gameplay experience Archives

AppWizard

September 8, 2026

GTA 6’s Criminal Profile system sounds pretty interesting, isn’t a direct copy of Red Dead’s Honor system

Grand Theft Auto 6 features a detailed environment where player choices significantly impact the narrative. Unlike previous games, it offers immersive gameplay with various actions reflecting players' moral decisions. Recent leaks reveal chaotic behaviors, such as violent outbursts and confrontations with NPCs, emphasizing player freedom in Vice City. Rockstar Games is not implementing punitive measures for player behavior but instead introduces a 'Criminal Profiles' system categorizing behavior into four states: Professional, Aggressive, Violent, and Psycho, with a fifth state called 'shattered' for disengaged players. Players can disable Criminal Profile notifications for a tailored experience. Protagonists Jason and Lucia can display different Criminal Profile states, influencing their interactions. Maintaining a 'Professional' state requires restraint, encouraging reflection on actions and consequences. Player actions are expected to impact narrative outcomes, with comments from Rob Nelson highlighting the interconnected systems of the game. Players will navigate choices that affect their experience, balancing chaos with a more measured approach.

BetaBeacon

September 4, 2026

Saints Row: The Third is coming to iPhone and Android on October 29

Feral Interactive is bringing Saints Row: The Third Remastered to iOS and Android on October 29, 2026, priced at .99. The game includes all DLC, offering players 14 additional missions, over 30 extra weapons, vehicles, and costumes. It has been redesigned for touch controls and also supports gamepads, keyboards, and mice for a seamless gaming experience.

AppWizard

September 3, 2026

A multi-month delay for Deus Ex turned into a huge payoff for one of its best characters, says designer Harvey Smith

Harvey Smith discussed the development of Deus Ex on the NoClip podcast, emphasizing the benefits of allowing extra time for game development, particularly in post-production. He noted that Ion Storm Austin received additional time, which enabled the team to refine the game and enhance the character Gunther Hermann, who initially had a limited role. Smith creatively integrated Gunther into a mission in a Paris cathedral, allowing for a more dynamic interaction and a dramatic moment where Gunther's presence added emotional weight to the gameplay. He highlighted the importance of providing game development teams with extra time to improve quality and creativity, suggesting that this approach could lead to greater success and recognition in the industry.

AppWizard

September 3, 2026

Guild Wars 3 is a lot smaller scale than Guild Wars 2 because of the new approach to combat and movement: ‘You would probably see about 20 players in a large combat scenario’

Guild Wars 3 will enter beta next year and features a maximum player count of around 20 in large combat scenarios, aimed at providing a more focused and visceral gameplay experience. The game emphasizes meaningful collaboration among players and promises a seamless interaction experience with fewer loading screens. Cities and towns will have no player cap, creating bustling social hubs, while traditional server barriers will be removed for easier play with friends. Party sizes will be limited to four players, which may affect regular gaming groups.

AppWizard

September 3, 2026

Onimusha on Steam Deck is the definition of ‘playable’: Surprisingly pleasant, so long as 30 fps isn’t a dealbreaker

The Steam Deck has proven to be a competent platform for playing Onimusha: Way of the Sword, showing commendable performance compared to other recent releases like Monster Hunter Wilds and Dragon's Dogma 2. Testing in the Kyoto hub area demonstrated the strengths of the Capcom proprietary engine, resulting in an enjoyable gameplay experience. While a high-end RTX 5090 PC offers enhanced visuals, the difference in gameplay enjoyment is not as significant as expected. Onimusha exemplifies a game that is "playable" on the Steam Deck, providing enough satisfaction for gaming on the go, even if it doesn't surpass the experience of a PC setup at home.

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

I modded GTA 6 leak-accurate car fuelling into GTA 5

An enthusiast is modding Grand Theft Auto V to resemble Grand Theft Auto VI, promising daily updates on their progress. New features hinted at for GTA VI include law enforcement's interest in character appearance, protagonists dealing with fatigue and nutrition, and a potential vehicle refueling mechanic. The modder has implemented a feature called Fumes – Animated Persistent Fuel, which introduces a realistic fuel system where vehicles have functional fuel tanks that deplete over time. Players must physically refuel their vehicles at gas stations, enhancing immersion. A new fuel meter on the minimap adds strategic elements to gameplay, and the modder shares experiences of testing these mechanics despite encountering errors from other mods.

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

After playing a bit of Lego Skylines, it seems like a city builder for people who care less about traffic jams and more about decorating

Lego unveiled a new city builder game titled Lego Skylines at Gamescom. The early gameplay preview lasted about 35 minutes, allowing players to construct a small neighborhood with a maximum population of around 50 residents. The game features whimsical animations for building and demolishing structures, vibrant visuals, and customization options for enhancing resident happiness through decorations. Players can complete quests to engage with the community and unlock new building types. Resource management involves constructing farms and factories to create supply chains, with a playful aesthetic evident in the design of buildings like a bread factory resembling a giant toaster. The game allows for a larger city scale of around 2,400 residents across several islands but focuses on a relaxed gameplay experience without catastrophic events.

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

Star Wars Zero Company is a great game that’s busted and may never be fixed

Star Wars Zero Company has an aggregate critic score of 85 on Metacritic and is regarded as one of the most acclaimed Star Wars games recently. The game features tactical gameplay similar to X-COM but suffers from technical issues, particularly on PC, including traversal stutters, input lag, and game-breaking bugs. Players have reported frequent crashes, with some needing to restart missions multiple times. The game has a "mostly positive" rating on Steam from nearly 9,000 reviews, yet many highlight similar performance problems. Console players on Xbox Series and PlayStation 5 have also experienced these issues. Bit Reactor, the independent studio behind Zero Company, has furloughed a significant portion of its workforce, with reports indicating that up to 80 percent of employees are currently unpaid. The studio faces an ongoing legal dispute among its co-founders, and confidence in receiving adequate post-launch support is low. Acknowledgment of issues was made on Steam's Community forums on the game's release day, but no further updates have been provided since.

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

Sick: Ace Combat 8 has online airbase lobbies where you can bum around as your own bespoke pilotsona

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve features a blend of aerial combat and storytelling. Bandai Namco released an "Online 101" video detailing multiplayer features, including online lobbies and personalized pilot avatars. Players can engage in 4v4 deathmatches and eight-pilot free-for-alls, unlocking new aircraft and customization options as they progress. The game will include battle passes, but any aircraft DLC in the premium pass will be available for individual purchase after the season. The game is set to launch on Steam on October 1.

AppWizard

September 1, 2026

Blizzard doing ‘a thorough scrub’ of illegitimate World of Warcraft Mythic-Plus dungeon rankings, with more changes to come

Blizzard Entertainment is reviewing World of Warcraft Mythic Plus Dungeon rankings due to concerns over players purchasing carries, following the introduction of rewards for the top 1% during the Midnight expansion. Game director Ion Hazzikostas confirmed that the team is thoroughly examining this issue and will provide updates soon. The competitive rankings have led to discussions about the rapid increase in cutoff scores and the prevalence of paid invitations for +21 level groups. Players have faced penalties for obtaining Mythic raiding mounts through real-money transactions, causing confusion over legitimate practices. The percentage-based ranking system has increased participation in Mythic Plus dungeons but resulted in lower retention rates compared to the previous season. Community feedback on the new rewards has been mixed, with some players feeling stressed by the uncertainty of the cutoff. Class balance has also become a concern, as successful teams tend to favor specific "meta" specs, potentially limiting accessibility for other players. Blizzard aims to keep dungeons accessible for all classes while considering specialization-specific cutoffs for future seasons.