gaming community Archives

AppWizard

May 23, 2025

Games Inbox: Are video games too expensive on console and PC?

Bethesda's latest game, Doom: The Dark Ages, is priced at £70 for both PC and console and can be completed in about 13 hours. This pricing strategy has raised concerns among gamers, especially since PC games typically have lower price points. Some gamers believe this may be an attempt by Microsoft to promote its subscription service, Game Pass, while others plan to wait for sales. Additionally, there are concerns about Bungie's management following its acquisition by Sony, with critics questioning the effectiveness of such corporate acquisitions in revitalizing franchises. In contrast, Nintendo is innovating with its upcoming Mario Kart World for the Switch 2, moving the series to an open-world format, which has generated excitement among fans. The gaming community remains engaged in discussions about pricing, management, and innovation as the industry evolves.

AppWizard

May 23, 2025

Warhammer Skulls PC Game Deals – Save On Space Marine 2, Dawn Of War, Vermintide, And More

A wave of excitement in the gaming community has followed the Warhammer Skulls event, leading to significant discounts on Warhammer PC games across various online platforms. Discounts include Vermintide 2 Collector's Edition for .19 (down from ) and Space Marine 2 for .15 (down from ). Free offerings include a Warhammer Goodie Bag with wallpapers and discount codes, as well as the classic game Rites of War available for free on GOG. Deals are available on platforms like Fanatical, GOG, Humble Bundle, and Green Man Gaming, with varying prices and availability. Notable deals include the Warhammer 40K Bundle for (originally 0) and the Shooter Dual Pack for .70 (originally ) on GOG. Fanatical offers Total War: Warhammer III for .59 (down from ), while Green Man Gaming lists Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Voidfarer Edition for (down from 0). Humble Bundle features Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Imperial Edition at .80 (down from ). Console gamers can access a selection of eight Warhammer Xbox games available for Game Pass subscribers at no additional cost until May 25.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

$800 million and 13 years later, here’s how you can play one of the world’s most expensive PC games for free

Star Citizen, developed by Cloud Imperium Games, has raised 0 million since its crowdfunding launch in 2012. A free access period for new players runs until May 27, allowing them to create a supporter account and access various content typically reserved for premium accounts. Players can engage in activities such as mining, cargo transport, and bounty hunting in a multiplayer environment. The minimum hardware requirements include a quad-core CPU, a GPU with at least 4GB of VRAM, 150GB of storage, and a minimum of 16GB of RAM. An SSD is recommended for better performance. The game is compatible with gaming laptops that meet the specifications.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Over 25 Years Ago, This Lemmings-Esque Puzzler Was Sent Out To Die – Its Fans Had Other Plans

Monolith Productions announced its closure earlier this year, prompting tributes to its 30-year legacy. One notable title from the studio is Gruntz, a puzzle strategy game released for PCs in 1999, which has maintained an active community despite its initial rocky launch. The game was designed by Nick Newhard, who aimed to create a game that his wife would enjoy, blending real-time strategy elements with puzzles. After Newhard's departure from the project due to internal disagreements, Kevin Lambert took over development, infusing humor and personality into the characters. Gruntz received mixed reviews upon release, but found a favorable reception in Europe. The game's inclusion of level editing tools led to a dedicated fan community, with ongoing projects like Dizgruntled and Gruntz Unityverse. The community currently has over 368 accounts, showcasing the game's lasting appeal.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

A delayed review, a controversial GOTY pick, and Big Geralt: PC Gamer’s strange 10-year relationship with The Witcher 3

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt celebrates its 10th anniversary this week, marking its evolution from a niche title to a significant influence in modern fantasy storytelling, partly due to the Netflix adaptation. Upon release, it received a score of 92% from PC Gamer and was recognized as a top title in 2016, despite not winning the Game of the Year award in 2015. The game faced distribution challenges, with console versions prioritized over PC, leading to delays in review copies. The community has embraced various memes, including the "tub scene" and "Big Geralt," contributing to the game's cultural impact. The ongoing conversation about its legacy and anticipation for a sequel keeps the franchise relevant.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Games Inbox: Would you buy a PlayStation that was a PC?

The next-generation Xbox may resemble a standard PC, leading to speculation that Sony's PlayStation 6 or 7 could also adopt a 'PC in a box' design due to rising hardware development costs. This shift towards a PC-like architecture could allow Sony to focus more on game development rather than hardware. Players have expressed mixed feelings about recent titles, with some prioritizing gameplay over storytelling. The launch of the Sea Of Stars DLC has been positively received for its free availability, and there is interest in purchasing Hogwarts Legacy on the Switch 2 at a discount for existing owners. Anticipation is building for the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, with fans hoping for new cities to explore. The pre-order situation for the Switch 2 appears more favorable compared to previous console launches, indicating better management of supply and demand by Nintendo.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

A Super Mario 64 ROM Hacker Is Recreating Minecraft Inside The N64 Classic

A modder named Arthurtilly has created a voxel engine similar to Minecraft within the Super Mario 64 engine, which operates on an authentic Nintendo 64 console. This project showcases modern modding techniques applied to vintage hardware. Arthurtilly, known for previous ROM hacks, collaborated with rovertronic to develop the Mario Builder 64 tool. His latest hack features an infinite world, multiple block types, diverse biomes, initial fluid dynamics support, and enhanced graphics. Future plans for the engine include a dynamic day/night cycle, flowing lava and water, world saving and loading functionality, integration of trees and vegetation, and an inventory system.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Obsidian vet Carrie Patel has joined Netflix

Carrie Patel, former director of Avowed, has joined Night School Studio, a subsidiary of Netflix, as game director. She previously worked at Obsidian Entertainment for nearly 12 years, contributing to titles like Pillars of Eternity, The Outer Worlds, and Avowed. Night School Studio was acquired by Netflix in 2021 and is known for the game Oxenfree. In February 2025, Netflix announced layoffs at Night School Studio amidst broader changes, including the closure of its Blue studio and leadership reshuffling.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Doom: The Dark Ages has hit three million players

Doom: The Dark Ages has attracted over three million players since its release, making it the largest launch in Id Software's history, according to Bethesda. The game reached this milestone seven times faster than its predecessor, Doom Eternal. More than two million players engaged with the game on Xbox, likely through Xbox Game Pass. It ranked as the second highest-grossing title on Steam during its launch week, behind Counter-Strike 2. Doom: The Dark Ages peaked at 31,470 concurrent players, while Doom Eternal had 104.9k concurrent players during its opening weekend. The launch of Doom Eternal coincided with COVID-19 lockdowns, which may have influenced player engagement.

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

Stalker remaster reviews crater to ‘Mostly Negative’ as players lament deleted Soviet monuments, yanked Russian language, and blurry graphics that I didn’t notice in 23 hours playing

A gamer has become the first individual to fully complete the Enhanced Edition of Stalker: Shadow of Chornobyl on PC. GSC Game World released remastered versions of the Stalker trilogy, which includes Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Prypiat, available for free to original owners. Despite the excitement, the remastered trilogy has received "Mostly Negative" ratings on Steam, with players expressing dissatisfaction over blurry graphics, particularly when using features like FSR and antialiasing. The author of the text, after spending 23 hours in Shadow of Chornobyl, found the graphics to be crisp on various displays, but acknowledges the volume of negative feedback may indicate issues related to specific hardware configurations. The author suggests that those sensitive to graphical fidelity might want to wait for GSC to address these concerns.