free-to-play Archives

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

PC Game with Dead Space Vibes Is Free to Keep for a Limited Time

Dire Echo, an indie horror game, is available for free on PC for users with an Itch.io account. The game has received "Mostly Positive" reviews on Steam and typically retails for .99. It was launched on June 5, 2026, and is part of a promotion by indie developer TrueGames.

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

Where Winds Meet is Out Today, With Exclusive XBOX Game Pass Benefits and a New Expansion on the Way

Where Winds Meet, a free-to-play Wuxia open-world ARPG, is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and cloud platforms. Since its launch last November, the game has attracted over 80 million players and has had two expansions. The game is set in 10th Century China and features six distinct regions for exploration. Players can customize their combat style with various weapons and martial arts skills, and take on roles such as a doctor or assassin. A new expansion, Hidden Mountain, was announced, introducing a mountainous region with new gameplay mechanics. The game supports Smart Delivery and is optimized for Xbox, featuring HDR support and upscaling for better visuals. Xbox Game Pass members can access the game and receive a starter pack of resources from June 7 to July 23.

AppWizard

June 9, 2026

[Exclusive] Asia Game Buzz & GameDev Reports: China’s Steam & PC Gaming Market in 2025

The Chinese gaming market is valued at approximately .6 billion and is projected to have over 683 million players by the end of 2025, with 42.4 million users on the Steam platform. Client-based PC games make up about 22.28% of the market, equating to around .5 billion, while the legal console market is estimated at .1-1.2 billion for 2025. Steam holds 87% of all monthly active users in the PC and console market, while PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox account for 6%, 5%, and 2%, respectively. As of the end of 2022, there were over 16.7 million console players in China, with total console revenue reaching approximately .3 billion. Major gaming events like ChinaJoy and Bilibili World attracted over 410,000 and 300,000 visitors, respectively, in 2025. The demand for gaming merchandise is growing, with over 100 million users searching for related products by 2025. Heybox is the primary distribution channel for PC keys, with TapTap and Sonkwo also gaining popularity. Effective marketing relies on platforms like Heybox, Bilibili, and Douyin, while Xiaohongshu and Weibo remain influential. The leading game genres in China include action/shooters (33%), RPG/adventure (24%), and simulation/management (16%).

AppWizard

June 6, 2026

Crossfire was the most surprising game reveal I’ve attended in years

That's No Moon is a relatively unknown studio in Los Angeles, established during the pandemic and backed by South Korean publisher Smilegate. The studio's debut game is titled Crossfire, which is a single-player, third-person tactical shooter that diverges from Smilegate's original competitive FPS. The game features a protagonist named Minkoff, voiced by Claudia Doumit, and incorporates high lethality, limited healing options, and manual magazine reloading. Players engage in intense firefights with controlled bursts of fire and a unique on-screen reticle that enhances the connection to the weapon. The game includes a modular inventory system for managing gear and ammunition, encourages looting, and offers a linear, narrative-driven campaign. An adaptive cover system allows players to use various forms of cover dynamically. The studio aimed to balance accessibility with tactical challenges, and they proposed using the Crossfire name after exploring the franchise's lore.

BetaBeacon

June 5, 2026

Game of Thrones Dragonfire: the House of the Dragon mobile game now available on iOS and Android

Game of Thrones: Dragonfire is a free-to-play strategy game available on iOS and Android, where players take on the role of a new dragonrider during the Targaryen civil war to strengthen their House, forge alliances, and fight for the Iron Throne.

BetaBeacon

June 4, 2026

Your next Pokémon obsession hits Android and iOS very soon

Pokémon Champions, a free-to-play Pokémon spin-off, launched on the Nintendo Switch in April 2026 and will be available on mobile platforms starting June 17, 2026. Players can pre-register for the game on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. A special in-game campaign will offer rewards to players who participate, including Raichu, Raichunite X, and Raichunite Y. The game is focused on multiplayer battles and is cross-platform, allowing players to compete against others on both Switch and mobile devices.

BetaBeacon

June 3, 2026

Pokemon Champions for iOS, Android launches June 17

Pokemon Champions, a free-to-play battle game, will launch on iOS and Android on June 17, with cross-platform play between Switch and mobile devices. Players can receive Raichu, Raichunite X, and Raichunite Y by checking their in-game mailbox from June 17 to September 2.

BetaBeacon

June 2, 2026

Warner Bros launches Game of Thrones: Dragonfire on iOS and Android

Warner Bros. Games and HBO have launched Game of Thrones: Dragonfire, a free-to-play mobile strategy game inspired by House of the Dragon. Players can control up to five dragon-led armies, each with unique dragons and abilities, to conquer Westeros during the Targaryen Civil War. The game features tactical, tile-based warfare, a Dragon Strike minigame, and strategic control of the map. The narrative evolves based on player choices and performance, offering branching storylines and reactive Campaign stages.

BetaBeacon

May 29, 2026

Inazuma Eleven Cross Game Launches for iOS, Android on June 9

Inazuma Eleven: Cross will be launching for iOS and Android on June 9, featuring a new protagonist named Yō Shiosawa and an original story. The Japan National Team 2026 Project will be included in the game, along with new commemorative artwork and the addition of Mark Evans and Jude Sharp in Japan's national team uniform. The fifth free major update "New Kick-Off" DLC for Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road will be available on June 11. Characters from Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road will not transfer to Inazuma Eleven: Cross, but will be saved for a future sequel game.

AppWizard

May 28, 2026

Victims of cheaters in Marvel Rivals will be refunded all the ranked points they lost if they report them thanks to NetEase’s new Anti-Cheat Rank Compensation System

Marvel Rivals is experiencing a significant increase in cheating incidents, prompting NetEase to initiate a ban wave and announce updates to its anti-cheat system. Many players believe these measures are inadequate. To address player frustration, NetEase will introduce a new Anti-Cheat Rank Compensation System, allowing players to receive a full refund of Ranked Points lost if they report a confirmed cheater, although this does not apply to Placement Matches. This system, called the "Victim Compensation Protocol," is similar to those in other games like Overwatch and Valorant. However, players remain concerned that current punitive measures are insufficient to deter cheaters, especially since Marvel Rivals is free-to-play, making account bans ineffective. More stringent measures, such as hardware or IP bans, may be necessary, but these harsher penalties are only a small part of the overall ban efforts.