from various manufacturers, with the community-voted Ship Showdown finalists available for testing on November 29. CIG has improved accessibility through enhanced tutorials and guides. The event includes recruit-a-friend bonuses, offering rewards for both referrers and newcomers.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

Stardew Valley’s medieval fantasy cousin now lets you collect adorable pets and kill off NPCs

Mirthwood's latest update, the Foundations update, introduces new features such as seasonal festivals, pets, and random world events. Three recurring festivals have been added: All Hallows Eve, the Festival of Blossoms, and the Summer Solstice, each featuring special vendors with 35 exclusive items. Players can now have pets, including cats and dogs, which help with farm tasks and alert to intruders. The update also includes 35 new random events, like Bandit Raids and Vermin Plagues. A significant new feature is the mortality of NPCs, where players can lose characters due to neglect or failure to complete quests, with a tombstone system to memorialize them. The Foundations update is currently available, with a 30% discount on Steam until December 2, and a free demo is offered.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

That weird Pac-Man metroidvania just got a big update, adding a new mode that ‘significantly lowers the difficulty of combat and exploration’

Shadow Labyrinth is a Metroidvania game featuring Pac-Man in a grimdark setting. The game has received a mixed reception, with critiques focusing on poor controls, sparse save points, and punishing difficulty spikes, leading to a muted impact on Steam. In response, Bandai Namco released an update that includes a new gameplay mode called "Veteran Mode" and improvements to controls, such as enhanced mid-air control and a dedicated button for vertical jumps. Reviewer Abbie Stone criticized the game's narrative as overly talkative and filled with clichés, noting that its self-serious tone detracts from the experience. The game faces competition from other titles in the genre, particularly Hollow Knight: Silksong.

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

Ride 6 Announced For PC & Console Release Next February

Milestone Games will release Ride 6 on February 12, 2026. The game features over 250 bikes, including Baggers and Enduro, and introduces new off-road tracks. Players can participate in a motorcycle festival, challenge ten legendary champions, and choose between an Arcade Experience and a Pro Experience. The game includes a Bridgestone Riding School for skill development and offers full cross-play online capabilities.

AppWizard

October 31, 2025

Why I think Adobe’s Project Pulsar is Android XR’s first killer app

The Samsung Galaxy XR was recently launched, featuring various demonstrations of its capabilities, including Project Pulsar from Adobe, an immersive video editing application designed specifically for Android XR. Project Pulsar allows users to edit videos with an understanding of video depth, enabling sophisticated handling of 3D elements. During the launch, Max Spear from Google showcased the app by editing footage from a hot air balloon festival, using an AI assistant to generate creative captions and integrating them into the video. The app simplifies the process of creating advanced visual effects, allowing users to place text behind subjects without extensive VFX expertise. Adobe's partnership as a launch partner adds credibility to the Galaxy XR and positions it as a tool for content creation. Project Pulsar will be included in the “Explorer Pack” for all Galaxy XR purchasers.

AppWizard

October 21, 2025

As the Steam Next Fest wraps up, Valve shares some of the seasonal event’s most-played demos – and they range from chaotically comedic co-op games to brutal Braveheart-inspired roguelikes

Valve has compiled a list of the 50 most-played demos from Steam Next Fest 2025, featuring a mix of anticipated releases and indie games. Notable titles include: - Half Sword: A medieval combat simulator praised as a "massive early breakout." - Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era: A turn-based strategy game with over a million wishlists. - YAPYAP: A co-op horror game that combines magic and comedy, utilizing players' voices for protection. - Tears of Metal: Earned an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating for its engaging narrative and gameplay. - Quarantine Zone: The Last Check: A zombie apocalypse game where players act as a doctor to prevent infected individuals from breaching a military stronghold. - Cairn: A zen rock-climbing experience that has become popular for its tranquil yet challenging gameplay. - Skate Story: A skateboarding adventure game. - Desktop Defender: A casual idle game offering a laid-back gaming experience. The event showcased a diverse range of titles appealing to various gaming preferences.