games Archives

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

The director of the best Splinter Cell game reckons that modern lighting engines are making stealth games ‘so much harder to read’

The stealth gaming genre has shifted from emphasizing the intricate interplay of light and shadow to focusing more on lines of sight. Clint Hocking, director of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, notes that advancements in lighting technology, such as the transition to softer shadows and ray-tracing models, have changed how players perceive stealth mechanics. The recent release of Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow marks a return for the series after over a decade, though it has received mixed reviews. Additionally, Thick as Thieves offers a cooperative stealth experience but in a simplified format. The future of stealth gaming will depend on how developers balance innovative lighting with the core elements of stealth gameplay.

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

This Android gaming app might kill handheld PCs

GameNative allows users to play PC games on Android devices without an internet connection, supporting Steam titles, Epic Games Store, Good Old Games (GOG), and standalone game files. It features a known configs capability that optimizes game settings for better performance. The app's creator, Utkarsh Dalal, aims for GameNative to replace handheld PCs within two years, despite challenges related to compatibility with ARM-based chips. The Snapdragon 8 Elite and 8 Elite Gen 5 processors promise significant enhancements, and the release of Turnip drivers in early 2026 has improved gaming experiences on these devices. GameNative is free and open-source, with a monetization strategy focused on partnerships with game stores. It has recently added support for the Pixel 10 family, which uses an Imagination PowerVR GPU. The app collects user feedback to refine game configurations and plans to improve compatibility and support for third-party launchers.

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

Retro enthusiast injects Snake game into vintage S3 graphics card VBIOS — enjoy some serpentum fun while your old PC boots

A retro PC enthusiast modified the VBIOS of an S3 ViRGE DX graphics card to include a version of the classic game Snake, allowing users to play it briefly during system boot. This project, by the YouTube channel Bits und Bolts, involved embedding Snake 512, a compact game written in x86 assembly language. The modification includes a dynamic text splash screen displaying the GPU's operating frequency and prompts users to play Snake or skip to the boot process. The implementation does not support USB keyboards and has no sound during gameplay. The enthusiast also customized the game's colors using hexadecimal values from the VGA color palette.

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

NYC Mayor Mamdani Goes Live on Twitch, Blanks on Minecraft

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani debuted on Twitch on May 21 with a show called "Talk with the People," where he interacted with New Yorkers and answered questions in real-time. During the stream, he was asked about playing Minecraft and admitted he had not played it, confusing it with a movie adaptation released earlier this year. Despite this moment, he addressed significant topics such as his 4.7 billion executive budget, changes to SNAP eligibility, and free childcare initiatives. The Twitch chat was chaotic, with viewers requesting him to play various games, including Minecraft, Fortnite, and Undertale. Mamdani's unfamiliarity with Minecraft was notable, given its popularity and cultural significance. His Twitch channel is available at nyc_mayor for future episodes.

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

Don’t pay $30 for Tomb Raider I–III Remastered. It’s free right now

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is currently available for free on the Epic Games Store, a significant reduction from its usual price of .99. The remastered collection includes Tomb Raider I (1996) with the Unfinished Business expansion, Tomb Raider II (1997) with the Golden Mask expansion, and Tomb Raider III (1998) with The Lost Artifact expansion. Developed by Crystal Dynamics in collaboration with Aspyr, the remasters use the original game code but feature enhanced visuals and refined controls. Players can toggle back to classic graphics and access a special challenge mode with level modifications and ten new outfits for Lara. The collection has a Metacritic score of 75 and retains many hallmark features of the series. It is distinct from the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. To claim the game, users need to log in to their Epic account, add it to their cart, and then to their library, where it will remain after the promotional period ends.

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

Steam Drops Permanent Freebie You Can Beat In 10 Hours, Claim Before 28 May

Steam is offering Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War as a complimentary download until May 28, allowing players to keep the game indefinitely. It is a turn-based 4X strategy game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, featuring four factions: Space Marines, Orks, Necrons, and Astra Militarum. The game has a Very Positive rating on Steam, with over 5,000 reviews. Players can complete the base game in approximately 10-11 hours, with side quests taking around 25 hours and completionists potentially engaging for 50 hours or more. Additional DLC packs introduce new factions such as Chaos Space Marines, Adeptus Sororitas, and Tyranids.

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

“Congrats to the owners of a brand new $6k paperweight”: Valorant dev Riot makes players think Vanguard anti-cheat will brick their PCs, causing uproar — here’s what’s really happening

Valorant's anti-cheat system, Vanguard, has been controversial due to its interference with DMA firmware devices, which are used to cheat in the game. Riot Games posted a message suggesting that Vanguard was making these devices unusable, leading to backlash from the gaming community. Riot clarified that Vanguard does not damage hardware or disable devices but prevents DMA cheat devices from functioning while IOMMU protections are enabled. Players not using DMA devices are not affected. The situation has sparked debate about the balance between anti-cheat measures and their impact on hardware.

AppWizard

May 23, 2026

Last Flag studio lays off half its employees as it puts ‘the future of the game in the hands of our players’

The CTF shooter game Last Flag was co-founded by Mac and Dan Reynolds, members of the band Imagine Dragons. In 2025, Tyler Wilde from PC Gamer reviewed the game positively. Despite its gameplay, Last Flag struggled to build a player base, leading Night Street Games to announce a free weekend initiative in April, which was later retracted due to low player numbers. The studio's CEO, Mac Reynolds, confirmed a workforce reduction, with about a dozen employees leaving, leaving only 13 team members. Night Street Games plans to support laid-off employees and will continue to release new content for Last Flag, including characters, maps, and custom lobbies. The remaining developers are looking forward to new projects.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

‘Off the wishlist it comes’: 007 First Light fans are requesting refunds after learning about Denuvo DRM addition ahead of launch

IO Interactive has decided to implement Denuvo Digital Rights Management (DRM) into the game 007 First Light just days before its launch, leading to significant discontent among potential players who have expressed their frustrations on Steam and initiated refund requests. Players criticize Denuvo for its impact on game performance and restrictions on PC users, with many stating they will not purchase the game at launch as a result. Denuvo has faced scrutiny for its effectiveness, as many games have been cracked despite its use. The likelihood of IO Interactive reversing its decision to include Denuvo seems low, reflecting a trend among game publishers prioritizing anti-piracy measures over consumer satisfaction.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

Alright, so maybe Zohran Mamdani isn’t New York’s first gamer mayor

In June, a nostalgic feature from 2002 showed 11-year-old Zohran Mamdani expressing his hopes for holiday gifts, specifically FIFA 2003 and SimCity 3000. Nearly six months into his tenure as the 112th mayor of New York City, following his November 2025 victory over Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani's gaming knowledge was tested during his inaugural Twitch stream, where he displayed a lack of familiarity with Minecraft. He admitted in a Hasan Piker stream that he does not engage in video games, although he enjoys FIFA. Despite the playful notion of him being a gamer mayor, it appears that Mamdani does not fit this mold.