Gamers Archives

AppWizard

July 10, 2026

25 Games Tested On The Steam Machine: A Good, But Pricey Device

Valve's Steam Machine, priced at ,000, was tested with a 2TB unit using default settings at 1080p resolution, upscaled to 4K. Various games were evaluated for performance, including: - Cyberpunk 2077: Smooth 60 FPS with light ray tracing; stability issues at resolutions above 1080p. - Mouse: P.I. for Hire: Ran flawlessly at 60 FPS with default settings. - Left 4 Dead 2: Performed admirably. - Borderlands 4: Had visual issues initially; became playable after adjustments. - Hades 2: Ran seamlessly at default settings. - Silent Hill 2: Struggled with performance. - Doom: The Dark Ages: Played smoothly; could use visual adjustments. - Megabonk: Performed impressively. - Spider-Man 2: Decent at default settings; improved with resolution increase. - Windrose: Struggled at default settings; medium settings improved performance. - Overwatch: Exceptional experience at default settings. - Grand Theft Auto V: Ran well after initial setup issues. - Gears of War Reloaded: Visuals improved after tweaks. - Fallout 4: Maintained solid performance without adjustments. - Control Ultimate Edition: Needed settings lowered for stable performance. - Arc Raiders: Playable but with fuzzy image quality. - Elden Ring: Performed admirably with some tweaks. - Vampire Crawlers: Provided a sharp experience. - Resident Evil 4 remake: Satisfactory but needed adjustments for better visuals. - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Became playable after adjustments. - Helldivers 2: Ran well but lacked sharpness compared to PS5 Pro. - Resident Evil Requiem: Solid experience but fell short against PS5 Pro. - The Last of Us Part II Remastered: Ran exceptionally well. - Peak: Required no adjustments and performed comparably to high-end PCs. - Warhammer 40K: Darktide: Achieved stable 60 FPS after tweaks. - Halo: Master Chief Collection: Unplayable due to login issues. - Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip: Ran smoothly at maximum settings. - Rage: Ran smoothly after adjustments. The Steam Machine is seen as intriguing but its high price limits appeal to dedicated enthusiasts. It offers access to a vast library of Steam games, particularly older or 2D titles, but may not be justifiable for non-PC gamers, especially with upcoming titles on rival consoles.

AppWizard

July 10, 2026

The next PlayStation looks more and more like a PC, and that’s not a bad thing

Sony has announced it will cease physical disc production by January 2028. A petition to reverse this decision has garnered over 200,000 signatures. A nostalgic video from PlayStation's YouTube channel has resurfaced, reflecting gamers' emotional connection to physical media. Concerns about long-term ownership of digital content have been raised, particularly after reports of purchased titles being removed from users' libraries. The trend towards digital gaming is evident, with some gamers opting for the PS5 Digital Edition for convenience. The shift may impact local retailers and the second-hand market, as well as the experiences of trading or renting games. Limited edition physical disc releases and optional disc drives for future consoles could provide a compromise for both digital and physical media enthusiasts.

Winsage

July 10, 2026

Windows Market Share Is Falling

StatCounter reports a decline in Windows usage this year, while OSX is rising, aided by the budget-friendly Neo. Linux is also gaining popularity, though specific distributions are not identified. Gamers are increasingly moving away from Windows, influenced by Microsoft's mixed reception of its AI features and the rise of alternatives like Bazzite, SteamOS, and the Proton compatibility layer.

AppWizard

July 10, 2026

Epic Games giveaway will see you save $50 on two free games

Epic Games is offering two complimentary titles for PC users: Nova Lands and Tattoo Tycoon, available until July 16 at 4 PM BST. Nova Lands is a 2D open-world game focused on factory building and exploration, currently rated 89% on Steam, with an average playtime of 19 hours. Tattoo Tycoon is a simulation game where players manage a tattoo parlor, priced at .99 and holding a mixed rating of 61% on Steam. Both games can be claimed at no cost and are yours to keep indefinitely.

AppWizard

July 10, 2026

ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces Raikiri II Pro PC Game Controller

ASUS Republic of Gamers has launched the ROG Raikiri II Pro PC gaming controller, featuring an 8K polling rate for high responsiveness. It includes customizable hot-swappable TMR joystick modules with two actuation force options (120gf and 50gf), four removable rear buttons, and two extra claw bumpers that can be remapped. A full-color panel allows for on-the-fly adjustments, and ASUS Gear Link software offers detailed customization, including Turbo mode for rapid auto-repeat. The controller boasts up to 79 hours of battery life on a single charge using 2.4 GHz wireless. It comes with premium accessories, including a protective charging case, charging stand, rear button cover plates, a module removal tool, TMR modules, and detachable joystick caps.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

PC gamers remain skeptical of Steam’s AI disclaimers, poll shows many believe game devs are hiding it

A poll by GameDiscoverCo involving nearly 3,800 Steam users from June 25 to July 2, 2026, found that 43% of respondents are comfortable purchasing games with AI disclosures, while 31% view such disclosures negatively, and 8% refuse to buy games featuring them. Approximately 44% of participants read AI disclosures in detail, and 45% at least glance at them, indicating that 89% consider this information in their purchasing decisions. Trust in the accuracy of these disclosures is low, with only 17% believing developers fully disclose AI use, while 25% think many are transparent, and 35% feel only some provide accurate information. Additionally, 56% of respondents believe AI-assisted development tools should be disclosed, with only 8% disagreeing. Nearly 20% of games in Steam’s recent Next Fest event included a generative AI warning, a figure expected to rise as the industry evolves.

TrendTechie

July 9, 2026

Ремейк Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag взломали до официального выхода игры

A working version of the remake of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag has leaked on torrent sites ahead of its scheduled release on July 9, 2026. The leak is believed to have originated from an internal production build at Ubisoft, potentially disseminated by individuals with early access, including members of the gaming press. Despite Ubisoft's security measures, including Denuvo Anti-tamper technology, hackers known as DenuvOwO managed to bypass these protections using a hypervisor-based method. Ubisoft has not yet commented on the leak.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

PC gamers have days left to pick up 2016 award winner for free

GOG is currently offering a free giveaway of the 2016 point-and-click adventure game Silence. In the game, players control 16-year-old Noah, who searches for his lost sister Renie in a war-torn realm between life and death. The game takes approximately 6.5 hours to complete, with completionists potentially spending up to 12 hours. Silence received mixed reviews but won awards for Best Sound, Best Story, and Best Graphics at the Deutscher Entwicklerpreis. The giveaway lasts for about 40 hours, and players can claim the game by creating a free GOG account. The game is DRM-free, allowing offline play.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

Expert anglers, can you name all of these videogames with fishing in them after seeing just one screenshot of a successful catch?

Engaging card games and fishing minigames can significantly extend playtime in video games. Fishing minigames are popular for their charm and the blend of patience and excitement they offer, despite the challenging controls and frantic button-mashing involved. A quiz is available that challenges players to identify fish from 21 different games within a 16-minute time limit.

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

July’s Humble Choice Lineup Has Officially Launched – Grab Sea of Stars, Tunic, and 6 More PC Games for Just $15 This Month

Gamers can subscribe to Humble Choice for .99 a month to access eight PC games, including Sea of Stars, Tunic, and Neon White, along with a bonus month of IGN Plus. Sea of Stars and Neon White received scores of 8 from IGN, while Tunic was described as challenging and rewarding. Humble Choice members can save up to 20% in the Humble store, and 5% of the membership fee is donated to charity, specifically Sandy Hook Promise this July.