gaming community Archives

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

Gamers compress 80TB map of Minecraft’s oldest anarchy server down to a 15TB download — custom .zvcr compression format and 28 bots map 1 million blocks on infamous 2b2t server

A group of Minecraft enthusiasts has mapped the entire 2b2t server, resulting in a 15TB download that unpacks to an 80TB archive. The project, known as the 2b2tplace preservation project, began in 2024 and concluded in April 2026 after 22 months of work using 28 bot accounts to document over one million blocks across the Overworld, Nether, and End dimensions. The team developed a custom compression format called .zvcr to manage the large dataset, differing from the traditional .mca format.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

Valve finally gives Deadlock a proper ranked mode, warns that matches will be ‘very rocky’ to start

Valve has introduced a revamped ranked mode for Deadlock, featuring a new match balancing system aimed at enhancing the competitive experience. This update marks a significant transformation from the previous straightforward ranked mode, which allowed players to select heroes and compete for ranks. Players should prepare for an adjustment period as the community adapts to these changes. Additionally, there are indications that Valve may consider expanding access to Deadlock beyond its current invite-only format.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

‘A new version of Amnesia: The Dark Descent’ may be coming later this year

Frictional Games is reportedly planning to release a new version of Amnesia: The Dark Descent in late 2026, as hinted in their recent annual report. The details of the update remain unclear, with speculation about it potentially being a port for the upcoming Switch 2 or a Roblox edition. The studio's approach to horror has evolved since the original release, and they are also in pre-production for their next major game.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Xbox Project Helix could be dead on arrival thanks to PlayStation PC cull

Xbox's upcoming console, Project Helix, has undergone significant modifications due to changes in the gaming industry influenced by PlayStation's strategic decisions. PlayStation plans to phase out physical disc production by 2028 and is reportedly stepping back from PC ports due to disappointing sales figures. This shift affects Xbox's strategy, as PlayStation is reluctant to share its gaming library with Xbox users, disrupting Project Helix's original model. The anticipated cost of Project Helix is expected to exceed that of Valve's Steam Machine, raising concerns about its pricing amid a market where fewer gamers are willing to invest heavily in consoles. Exclusive titles have historically been a major draw for consoles, but Xbox is still recovering from past strategic missteps. The gaming community is awaiting further details on Project Helix's PC capabilities and an official unveiling.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Silent Hill: Townfall’s director finds it ‘utterly terrifying to be the next one in the series’ but is still confident fans will enjoy the experience

Silent Hill: Townfall is set to debut a preview at Gamescom, with insights shared by director Jon McKellan and series producer Motoi Okamoto. McKellan expressed the team's mixed emotions about following previous titles, particularly Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill f, describing it as both terrifying and an honor. The game is set in a small foggy town in Scotland named St. Amelia, during 1996, and will explore themes related to the anxieties of the internet's integration into daily life. McKellan mentioned that while they will lean into familiar expectations, they also aim to subvert them with new twists. Okamoto emphasized the importance of maintaining the franchise's core identity of strong psychological horror narratives while allowing for innovation in gameplay styles.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

PlayStation ditching physical games is “a bridge across the bad years” of high hardware costs, analyst says, but it means “casuals and youngsters will drift off to mobile, PC, and free-to-play even faster”

PlayStation announced its intention to cease physical game production by 2028. Analyst Rhys Elliott described this shift as a "stopgap" rather than a long-term strategy, suggesting it may be a temporary measure to address current economic challenges and high hardware manufacturing costs. He raised concerns that this decision could alienate younger and budget-conscious gamers who typically enter the console market through affordable pre-owned discs, potentially impacting their future engagement with the platform.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Ubisoft is Currently Giving Away 13 PC Games Completely Free of Charge

Ubisoft has announced a partnership to give away 13 titles from its catalog, including popular series like Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six. This initiative follows the launch of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and aims to build goodwill in the gaming community amidst rising console prices and ongoing supply chain issues. Additionally, PlayStation plans to cease disc production by January 2028, indicating a shift towards a digital-only future.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Soulslike game Wuchang is officially getting a sequel developed by its creator’s new studio after the original team reportedly disbanded

The 2025 soulslike title Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has attracted five million players, marking a significant success for developers Leenzee and publisher 505 Games. Xia Siyuan, the game's director and producer, was dismissed from Leenzee earlier this year, along with other staff members. In April, the Wuchang intellectual property was sold to Digital Bros for approximately million. Recently, 505 Games announced a partnership with Xia Siyuan, who now leads his own studio, Indolphinity, to develop a sequel to Wuchang: Fallen Feathers.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Marvel Tōkon devs vow to fix performance issues for launch day next week: ‘To our PC players, message received’

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls held a beta test for PC players, achieving a peak of 33,233 concurrent players on Steam, surpassing the previous record set by Street Fighter 6's beta. However, players experienced significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates. The official launch is scheduled for August 6, and developer Arc System Works acknowledged the issues, promising community-tested fixes and improvements for day one, including measures to reduce high CPU usage. The game requires a PlayStation Network sign-in, limiting access in over 100 countries.

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

Great New News! Good Old Games Galaxy Is Coming To Linux

GoG Galaxy is developing a native Linux version, moving away from reliance on translation layers like Bottles or Lutris. Michał Kiciński, the new owner of GoG, has emphasized a commitment to Linux users and criticized Windows. Although no timeline for the native installation has been provided, a job posting for a Senior Software Engineer indicates GoG's investment in this initiative. This development could lead to a better gaming experience on Linux systems, including Bazzite and custom-built Steam Machines running SteamOS.