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Ex-Escape From Tarkov devs say their new shooter "won't be another clone lost in a gray zone," but don't want it labeled as an "'X' killer"
AppWizard
April 27, 2026

Ex-Escape From Tarkov devs say their new shooter “won’t be another clone lost in a gray zone,” but don’t want it labeled as an “‘X’ killer”

Rush is Real is an upcoming shooter game developed by Dmitri Ogorodnikov and German Terekhov under Nomion Games, who previously worked on Escape From Tarkov. The game is currently in the prototyping phase and aims to differentiate itself from generic multiplayer experiences by being fast-paced and structured, avoiding slow gameplay typical of extraction shooters or battle royales. It will feature clear objectives and promote player skill, with a design philosophy focused on simplicity and clarity. Rush is Real intends to merge elements from games like Call of Duty and Escape From Tarkov while appealing to a broad audience, balancing casual and hardcore gaming. The development team emphasizes the importance of human creativity in the game's final design, despite the potential use of artificial intelligence in the process.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
April 27, 2026

Cancelled The Last of Us Online director says it was ‘the best multiplayer game’ the team had ever played

The Last of Us Online was canceled, disappointing many fans who anticipated it as a significant addition to the franchise. Former game director Vinit Agarwal called it "the best multiplayer game [the team] ever played," a sentiment shared by many ex-colleagues. Initially intended as a mode for the single-player campaign, the project evolved into a standalone multiplayer spin-off. The cancellation decision arose from a choice between continuing TLOU Online or prioritizing the next game directed by Neil Druckmann. Agarwal learned of the cancellation just 24 hours before the public announcement, describing it as "soul-crushing." He expressed a commitment to ensuring future projects do not go unnoticed. The gaming community is now looking forward to Druckmann's next title, speculated to be Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, with hopes that elements of TLOU's multiplayer experience may eventually return.
Xbox's 50 Free Games For PC Owners Offer Comes With A Massive Catch
AppWizard
April 27, 2026

Xbox’s 50 Free Games For PC Owners Offer Comes With A Massive Catch

Asha Sharma, the new Head of Gaming at Microsoft, is leading a transformation of the Xbox Game Pass, which includes a 23 percent reduction in subscription price. However, the popular game Call of Duty will no longer be available as a 'day one' title on the service. The restructuring aims to address perceptions that the Ultimate Tier is too expensive and will introduce additional subscription tiers, including a 'Starter Edition' for PC players. This new tier is expected to offer ten hours of cloud gaming monthly and access to over 50 games, but it will not include online multiplayer capabilities, disappointing many players. The changes may reflect a shift in the approach to online multiplayer as cloud gaming becomes more prevalent.
This Windows‑95‑style game is pure nostalgia and weirdly addictive
Winsage
April 26, 2026

This Windows‑95‑style game is pure nostalgia and weirdly addictive

Factory 95 is a Windows 95 themed automation game that launched on April 22, 2026. Players act as factory managers, creating PowerPoint slide-shows for clients while navigating tools and resources within a retro operating system. The game features nostalgic elements, including a Clippy-inspired character named "Pinny" and challenges reminiscent of early computing, such as slow loading times and managing emails. The design evokes the graphical aesthetics of the 1990s, and players must strategically manage limited resources to fulfill client requests and generate revenue.
"Average Steam Deck framerate" graph shows PC game developers how their Verified titles really run on Valve's handheld — Will users ever see this data
AppWizard
April 26, 2026

“Average Steam Deck framerate” graph shows PC game developers how their Verified titles really run on Valve’s handheld — Will users ever see this data

Valve has introduced new beta Steamworks tools for game developers as part of its Steam Deck Verified Games initiative. These tools allow developers to monitor average framerates over the past 30 days and access user survey results regarding the Verified status of their games. Participation in data collection is opt-in, ensuring user privacy. The user survey appears after at least ten minutes of gameplay, allowing users to agree or disagree with a game's Verified status and provide feedback on various criteria. The Steam Deck Verified program assesses game compatibility based on four criteria: Controller input, Display, Seamlessness, and System support. Games are rated as Verified, Playable, Unsupported, or Unknown, with these ratings displayed in the Steam store. Valve may potentially make the collected data accessible to the public in the future.
A Japanese visual novel where you're a pet hamster doted on by three sisters is back on Steam
AppWizard
April 26, 2026

A Japanese visual novel where you’re a pet hamster doted on by three sisters is back on Steam

The game "I got reincarnated… as a hamster!" is set to launch in the third quarter of this year after facing a postponed release originally planned for winter 2025. It was pulled from Steam due to unforeseen circumstances. The game is also expected to be available on the Epic Games Store and DLsite. It features adult themes and is not a family-friendly title, contrasting with games like Baldur's Gate 3. The romantic elements in the game have generated mixed reactions among players.
I don't understand how Final Fantasy 14 can do a crossover with acclaimed anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and I'm scared to find out
AppWizard
April 26, 2026

I don’t understand how Final Fantasy 14 can do a crossover with acclaimed anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and I’m scared to find out

Final Fantasy XIV is introducing a new alliance raid titled "Ghosts of Desire," developed with input from the filmmakers of the Evangelion series. This collaboration aims to merge the lore of both franchises. The game's popularity has grown significantly since its early days in 2014, particularly following successful expansions. The announcement of "Ghosts of Desire" has generated interest among both gamers and Evangelion fans. Comments on the teaser trailer have been disabled, possibly to manage speculation about the project. The new expansion, Evercold, is set to be released next year, but players may need to wait several years for "Ghosts of Desire" to fully unfold.
This beautifully colorful new factory building game just released with mod support to 'overwhelmingly positive' reviews
AppWizard
April 25, 2026

This beautifully colorful new factory building game just released with mod support to ‘overwhelmingly positive’ reviews

Shapez 2 - Factory has officially launched after 18 months in early access, receiving 94% positive reviews. It is compatible with MacOS, and the developers clarified that issues may arise from the user's machine. The game is a sequel to its predecessor and features a 3D experience, distinguishing itself in the factory simulation genre with intuitive controls and engaging gameplay. It sold 150,000 copies within the first three days of early access and includes mod support in its 1.0 release. The game is priced at .99, currently discounted by 20% until May 7, after which the price will increase to .99.
WoW came back from the brink because Blizzard ran it like a live service game—but now that same tactic's threatening everything
AppWizard
April 25, 2026

WoW came back from the brink because Blizzard ran it like a live service game—but now that same tactic’s threatening everything

Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft has seen a resurgence following the less favorable Shadowlands expansion, attributed to a structured roadmap that contrasts with previous content droughts. Recent expansions like Dragonflight, The War Within, and Midnight have received positive community feedback. However, patch 12.0.5 faced issues with bugs and design flaws, raising concerns about Blizzard's commitment to its release schedule over quality assurance. Historically, players have experienced long waits for updates, such as a 400-day gap during the Warlords of Draenor expansion. A 2022 Google Play report indicates that many MMO players are aged 25-44, suggesting a preference for a more measured content delivery approach. The text argues that World of Warcraft does not need to strictly follow the seasonal live service model and could benefit from a slower, more deliberate approach to updates.
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