gaming community Archives

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Despite microtransaction woes at launch, MMO sequel Aion 2 will go global this year

Aion 2, launched in November of last year and set 200 years after the original game, has gained traction despite mixed reviews on its microtransaction strategies. It is preparing for a global release on Steam later this year, targeting players in North America, South America, Japan, and Europe by 2026. The game generated millions within the first month and a half of its release and has over 1 million subscribers, contributing to a 12% increase in NCSoft's revenue for the quarter.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass prices drop in the UK

Microsoft has reversed last year's price increase for its Game Pass subscription services, confirming new pricing in the UK. Game Pass Ultimate will now cost £16.99 per month, returning to previous rates. The PC Game Pass will be available for £10.99 per month, also aligning with last year's costs. Additionally, Call of Duty will no longer be available on Game Pass on its launch day; subscribers will have to wait a year to access the title.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

I’m sick of breaking the bank buying AAA games, so I’ve hunted down overlooked alternatives to 2026’s biggest games

Rockstar Games has invested over a billion dollars into the development of Grand Theft Auto 6. Alternatives to this game include Sleeping Dogs, which offers an open-world crime experience. Capcom's Resident Evil Requiem celebrates three decades of survival horror, while Cozy Pal Games provides a budget-friendly horror adventure. Pokémon Pokopia has gained recent success, with alternatives like Before the Green Moon offering a nostalgic farming sim experience. Forza Horizon 6 promises stunning visuals, and Wreckreation serves as a budget-friendly racing alternative. Death Stranding 2 is noted for its innovative gameplay, with Clone Escape providing a unique survival experience.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

PC Limited-Time Free Game Is A Resident Evil and Silent Hill Hybrid

PC gamers can download the horror game The Whispering Valley for free on the GOG platform, thanks to a tip from Twitter user Wario64. The game is a folk horror point & click adventure that involves exploring a remote village and solving complex puzzles related to guilt and depression. It has a rating of 3.9 out of 5 on GOG based on eight user reviews and is rated "Very Positive" on Steam from a total of 157 reviews. Players can claim the game for free until April 28, 2026, after which it will cost £9.99. Games on GOG are DRM-free, allowing players to own the installation file and play across multiple devices without restrictions.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Google executive responsible for AI has a solution for the game industry’s problems, and you’re not going to believe this but it’s AI

Jack Buser, the global director for games at Google Cloud, is focusing on using AI and cloud solutions to tackle challenges in the gaming industry. He noted a rebound in revenue growth but highlighted issues such as declining profits, project cancellations, and layoffs, with only Roblox and the Chinese market thriving. Buser advocates for AI as a potential solution, despite concerns about "rightsizing" strategies that may prioritize profits over employee welfare. His previous role at Stadia ended with mixed results, raising doubts about the feasibility of AI-driven game development. The industry is still awaiting a groundbreaking AI-generated game. Buser emphasizes the need for clearer discussions about AI and suggests that embracing it could lead to easier revenue generation, similar to trends in reality television.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Older Call of Duty games are coming to Game Pass in 2026

Asha Sharma, the new head of Xbox, announced that Game Pass subscribers will no longer receive new Call of Duty titles on launch day; instead, these games will be available a year later. This change is part of a strategy to reassess the availability of the franchise due to concerns about profitability. However, Activision plans to enhance the Game Pass library by adding more titles from the Call of Duty back catalog this year. Currently, only a few recent entries are available, with the oldest being Call of Duty: WW2 from 2017. Potential additions to Game Pass could include classic titles from the series, such as Call of Duty (2003), Call of Duty 2 (2005), Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007), and others, including the 2021 title Call of Duty: Vanguard, which has not been available on Game Pass.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Xbox Announces Price Reductions For Game Pass Ultimate & PC Game Pass

Microsoft has announced a reduction in the pricing of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. In the United States, the monthly fee for Xbox Game Pass will decrease from .99 to .99, and PC Game Pass will drop from .99 to .99. Adjustments in pricing for other regions are being implemented. Additionally, future installments of the Call of Duty franchise will no longer be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on their launch day, but will be accessible approximately one year after their initial release.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Back in 2009, an experimental free-to-play Battlefield predicted our grim live service present: ‘It will need to be the most popular Battlefield game of all time to be profitable’

The term "free-to-play" was not common in gaming until the late 2000s, when major publishers began exploring free versions of their flagship franchises. Battlefield Heroes was a significant experiment as a PC-exclusive spin-off that marked a high-profile franchise's entry into the free-to-play model. EA's senior producer Ben Cousins described it as a substantial risk that needed unprecedented popularity to be profitable. The game featured a real-time feedback development philosophy and introduced daily challenges, which became common in the shooter genre. Initially, players could only purchase superior weapons with in-game currency, but by late 2009, EA shifted to a pay-to-win model. Battlefield Heroes had a six-year lifespan before being discontinued in 2015.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass gets a price cut, but there’s a catch

The newly appointed CEO of Xbox has reduced the monthly subscription price for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from .99 to .99 and for PC Game Pass from .99 to .99, effective immediately. The other tiers of the Game Pass lineup will maintain their current pricing. Future Call of Duty titles will not be available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at launch but will be added during the following holiday season, while existing Call of Duty titles will remain available.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Microsoft announces surprise Xbox Game Pass price cuts, ends day one Call of Duty inclusion — Ultimate down to $22.99 while PC Game Pass drops to $13.99

Microsoft has reduced the prices of its Game Pass subscriptions, with Game Pass Ultimate decreasing from .99 to .99 and PC Game Pass from .49 to .99 per month. This decision follows previous price increases in 2024 and a 50% hike in 2025, which resulted in many cancellations. Gamers interested in Call of Duty titles will face delays of about a year for new releases, but existing titles will remain available. The price reduction is part of a strategy under Asha Sharma, who recently took over the division.