Game Developers Conference Archives

AppWizard

March 6, 2026

MS exec: Microsoft’s next console will play “Xbox and PC games”

Asha Sharma, the new Executive Vice President for Gaming at Microsoft, announced that the upcoming Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, will enhance performance and support both Xbox and PC games. This marks a shift from traditional console gaming by allowing access to a broader library of games and enabling seamless transitions between console and PC gaming experiences. Project Helix may utilize Microsoft's streaming solutions or focus on titles for the Xbox-branded PC SDK and app, with the possibility of a full Windows installation on the console. Additionally, there is a trend towards reducing exclusive titles for Xbox consoles, indicating a move towards a more integrated gaming ecosystem.

AppWizard

March 5, 2026

Xbox CEO confirms next-gen ‘Project Helix’ console will play PC games

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced details about Microsoft's upcoming console, codenamed “Project Helix,” which is designed to excel in performance and run both console and PC games seamlessly. Sharma's announcement follows her recent appointment and comes at a time when Microsoft’s gaming division has faced challenges. She plans to share more information at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) next week. The announcement raises questions about whether Project Helix will be a high-performance PC in a console form and what hardware specifications it will have. The timing is significant as there are rumors of a potential delay for the PlayStation 6, potentially giving Microsoft an opportunity to lead in the hardware race.

AppWizard

March 5, 2026

The next Xbox is codenamed Project Helix, will run PC games

Asha Sharma, the newly appointed head of Xbox, announced that the upcoming console is codenamed Project Helix, which will prioritize performance for seamless gameplay across Xbox and PC platforms. The design may resemble a ROG Xbox Ally rather than a traditional gaming console. Sharma will engage with partners and studios at the upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC). Details about the release date and pricing are not yet available, and industry-wide shortages of RAM and SSDs may complicate the timeline for the console.

AppWizard

October 8, 2025

It’s literally impossible to pick the ‘real’ murderer in Pentiment because Obsidian never considered having one: ‘You’re not a detective, you’re a f***ing artist’

Pentiment is a game set in 16th-century Bavaria, where players assume the role of journeyman artist Andreas Maler, who becomes involved in a series of murders in the town of Tassing. The game features various suspects with distinct motives, and players must make choices without clear evidence, often leading to uncertainty about their decisions. Director Josh Sawyer emphasized that the game intentionally lacks a definitive answer to the mystery, stating that there is no right answer and that even he does not identify a specific culprit. Sawyer aimed to move away from traditional puzzle-solving mechanics in RPGs, focusing instead on the complexity of choices and their consequences. Players are not detectives but artists, with Andreas's main goal being to save his friend Piero, who is wrongfully accused of murder.

AppWizard

July 12, 2025

Minecraft Creator Says That If Buying a Game Is Not a Purchase, Then Pirating It Is Not Theft

Markus Persson, known as Notch, has been a controversial figure in the gaming community for his views on piracy. In 2012, he suggested that a Minecraft fan should pirate the game if they couldn't afford it, stating that if they liked it later, they could buy it. He argued at the 2011 Game Developers Conference that piracy should not be considered theft, as it does not remove the original copy from circulation. Recently, he commented on the Stop Killing Games initiative, which seeks to prevent game developers from permanently shutting down games, noting that if buying a game is not a purchase, then pirating it is not theft. He also reminisced about older games that allowed players to host their own servers. Earlier this year, he gauged interest in a potential return to game development, hinting at a spiritual successor to Minecraft.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

Balatro creator gets ‘a taste of my own medicine’ as he struggles in vain to score the game’s hardest achievement

Balatro was named PC Gamer's 2024 Game of the Year. The game's creator, LocalThunk, has completed Balatro with every deck across all difficulty levels but is striving for 100% completion. He recently faced a challenge known as The Wall, sharing a meme about his defeat while being at 146/150 for completionist++. LocalThunk has achieved the completionist+ milestone, which requires winning at gold stakes with every deck. A 1.1 update for Balatro is planned, introducing new Jokers and additional content, though the release date is uncertain.

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

What’s driving growth in the Chinese video game industry?

The Chinese game industry has experienced significant growth, with popular titles like Genshin Impact and Black Myth: Wukong driving global interest. Black Myth: Wukong sold 10 million copies within a week of its August 2024 launch and won Game of the Year at the 2024 Steam Awards. The single-player game market in China is becoming more sustainable, with a shift in focus due to the success of titles like Black Myth: Wukong. Developers are adapting their strategies, although challenges such as high production costs, competition, and issues related to work culture persist. Local governments are actively supporting game development through licensing, tax breaks, and grants, with initiatives aimed at integrating cultural themes into games. Despite layoffs in the industry, a robust social safety net exists to support affected employees.

AppWizard

April 7, 2025

The rights to one of the greatest PC games of all time languished in the vault of a Midwestern insurance firm until a frustrated player bugged them about a re-release, ‘But they asked me if I wanted to do System Shock 3’

Stephen Kick, founder of Nightdive Studios, and Larry Kuperman, VP of business development, discussed the upcoming remaster of System Shock 2 at the Game Developers Conference. Kick revealed that the rights to System Shock were held by an insurance company for a long time, which was unsure how to proceed with them. He contacted the insurance company, which had recently lost the trademark held by EA, allowing Star Insurance to gain full ownership. Kick proposed re-releasing the original games instead of developing a new title, which was accepted. The remaster of System Shock 2 is set to launch on June 26, and Nightdive's remake of the original game won a "best remake" award in 2023.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Snail Games blames marketing team for Ark: Aquatica AI trailer

Lead game designer Matt Kohl clarified that the AI-generated animation in the trailer for Ark: Aquatica was created by the marketing department, not the development team, which did not use AI in the game's development. The trailer, unveiled at the Game Developers Conference, received significant criticism from fans, prompting Studio Wildcard to issue a statement distancing itself from the project.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Why Sensor Tower acquired VG Insights and how consolidation of data sources could hurt games market

Sensor Tower acquired Video Game Insights, marking its third M&A move following the acquisitions of Pathmatics in 2021 and data.ai in 2024. The company aims to consolidate its position in gaming analytics, expanding its services to include PC and console market intelligence. The acquisitions were partially financed by Riverwood Capital and involved credit-based financing from Bain Capital Credit. VG Insights, founded in 2020, aims to provide comprehensive analytics tools for indie PC game developers, addressing a gap in the market compared to mobile game analytics.