festival Archives

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

New York Has a Gamer Mayor Now — and a $2.6 Billion Game Industry to Match

In June, New York City celebrated the NYC Battle of the Boroughs Champions at a press conference on June 10, recognizing the winners of the 2026 Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs. Among the winners was Team Hyper Pigmentation, an all-girl squad that won back-to-back titles. The city's digital games sector supports approximately 7,600 jobs, contributing billion in wages and generating a total economic output of billion. The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment (MOME) has established the Game Development Industry Council, launched the NYC Summer of Games campaign, and funded grants for developers. New York City's digital gaming ecosystem has an annual economic impact of .6 billion, with around 380 digital gaming firms, 65 percent of which are small or indie studios. The share of open roles in the gaming industry increased from 15.1 percent to 29.2 percent between Q3 2024 and Q1 2026. The Summer of Games features events from May through September, including the NYC Video Game Festival and the Tribeca Games Gallery. Mayor Zohran Mamdani is recognized as the first "Gamer Mayor," engaging with gaming culture and platforms like Twitch. Jones-Harvey emphasizes the importance of addressing affordability issues to retain talent in the gaming industry. She advocates for recognizing video games as a vital part of New York City's cultural landscape, alongside music, film, and theater.

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

I ran 45 idle game demos from Steam Next Fest all at once for a desktop companion battle royale

Steam Next Fest features nearly 500 idler games, offering a wide selection of demos. The author downloaded 45 demos simultaneously to quickly assess their interest. The festival runs until June 22.

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

Even more games on Steam are using AI: there are over 8,600 demos in this week’s Next Fest event, and nearly 1,700 use AI

The second installment of Steam Next Fest for 2026 is running until June 22 and features a total of 8,682 demos, nearly double the entire library of PlayStation 2 games. Approximately 1,700 of these demos incorporate AI technology, leading to concerns about the quality of some titles, often labeled as "shovelware." Various digital storefronts are struggling to maintain quality amidst the influx of AI-generated content, with Sony recently removing a publisher known for low-quality releases. The reaction to AI in game development has been mixed, with backlash against certain titles. Additionally, early Geekbench results for Valve's upcoming Steam Machine suggest a potential launch next week.

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

Frontier is making a Planet game that isn’t about zoos or rollercoasters, and has just filed trademarks for Planet Resort and Planet Festival

Frontier has announced a new management simulation game that will not focus on zoos or rollercoasters, generating speculation among fans about potential titles. Popular suggestions include Planet Resort, Planet Festival, and Planet City. Frontier has filed nine new trademarks, including Planet Resort and Planet Festival, while Planet City is not among them. Other trademarks include Planet Farm, Planet Vacation, Planet Dinosaur, Planet Prehistoric, Planet Fantasy, Planet Mythical Creatures, and Planet Dragon. The new game is expected to be released around 2028, following the launch of Planet Zoo 2 later this year.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Vanillaware seemingly want their other games on PC too, but if you want that to happen, talk to their publishers

Vanillaware has announced that Muramasa: The Demon Blade will be released on PC, addressing the long-standing issue of their games being inaccessible on this platform. George Kamitani, Vanillaware's founder, expressed a desire to see more of their titles on PC, but stated that the decision depends on the publishers who finance the ports. Fans are encouraged to express their interest in bringing other titles like 13 Sentinels, Dragon’s Crown, Unicorn Overlord, and Odin Sphere to PC. There was some confusion regarding Atlus's statement about Unicorn Overlord, which led to misconceptions about Vanillaware's interest in PC ports; however, it was clarified that Vanillaware is not reluctant to pursue this option. Community support may play a crucial role in the future of these potential PC ports.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Indie Game Festival ‘BIC 2026’ Signs MOU with RedForce PC Arena

On June 12, the Busan Indie Connect Festival Organizing Committee and RedForce PC Arena signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026 (BIC 2026). The partnership includes the creation of a dedicated 'FGT (Focus Group Test) Zone' at the festival, allowing gamers to provide feedback on exhibition titles. RedForce PC Arena will supply high-performance PCs and monitors and manage technical support for the testing environment. The organization will also promote BIC 2026 through its network of PC cafes. BIC 2026 will take place as a hybrid festival from August 7 to 28 online and from August 14 to 16 offline at BEXCO Exhibition Center 1, Hall 2, in Busan.

AppWizard

June 2, 2026

LIFTED launches July 22 for PC, later for PS5 and Switch 2

LIFTED, a cinematic puzzle platforming adventure game developed by Adventure Works, will debut on PC via Steam on July 22, with plans for future releases on PlayStation 5 and Switch 2. The game features characters Ari Buktu and Professor Lionel Raventhorpe on a quest to find a legendary tiara for Miss Barton. Players will explore various locations, including 1818 Egypt and ancient Mayan civilizations, while solving puzzles and engaging in humorous antics. The narrative is crafted by Nick Gambino, a winner of the Austin Film Festival.

AppWizard

May 28, 2026

Li’l Friday: ‘Beetlejuice,’ PC Highland Games, Venus Flytrap Festival

Every Thursday evening through Labor Day, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk hosts the Boardwalk Blast event, featuring free music and fireworks. On May 28, The Petty Mac Revue will perform at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9 p.m. On May 29, the Broadway tour of “Beetlejuice” will be at the Wilson Center, with five performances from May 29 to 31. Other events include “Ten-Minute Miscellany” at Thalian Hall, “Mahalia: A Gospel Musical” by Techmoja Dance Company, “Twelfth Night” by Cape Fear Shakespeare, and a stand-up comedy show by Nick Murphy at Dead Crow Comedy Room. On May 30, the Port City Highland Games will take place at 3600 Randall Parkway, celebrating Scottish heritage and benefiting paws4vets, with over 1,500 participants expected. Other events include NC Vibe Fest, a performance by Striking Copper at Waterline Brewing, The Pop Culture Expo at Elk’s Lodge, Venus Flytrap Festival at BSL Community Center, and CFCC Riverfront Boat Show. On May 31, “Dear Evan Hansen” will be performed at Front Street Theater, with final performances from May 28 to 31. Other events include a donation drive in the Brooklyn Arts District and a concert by Titans Wilmington Symphonic Band.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

Thank You for Playing Forza Horizon 6!

The Forza Horizon 6 development team is utilizing community feedback from the Forza Feedback Portal to shape the game's future. Players can share suggestions, upvote feature requests, and report bugs to improve the gameplay experience. The Forza Discord allows players to connect and form Convoys, while the game features events like Car Meets and Drag Meets to foster community engagement. Players are encouraged to follow @ForzaHorizon on social media for updates and visit Forza.net for more information on upcoming changes.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

How to find a Stunt Party event in Forza Horizon 6

In Forza Horizon 6, players face the "Welcome to the Party, Pal!" challenge in Series 1 of the Festival Playlist, which requires them to complete round three of a Horizon Stunt Party event within a week. To find a Stunt Party event, players enter a multiplayer lobby and participate in mini-games, including racing, smashing objects, and performing aerial stunts. Completing the challenge takes about 10 to 15 minutes and rewards players with approximately 11,000 credits, an additional 5,000 credits for finishing the challenge, and one point towards Festival Playlist season progress.