gaming culture Archives

AppWizard

February 22, 2026

Debate: Which game series is the most popular to cosplay?

The convention atmosphere is lively, filled with diverse cosplayers from various entertainment realms, including film, anime, television, and video games. The column "Character Select" in PC Gamer highlights the artistry of the cosplay community, featuring remarkable creations and insights into gaming culture. The author shares a memorable interaction with cosplayers from the game "Cult of the Lamb." Cosplay is particularly popular for "Genshin Impact," with a wide range of characters inspiring attendees, including a cosplayer dressed as a Primogem. "League of Legends" also has a significant presence, with characters like KDA, Jinx, and Miss Fortune being popular, especially after the Netflix adaptation "Arcane." The author expresses curiosity about other fanbases or games that may deserve attention at future conventions.

AppWizard

February 16, 2026

“Another Wild Little Project” – Minecraft Comes To Sega Saturn

Damien has been a writer in the tech and video game sectors since 2007 and currently oversees editorial direction for all sites under Hookshot Media. He ensures high-quality content that resonates with the audience. He is also the editor for Time Extension, a site focused on celebrating the history of gaming, aiming to connect nostalgia with modern gaming culture.

AppWizard

February 16, 2026

The cozy game boom is the clearest trend on Steam over five years of data

GameDiscoverCo's newsletter analyzes Steam's capsule descriptions, focusing on keywords that help players discover games. They compiled a spreadsheet of the top 1,000 keywords, filtering out common terms. The analysis highlights keywords linked to games with over 0,000 in sales, categorized by year. Notable trends include the rise of "cozy gaming," which surpassed "casual" in 2022, and a 325% increase in the use of "factory" in game summaries, indicating a growing interest in management simulations. The term "adult" also increased by 314%, while keywords like "expand" and "shop" are becoming more common, reflecting changing player interests. The concept of cozy gaming serves as a non-judgmental descriptor for non-violent games and encompasses farm-life simulations, appealing to a broader audience.

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

Hytale Really Is The Next Minecraft, As Players Have Already Started Their Own Brand-New Herobrine Legend

The legend of Herobrine in Minecraft originated from a screenshot posted on 4chan's /v/ board about 16 years ago, depicting a figure with white eyes lurking in the fog, believed to be Notch's deceased brother. The myth gained popularity after a viral stream by Copeland, where viewers saw Herobrine watching him fall into lava. Mojang, the game's developer, humorously claimed that Herobrine had been 'removed' with each game update. The combination of low render distances and foggy landscapes contributed to the eerie atmosphere, leading players to believe they might encounter Herobrine.

Winsage

December 31, 2025

Play Classic Microsoft Tetris for Windows 3.11 in Your Browser

The Internet Archive hosts the full version of Microsoft’s Tetris, originally included in the Windows Entertainment Pack for Windows 3.1 in 1990. It utilizes a Windows 3.11 emulator, allowing players to experience the authentic gameplay with familiar mechanics. Tetris was created by Alexey Pajitnov in 1984 in the Soviet Union and has been adapted for numerous platforms. Many players in the U.S. and Japan first encountered Tetris through the Windows version or on the Nintendo Game Boy. Players can control the game using the arrow keys on their keyboard.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

Adidas Just Turned Minecraft Creepers Into $40 Holiday Sneakers

Adidas has launched a holiday collection in collaboration with Minecraft, featuring footwear inspired by the game. The collection includes the Samba XLG, Handball Spezial, Campus 00s, Superstar II, and Adilette slides, each themed around specific Minecraft elements and characters. The Samba XLG is inspired by the Creeper, while the Handball Spezial reflects the Ghast. The Campus 00s showcases the Eye of Ender, and the Superstar II is designed after the Ender Dragon. The Adilette slides display the Creeper's face. The packaging resembles Minecraft storage chests, enhancing the unboxing experience. The collection is exclusively available in youth and children’s sizes, with prices ranging from forty to ninety-five dollars. It aims to resonate with Minecraft's younger audience while also appealing to broader aesthetic tastes. The collection includes complementary apparel pieces and is available through the Adidas webstore.

AppWizard

December 29, 2025

How A MrBeast Event Descended Into Misery And Transphobia

A Minecraft-themed contest hosted by MrBeast attracted nearly 13 million views but faced significant controversy due to chaotic execution and accusations of cheating, sabotage, and transphobia. The event featured 500 men competing against 500 women, with a disorganized participant selection process that allowed male players to enter using AI-generated images of women. The competition aimed to simulate "civilization" but incentivized players to eliminate teammates for a financial reward, undermining cooperation. Participants reported aggressive behavior from male players infiltrating the women's team, leading to a hostile atmosphere and transphobia among players. The official video presented a narrative that diverged from participants' experiences, highlighting disarray and lack of communication, while glossing over serious issues related to the treatment of trans women and disruptive players.

AppWizard

December 17, 2025

A market has emerged around streamer xQc potentially breaking Forsen's Minecraft speedrun record of 15:28:130 by December 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET during a live stream. The market will resolve to "Yes" if he breaks the record and "No" if he fails. The current trading volume is approximately ,219, with a 21% chance estimated for xQc to break the record. The speedrun involves defeating the Ender Dragon in Minecraft Java Edition version 1.16.1. The primary resolution source will be xQc's Twitch channel, with credible reporting also considered.

AppWizard

November 30, 2025

After 13 years, Euro Truck Simulator 2 smashes its all-time concurrent player peak on Steam by dropping two DLCs with, let me check my notes here, more Europe and more trucks

Euro Truck Simulator 2 has surpassed its all-time peak player count on Steam with over 72,678 concurrent players, more than 13 years after its release in 2012. Recent expansions, including Nordic Horizons and the Forest Machinery add-on, have enhanced gameplay. The game offers a meditative quality, allowing players to experience tranquility while driving through scenic routes, serving as a form of escapism from daily life.

AppWizard

November 29, 2025

Arc Raiders got a surprise cameo in South Park, and the devs learned about it just two days before the episode aired

The RPGs The Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole are based on the television series South Park. In a recent episode, a character made a cameo playing the extraction shooter Arc Raiders. Ashley St. Germain, the marketing lead at Embark, detailed the rapid production process for this cameo, stating that South Park inquired about it on a Monday, footage was provided on Tuesday, and it aired in the 'Turkey Trot' episode on Wednesday. The collaboration reflects South Park's commitment to engaging with contemporary gaming culture.