funding Archives

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Meta to end Messenger.com web chat, move users to Facebook

Japan's ambassador to the United Nations, Kazuyuki Yamazaki, stated that the UN is facing significant financial difficulties, worsened by delays in contributions from the United States. He advocates for a reevaluation of the UN's operational frameworks and encourages member states to seek innovative solutions to enhance the organization's efficiency and effectiveness.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

XCOM designer Jake Solomon announces surprise closure of his studio alongside a first look at its canceled life sim, ‘the game we poured our hearts into’

Jake Solomon, founder of Midsummer Studios, announced the studio's closure and shared a gameplay video of "Burbank," a life simulation game. The game aimed to empower players as storytellers and was described as a blend of "Life Sims + The Truman Show." Despite receiving an 88% review score and being a Game of the Year runner-up for "Midnight Suns," the studio struggled with sales. Midsummer Studios had secured funding from various venture capital partners and Krafton but was seeking additional funding rounds. The gameplay footage of Burbank featured a polished aesthetic, with plans to use generative AI for character voices while ensuring visual art was created by human artists.

AppWizard

February 15, 2026

‘We lost things such as physics in games:’ The dev behind my most anticipated RPG thinks players are craving more interactive games, not just ‘moving around in a static 3D environment’

Csaba "ForestWare" Székely's upcoming RPG, Sword Hero, is generating buzz for its intricate NPC behaviors, dynamic physics interactions, and unique emergent gameplay. Székely describes it as a "eurojank" game, reflecting the ambitious efforts of European developers. The game is currently in crowdfunding, having met its initial Kickstarter goals and seeking additional funding. Early impressions of the combat mechanics are positive, and a playable demo is available for players, who can also wishlist the game on Steam.

AppWizard

February 14, 2026

The Star Citizen free fly is back, giving you a chance to try the colossal space game as it nears a billion dollars in funding

A new Star Citizen free fly event has launched, allowing players to explore the game without any initial investment for just over a week. The highly anticipated single-player spinoff, Squadron 42, is now playable from start to finish, with hopes for a potential release by 2026. Crowdfunding for Star Citizen has surpassed 2 million, nearing a billion-dollar milestone. During the free fly event, participants can choose from various ships, including the RSI Salvation, Anvil Arrow, Drake Golem, Argo Mole, and Drake Cutlass Black. The recruit-a-friend campaign rewards both new players and existing ones who refer friends. The event runs until Monday, February 23, and players can join by visiting the official Roberts Space Industries website. Squadron 42 promises a 40-hour story-driven campaign featuring a star-studded cast.

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

Not content with its breakneck pace, Hytale dev slows down updates for the live game so it can be “more adventurous”

Hytale, developed by Hypixel Studios, has reached a stable phase in its development, attracting millions of players for its early access launch. The studio has secured significant funding and is expanding its team to support ongoing development. Founder Simon Collins-Laflamme has introduced a new update release schedule, with two major updates and many smaller patches already rolled out. Pre-release builds will be launched weekly, with the understanding that some downtime may occur. Players are advised to back up their worlds due to potential instability during pre-releases. Updates will transition to the live build only when the team is confident in their quality, with releases expected every two to six weeks. Hypixel Studios will notify the community a few days before any full release, allowing for better adaptation between major updates. The development team emphasizes transparent communication with players to enhance the gaming experience.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

The Darkest Dungeon board game fiasco is finally over, and as expected it’s ended in tears: ‘Mythic Games is no longer able to manufacture or deliver’ it, Red Hook says, so it’s giving away the game files to all backers

The board game adaptation of Darkest Dungeon, initially funded through a Kickstarter campaign that raised .7 million, has collapsed due to ongoing financial issues with the publisher, Mythic Games. Red Hook Studios announced that Mythic Games is unable to manufacture or deliver the game, citing rising production and shipping costs exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions. Mythic Games ceased operations in December 2025, and a promise to provide backers with 3D printer files for the game’s miniatures was revealed to be misleading. Red Hook has decided to release all relevant game files to backers but lacks the expertise and funds to produce the board game itself.

AppWizard

January 26, 2026

PC Games Class Action Certified

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has granted certification for opt-out proceedings against Valve Corporation, alleging that approximately 14 million consumers have been overcharged for games and additional content on Steam, potentially amounting to £656 million. The claim accuses Valve of abusing market dominance through practices such as Platform Parity Obligations, Anti-steering and Tying Provisions, and excessive commission charges. Valve contested the certification, questioning the methodologies for establishing liability and loss, but the CAT dismissed these objections. The Tribunal examined the Class Representative’s funding arrangements and concluded that the claim is representative of a large group of consumers with moderate losses, aligning with the Supreme Court's description of a 'paradigm' case for opt-out certification. Legal representation for the Class Representative was provided by Milberg London LLP and the claim is financially supported by Bench Walk Advisors.

BetaBeacon

January 26, 2026

‘We’re going to let VR be what it is and what it does great,’ says Meta execs regarding Quest changes

Meta is shifting its focus from first-party development to third-party games for Meta Quest headsets, with Horizon Worlds taking a mobile-only approach. Oculus Founder Luckey Palmer refuted claims that Meta is abandoning VR.

AppWizard

January 21, 2026

GoLocalProv | Sports | Growing Questions About PC Coach English’s Ability to Close Out Games

The Providence College men’s basketball team has a disappointing 2-6 record in the Big East this season, despite high expectations and significant investments in talent and NIL funding. The team, which includes ten newcomers and five returning players, was anticipated to contend for the Big East title after a previous season that ended with a 12-20 overall record. Athletic Director Steven R. Napolillo expressed a commitment to improving the program. The Friars have experienced several close losses, including defeats to Virginia Tech, Butler, Seton Hall, UConn, and Marquette, while securing wins against Penn State and St. John’s. Their overall record currently stands at 9-10.

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

You’ve got until Monday to get 80% off 2 of the best dungeon crawlers ever made

The early 2010s saw a resurgence in the gaming industry with retro revival projects, facilitated by platforms like Steam and funding models like Kickstarter. One notable title from this period is Legend of Grimrock, a first-person dungeon crawler released in 2012 that revitalizes classic game mechanics. The game and its sequel, Legend of Grimrock 2, are currently available on Steam at an 80% discount, with the original priced at £2.55 and the sequel at £4, or together for £5. Legend of Grimrock 2 expands gameplay by introducing new environments, weapons, monsters, spells, and puzzles, and features level editors for community-created content. Legend of Grimrock 2 is the final project of Almost Human Games, whose members later formed Ctrl Alt Ninja, developing the tactical RPG Druidstone: The Secret of the Menhir Forest in 2019. The status of the developer is unclear, as many members have returned to traditional roles in other studios. The discount on the games ends on Monday.