FromSoftware Archives

AppWizard

August 17, 2025

One of the devs behind System Shock and Thief wants to see more games catering to ‘a new generation of folks discovering the game that demands more from them’

Marc LeBlanc discussed the success of the System Shock Remake on the Nightdive Studios' Deep Dive podcast, highlighting a dedicated audience for games that challenge critical thinking and creativity. He noted that the game encourages deeper engagement due to its lack of a conventional quest log. LeBlanc compared this trend to the success of FromSoftware games and mentioned titles like Stardew Valley as examples of a desire for depth in gaming. He reflected on his own gaming experiences, expressing a preference for challenging gameplay that requires critical thinking. Phil Savage from PC Gamer emphasized that the System Shock Remake did not need simplification for modern audiences but required an intuitive user interface and satisfying gameplay.

AppWizard

August 15, 2025

Stellar Blade PC Success is Indicative of Booming South Korean Gaming Industry

In its first three days of release on PC, Stellar Blade sold one million copies, contributing to a total of three million copies sold across PC and console platforms. A sequel is confirmed with a projected launch set for 2027. The game has received positive reviews for its combat mechanics and has benefited from the rising popularity of Korean culture. In 2023, Lies of P also gained acclaim, while Crimson Desert is generating hype despite a delay until 2026. The indie game Dave the Diver showcases the industry's expansion beyond traditional platforms. Additionally, Chinese developers have made significant progress, with Black Myth Wukong selling 20 million copies in its first month and boosting tourism to regions depicted in the game.

AppWizard

August 13, 2025

Elden Ring Nightreign’s next Everdark Sovereign is the GOAT. No, literally.

Players in Elden Ring Nightreign are preparing for a new boss encounter with Libra, Creature of Night, set to debut on August 14. Libra is described as a horned, magic-wielding creature that presents a significant challenge, with attacks causing madness buildup. Players can use Clarifying Boluses and talismans to mitigate this effect. Libra features a unique mechanic where he offers players a Faustian bargain at the start of each battle, allowing them to gain a boon in exchange for a bane. This mechanic also appears during random invasions, adding strategic depth to the gameplay.

AppWizard

August 3, 2025

Sorry haters, Elden Ring Nightreign’s much maligned new Everdark boss is its best yet

The Everdark Augur, also known as Maris, Fathom of Night, is a rotating superboss in Elden Ring Nightreign. Criticism of the boss includes its guaranteed weapon drop undermining the roguelike buildcrafting and the fight's slow pace, making it tedious. The Storm Ruler weapon can deal significant damage to large bosses and regenerates the player's FP bar, allowing for infinite healing. The fight encourages experimentation with various weapon and relic setups, as players do not need to tailor their builds specifically for this encounter. The author appreciates the surprise elements of the fight and FromSoftware's willingness to break conventional game design rules.

AppWizard

July 31, 2025

Elden Ring Nightreign’s newest Everdark Sovereign Augur, manages to break the fourth wall by sending me to sleep in the game and in real life

FromSoftware has integrated classic Everdark variants into the Elden Ring Nightreign, generating excitement among players. Augur was announced as the first Nightlord to receive a revamp, but the boss fight was disappointing, characterized by a lackluster combat experience. Players found the encounter tedious and frustrating, struggling to communicate strategies effectively. Despite this, there is an acknowledgment of FromSoftware's willingness to innovate within the Nightreign framework. Players are advised to focus on lightning-based effects to exploit Augur's vulnerabilities, although the revamped fight did not meet expectations.

AppWizard

July 28, 2025

Kung fu action game Phantom Blade Zero’s has my new favorite take on hard mode balance: Beating it ‘in a very beautiful manner’ is the true challenge

During a preview event in Beijing, gameplay in Phantom Blade Zero showcased a transition from novice to skilled player, successfully completing an hour-long demo on "Hellwalker" difficulty. The game emphasizes aesthetic elegance and engaging gameplay, offering a more forgiving experience compared to traditional Soulslike titles. It features fluid, dance-like combat and allows for success through straightforward tactics, while also presenting a challenge for those aiming for mastery. The AI adapts dynamically to player actions, incorporating a 'lucky draw' mechanic where boss attacks depend on previous hits, and can recognize its disadvantage in combat. The game includes diverse boss encounters, with some exhibiting intelligent behavior and others relying on brute force, requiring players to adapt their strategies accordingly.

AppWizard

July 23, 2025

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers review

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is an action-heavy soulslike game set in 14th century China during a plague, with a release date of July 24, 2025, priced at .99. It is developed by Leenzee and published by 505 Games. The game features a combat system that allows players to engage in battles while dodging attacks and using spells without a mana bar, supported by a skill tree for upgrades. However, the combat experience can become repetitive, with a lack of variety in enemy design and encounter mechanics. The environments are visually appealing but can feel disjointed, and the game struggles to establish a unique identity, often echoing elements from FromSoftware's titles. It does not include multiplayer and is verified for Steam Deck. The game was reviewed on an RTX 5090, Intel Core i9 12900K, and 32GB RAM.

AppWizard

July 14, 2025

Way of the Samurai studio Acquire Corp and Red Dunes Games announce collaboration on multiple new IPs

United Arab Emirates-based publisher and developer Red Dunes Games has formed a multi-year partnership with Japanese studio Acquire Corp. The collaboration aims to create innovative gaming experiences, with plans for three projects: Project Tremor (kaiju battles), Project Umbra (dark fantasy adventure), and Project Shadowcar (spy thriller). All titles will be global premium releases for console and PC, with premieres at major events like the Tokyo Game Show. Acquire Corp. was recently acquired by Kadokawa Corporation and is known for developing the RPG Mario & Luigi: Brothership for Nintendo Switch. Red Dunes Games, introduced in September 2024, is set to launch titles including Princess of the Water Lilies and Zozo and the Lost Dreams.

AppWizard

July 14, 2025

Those shadow giants in the distance in Elden Ring Nightreign are over 2 miles tall⁠—almost as big as the Erdtree⁠—and nobody even mentions them in the game

The giants in Elden Ring Nightreign are measured at 3,450 meters tall, making them the largest entities in a Soulsborne game, surpassing the Dragon God from Demon's Souls and the big rope man from Sekiro. Their size is comparable to the Erdtree, and even the largest monsters from previous titles would barely reach their knees. The RLA Strider measures 4,953 meters in length. The Planetary Enclosure satellite from Armored Core 6 stands at 5.9 kilometers tall and spans over 11 kilometers in width. The narrative surrounding these giants is ambiguous, with no explicit references in the game, but they are suggested to play a significant role in the story.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

The First Berserker: Khazan New Update Introduces AMD FSR 3 and 4 Support on PC, Balance and System Changes and More

A new update for The First Berserker: Khazan has been released on PC and consoles, featuring support for AMD FSR 3 and FSR 4 on AMD Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs, provided users have the Adrenalin driver version 25.6.1 or later. The update includes free downloadable content such as new armor sets, hairstyles for character customization, balance adjustments, changes to difficulty settings, gear tweaks, and user interface improvements. Comprehensive update notes are available on Steam. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.