gameplay performance Archives

BetaBeacon

June 23, 2026

I gamed on 2026’s best Snapdragon and Exynos flagship phones

The Exynos-equipped Galaxy S26 Plus performs well in gaming, handling Genshin Impact with a locked frame rate and outperforming the Tensor G5 chip in the Pixel 10 Pro XL. However, the Exynos flagship is capped at 60fps in Call of Duty Mobile, raising questions about the impact of per-game optimizations on gameplay experiences.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

How PlayStation And PC Games Shape Reward Systems

PlayStation and PC gaming ecosystems both aim to make progress feel worthwhile through various rewards, including trophies, cosmetics, and seasonal items. PlayStation rewards are typically clear and straightforward, linking effort to outcomes, while PC rewards offer more choice and personalization, often involving community-created content. Cosmetics play a significant role on both platforms, allowing for personal expression without affecting gameplay balance. The trophy system on PlayStation fosters social interaction and is integral to the console experience, while PC rewards can create a vibrant market culture based on item rarity and demand. Battle passes are bridging the gap between the two systems by introducing seasonal content and objectives. Random rewards, which rely on chance, require careful navigation to ensure players maintain control over their spending. Effective reward systems are characterized by generosity, clarity, and fairness, guiding players toward goals without creating a sense of entrapment. The divide between PlayStation and PC rewards is narrowing, with both platforms increasingly adopting elements from each other to enhance the gaming experience.

AppWizard

June 6, 2026

Guild Wars 1 and 2 will continue to get updates even after Guild Wars 3 is out: ‘We are not replacing your favorite games’

ArenaNet confirmed that the development of Guild Wars 3 will not end support for Guild Wars 2 or the original Guild Wars, as both will continue to receive updates "for the foreseeable future." Colin Johanson stated, "We are not replacing your favorite games. We'll be supporting them." Players can expect a slight slowdown in new content for Guild Wars 2 as the focus shifts to Guild Wars 3, but several smaller updates are planned, including an optimization pass, a revival of the Hall of Monuments system, and an updated version of the Zhaitan fight. Guild Wars 2 will continue to receive expansions even after the launch of Guild Wars 3.

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

We tested Advanced Shader Delivery on the RX 9070 XT in six games — up to 95% improvement in load times and 33 percent faster 1% Low FPS

Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) significantly reduces load times and improves frame rates in games. In tests across six titles, loading times improved by up to 95%, and certain games showed enhancements in 1% low FPS metrics. ASD allows precompiled shaders to be included with game downloads, preventing shader compilation stutter. Forza Horizon 6 saw load times decrease from 48 seconds to 2 seconds (96% improvement), while The Outer Worlds 2's load time dropped from nearly three minutes to 9 seconds (95% reduction). Ninja Gaiden 4 experienced smoother gameplay with ASD enabled, despite no pre-compilation step. Avowed's load time improved by 78%, reducing the wait by over two minutes. Hogwarts Legacy had a 56% reduction in load time, while Silent Hill f did not benefit from ASD in terms of load times but still faced shader compilation stutters.

BetaBeacon

May 9, 2026

7 Addictive Card and Strategy Games Android Users Should Try in 2026

Hearthstone has a Google Play rating of 4.1+ and has been downloaded over 100 million times.

AppWizard

February 14, 2026

A fraction of the most popular PC games over the past year use hardware-level ray tracing, which is far fewer than I’d predict just 24 months ago

Ray tracing technology has seen a decline in prevalence among popular new game releases as developers prioritize optimized performance due to hardware challenges. In the past year, only a few titles have utilized ray tracing, such as Monster Hunter Wilds for basic reflections and Borderlands 4 using software-based Lumen from Unreal Engine 5. Indie games are increasingly favored for their accessibility and lower development costs, often avoiding high-performance techniques. Unreal Engine 5 has led to a resurgence of software-based ray tracing, though hardware ray tracing can provide better results at the cost of performance. Upcoming titles like Elden Ring: Nightreign and Battlefield 6 have opted out of hardware ray tracing to focus on gameplay performance. Many award-winning games have also chosen not to implement hardware-based ray tracing, emphasizing gameplay experience over graphical fidelity. Despite its reduced prominence, ray tracing remains a valuable tool for enhancing gaming experiences when used thoughtfully. The potential for ray tracing to improve visual storytelling continues as hardware becomes more accessible.

AppWizard

January 27, 2026

Is Highguard down? Current server status

Wildlight Entertainment's PvP raid shooter, Highguard, has launched, but initial reports indicate server instability, with some players unable to progress beyond the main menu due to a persistent login queue after completing the tutorial. The developers have not yet commented on the server issues. Players are advised to monitor the PlayHighguard X account for updates on server status, as in-game notifications may also be provided.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

Just when you think there’s no room for shooters to innovate, here’s one where your health is literally your framerate

FPS Quest links player health to framerate, causing framerate drops as the character takes damage. Players can upgrade weapons and manipulate the game environment to boost framerate and health, such as replacing a 3D gun with a 2D sprite or altering level geometry. One upgrade can increase framerate by 10 fps at the cost of removing structural columns, which eliminates cover. This mechanic encourages a balance between alterations and game stability.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

Hypixel Studios releases the PC system requirements for its Minecraft-lookalike Hytale, and it’s the most comprehensive breakdown I’ve seen in a long time

Hytale is a voxel-based sandbox game with detailed hardware requirements that include minimum, recommended, and 'streamer' specifications. The minimum requirements allow for casual gameplay, while the recommended requirements enhance performance for a smoother experience. The streamer requirements are high-end specifications aimed at content creators for optimal performance. An Intel HD Graphics 630 can achieve approximately 30–34 FPS at 1080p on low settings, while an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and NVIDIA RTX 5080 can sustain around 400 FPS at 3840×1440 resolution while recording gameplay. The game is expected to require 100 GB of storage, and its early access launch is anticipated in January 2026.

AppWizard

September 5, 2025

Cronos: The New Dawn PC Performance Analysis

Bloober Team will release its third-person action horror game, Cronos: The New Dawn, using Unreal Engine 5. Benchmarking tests were conducted on a setup with an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and various high-end graphics cards. The game offers customizable graphics settings and supports technologies like NVIDIA DLSS 4, AMD FSR 3.1, and Intel XeSS 2.0. At 1080p with Epic Settings, the top five graphics cards achieved over 60 FPS. At Native 1440p, only the NVIDIA RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 maintained fluid performance, while no GPU reached 60 FPS at Native 4K. Lowering settings from Epic to High can improve performance by 18–25%. The game features impressive visuals but has minor imperfections and fewer stutters without Hardware Lumen enabled. It outperforms Silent Hill 2 Remake in stability and aligns with typical Unreal Engine 5 performance expectations.