game updates Archives

AppWizard

January 22, 2026

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, and More

Resident Evil Village is now available on Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass. MIO: Memories in Orbit launches on day one with Game Pass. Death Stranding Director’s Cut will be available on January 21. RoadCraft will also launch on January 21. Ninja Gaiden Ragebound is set for January 21 release. The Talos Principle 2 will be available on January 27. Anno: Mutationem launches on January 28. Drop Duchy is coming on January 28. MySims: Cozy Bundle will be available on January 29. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II is set for January 29. Indika will launch on February 2. Final Fantasy II will be available on February 3. Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is playable now. The Sims 25th Birthday Bundle will be available on January 22. Grounded 2 Garden Update will be released on January 27. Dead by Daylight has a Stranger Things DLC.

AppWizard

January 20, 2026

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine II & Death Stranding Heading to Xbox Game Pass

- Resident Evil Village is available on Cloud, Console, and PC through Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass. - MIO: Memories in Orbit is launching on day one with Game Pass for Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. - Death Stranding Director's Cut will be available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on January 21. - RoadCraft will be available on PC on January 21. - Ninja Gaiden Ragebound will be available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on January 21. - The Talos Principle 2 will be available on PC and Xbox Series X|S on January 27. - Anno: Mutationem will be available on Cloud, PC, and Console on January 28. - Drop Duchy will be available on Cloud, PC, and Console on January 28. - MySims: Cozy Bundle will be available on PC on January 29. - Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II will be available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on January 29. - Indika will be available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on February 2. - Final Fantasy II will be available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on February 3. - Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is available now on PC. - The Sims 25th Birthday Bundle will be available on PC on January 22. - Grounded 2 Garden Update will be available on Cloud, PC, and Console on January 27. - Dead by Daylight - Stranger Things DLC will be available on January 27. - Sea of Thieves Season 18, Act 2 will be available on Cloud, PC, and Console on January 22. - Several titles will be leaving the Game Pass library on January 31, including Shady Part of Me, Cataclismo, Starbound, Lonely Mountains Snow Riders, Paw Patrol World, Citizen Sleeper 2 Starward Vector, and Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap.

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Steam Workshop just got version control, hopefully making it less of a headache when game updates break all our mods

A significant update for a popular game has disrupted the ecosystem of mods and saved games. Valve has introduced new version control options for Steam Workshop to help players select compatible mod and game versions more easily. These options include new Steam APIs that allow developers to define past game versions and enable mod authors to specify compatibility with specific game versions. The new features can automatically manage version mismatches, allowing Steam to close the game, switch to the appropriate version, and relaunch it if a player attempts to use an incompatible mod. This requires cooperation from developers and mod authors to implement the necessary configurations.

AppWizard

December 7, 2025

Viking RTS Northgard is now Northgard: Definitive Edition, thanks to an update that folds in its major DLC and adds a bunch of new stuff free to existing players

Northgard, a Viking-themed RTS released in 2018, features traditional strategy mechanics along with dynamic weather systems and a region-based expansion approach. Fraser Brown rated it 84%, noting it transcends nostalgia. The Northgard: Definitive Edition adds a Valhalla-themed biome and makes previously exclusive biomes available in various modes, along with a revamped in-game shop and a digital artbook. Existing players receive these updates for free, while new players can purchase the Definitive Edition at a 60% discount, reducing the price from £29.50 to £11.80 until December 18. Additionally, Tempest Rising has introduced superweapons for every faction and a new playable Veti faction currently in public beta testing.

AppWizard

December 6, 2025

Rust’s hotly anticipated naval update is delayed into 2026: ‘We took on too much’

Facepunch Studios has introduced a medieval-themed primitive mode and an expansive jungle biome in Rust in early 2025. The highly anticipated naval expansion update has been delayed, which would allow players to build ships and engage in naval battles. COO Alistair McFarlane acknowledged the disappointment in a blog post but emphasized the studio's commitment to quality updates. A Christmas update is scheduled for December 18, incorporating features initially planned for the delayed naval update, followed by a smaller update in January that will preview plans for Rust in 2026.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

Minecraft’s new version numbering system

Starting in 2026, both Bedrock and Java Edition will adopt a version numbering system that begins with '26'. While both editions will share the initial digits, the subsequent numbers will differ due to platform limitations and varying release schedules. For example, in 2025, three significant game updates were released: Spring to Life, Chase the Skies, and The Copper Age, with one more, Mounts of Mayhem, on the way.

BetaBeacon

November 27, 2025

I wish the Play Store copies this time-saving feature for large game updates

HONOR has introduced a Smart Game Update Feature for its devices in China, which automatically detects and downloads updated game files overnight while the phone is charging.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

Marvel Contest of Champions Makes the Jump to PC Gaming

The game "Contest of Champions" has consistently aligned its roster and events with developments in the Marvel universe across various media. The game's success is significantly attributed to its vibrant community, which the developers view as integral to the game's longevity. Community members, including those who have transitioned to the development team, provide valuable insights that influence game updates and expansions. Events like Summoners Fest allow developers to gain a deeper understanding of player experiences, which informs the creation of new Champions and the enhancement of existing ones. The community's feedback has led to formalized game rules and improved engagement with Champions.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Slot machine roguelike CloverPit sells 1 million copies, and its developer celebrates the payout by adding its ‘most requested feature yet’

Panik Arcade's game CloverPit has sold one million copies since its launch at the end of September. The game features a cursed one-armed bandit in a dimly lit basement. The developers have made gameplay adjustments, notably transforming the Hourglass charm to enhance its utility. Despite some critiques regarding the game's depth, a playtime of 10 hours is noted as commendable. CloverPit is currently available at a 10% discount, priced at £7.65 until November 26.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Almost 20 years since it hit Steam, Garry’s Mod finally addresses ‘lackluster support for weapons used by NPCs’ and gives Dr Kleiner his gun license

Garry's Mod, a sandbox game from Facepunch Studios, continues to be popular with over 22,000 players in the last 24 hours, ranking as the 62nd most popular game on Steam. Recent updates include a November patch that improves water visuals using advanced fluid rendering techniques, a March update adding new NPCs and a new game mode called Treason, and a July update integrating assets from Counter-Strike: Source and Half-Life 2 into community maps. The game is approaching its 20th anniversary on Steam next year.