future Archives

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

Slipknot’s Clown built fantasy ‘Minecraft’ realm to help him grieve

Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan has been a key figure in Slipknot for three decades and recently launched his first fully playable game, Vernearth, inspired by Minecraft. The game allows players to build structures, engage in battles, and embark on quests, and it officially launched on December 1. Clown's passion for gaming began in his youth, and he faced challenges in game development due to financial barriers. He developed Vernearth over four years with his daughter and a drum tech, creating a unique version of Minecraft with new gameplay elements and a darker atmosphere. The game serves as a personal outlet for Clown, helping him cope with grief related to family losses. He is also exploring online therapy integration within the game and has launched The Auction House for players to trade items. Additionally, he is working on an original soundtrack for Vernearth while taking a break from new material with Slipknot.

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

I don’t know why everyone’s suddenly making games inspired by Spore, but this roguelike twin-stick shooter might be the best attempt yet at realising the lost potential of the cell stage

In recent months, the gaming community has shown renewed interest in unconventional titles, particularly the 2008 game Spore. A new game called Pathogenic has emerged, allowing players to control a parasite invading a human host, incorporating themes of evolution and customization. The gameplay resembles a twin-stick shooter, where players navigate their parasite while facing challenges from the host's immune system. Pathogenic currently offers a free demo and has received positive early impressions for its polished development.

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

Disney suddenly pulls 14 games from Steam, including a childhood favorite, and the preservationist in me is wincing

More than a dozen Disney-published titles have been removed from sale on Steam, raising concerns about digital preservation. The delisted games include: - Afterlife - Armed and Dangerous - Disney's Cars Radiator Springs Adventures - Disney's Chicken Little Ace in Action - Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure - Disney's Hercules - Disney Pixar Finding Nemo - Disney Pixar Toy Story Mania - Disney Planes - Disney The Princess and The Frog - Disney Winnie the Pooh - Lucidity - Phineas and Ferb: New Inventions - Stunt Island The removal affects both lesser-known licensed games and beloved classics from LucasArts, such as Afterlife, which allows players to build infrastructures of heaven and hell, and other notable titles like Armed and Dangerous and Stunt Island. Players were not given prior notice about the delisting.

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

Minecraft-like Hytale got a huge dinosaur update just a few days after release

Hytale has launched as a playable title with positive early reception and has generated enough revenue to support two additional years of development. The game received praise for its engaging gameplay, and a significant update was released just four days post-launch, which included the addition of dinosaurs. The Hytale Team has been transparent about the game's lore and design, sharing information on their official website. The project saw rapid progress after Simon Collins-Laflamme took over following its cancellation by Riot Games, with gameplay footage released shortly after the acquisition. Hytale is currently available for purchase in early access on the developer's website, although it has not yet launched on Steam.

Winsage

January 18, 2026

Windows 11 KB5074109 issues: black screen, freezes Outlook POP, breaks Azure Virtual Desktop, LocalizedResourceName (desktop.ini)

Windows 11 KB5074109 has caused several issues for users, particularly those with Nvidia GPUs, including black screens, Outlook freezing with POP accounts, and problems with File Explorer's desktop.ini settings. Users have reported random black screens and desktop freezes after installing the update, with some finding temporary relief by changing their monitor's DisplayPort mode. Outlook Classic has been problematic, remaining active in the background and freezing shortly after opening, prompting users to terminate the process in Task Manager or uninstall the update. Additionally, the update disrupts Azure Virtual Desktop functionality, leading to sign-in failures and connection issues. Microsoft has acknowledged these problems and is investigating solutions, including a Known Issue Rollback for AVD. The update also breaks the LocalizedResourceName directive in File Explorer, preventing folder name customization. Users can uninstall the update through Settings, but this may expose them to security vulnerabilities.

Winsage

January 18, 2026

Microsoft lets you use .webp images as Windows 11 desktop background, no signs of Video wallpaper yet

Users can now select .webp images as their desktop wallpaper in Windows 11 by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Desktop Background, as part of Build 26220.7653. This feature is currently available to testers and will roll out to Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 devices soon. The .webp format allows for high-quality images with smaller file sizes compared to JPG and PNG. Previously, users had to convert images to PNG or JPG for use as wallpapers. Microsoft is also exploring the possibility of allowing video formats like .mp4 as desktop backgrounds, with tests showing that videos can be applied seamlessly without a size limit and stable resource usage. However, this video wallpaper feature has not appeared in the latest builds, leaving .webp images as the current option.

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

Minecraft Age Verification Goes Live in the UK; Locks Chat Access If Unverified

Starting in February, UK players of Minecraft will need to verify their age to access unrestricted chat, in compliance with the UK's Online Safety Act. Players with adult accounts must confirm they are at least 18 years old; those who do not will lose access to social features like chat until verification is completed. The verification process will be conducted by Yoti, and no personal data will be retained after verification. This requirement currently applies only to the UK but may expand to other regions in the future. Players will not lose any in-game purchases, worlds, or achievements if they choose not to verify their age.

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

New York City is being recreated at 1:1 scale inside Minecraft — project is 5 years in and contains over 50,000 buildings so far

YouTuber MineFact has showcased the progress of the Build The Earth project, where his team has recreated a significant portion of Lower Manhattan in Minecraft at a 1:1 scale. This project involves 50 to 80 players and covers nearly 700 square kilometers (approximately 270 square miles). Completed neighborhoods include Liberty Island, NoHo, SoHo, Nolita, Bowery, Little Italy, Chinatown, and Two Bridges, with all areas south of Canal Street recreated except for the Financial District. PippenFTS is another key figure in the project, which aims to replicate the entire planet in Minecraft, involving 45 teams and over 3,719 members in the BTE New York City team. The project is expected to take multiple decades, with ongoing work in other parts of Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, while The Bronx and Staten Island remain untouched. The team is seeking volunteers to join the project, offering guidance and templates for newcomers.

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

Disney suddenly pulls 14 games from Steam, including a childhood favorite, and the preservationist in me is wincing

Over a dozen Disney-published titles have been removed from Steam, raising concerns about digital preservation in gaming. Notable delisted games include the 1996 simulation game Afterlife, along with Armed and Dangerous, Lucidity, and Stunt Island. The complete list of removed titles is: - Afterlife - Armed and Dangerous - Disney's Cars Radiator Springs Adventures - Disney's Chicken Little Ace in Action - Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure - Disney's Hercules - Disney Pixar Finding Nemo - Disney Pixar Toy Story Mania - Disney Planes - Disney The Princess and The Frog - Disney Winnie the Pooh - Lucidity - Phineas and Ferb: New Inventions - Stunt Island The absence of prior notice regarding the delisting has frustrated fans and collectors, highlighting the fragility of digital ownership.

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

This Thief fan mission has you play a blind character trying to steal back their sight, and honestly that’s probably the least weird thing about it

Selection Day is a newly released fan mission for the classic game Thief 2, set in a dystopian future where a City faces sinkholes and blindness. Players navigate using a braille system and machines that project braille into the air. The mission's objective is to "Seek Remedy for Your Blindness," and players take on the role of a court judge whose journey is interrupted by an Ocular Superior. It is recommended to use T2fix and an FM launcher like Angelloader, and to play in 1080p resolution for an enhanced experience. The designer of the mission is Hanover Aldercash.