gaming landscape Archives

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Doom: The Dark Ages feels like a console game first and PC game second

The latest installment of the Doom franchise, Doom: The Dark Ages, introduces a new combat loop centered around the Shield Saw, allowing players to block damage with a right-click. This change alters the frenetic pace of earlier games, shifting towards a more methodical approach tailored for console players. The game features expansive, flat arenas lacking the verticality of previous titles, resulting in a gameplay experience reminiscent of traditional shooters like Call of Duty. There is a reduction in airborne threats and static enemy placements, leading to a slower combat experience with less emphasis on quick reflexes. Gun mechanics have been simplified, favoring passive upgrades over the intricate hot-swapping of mods, which may leave PC players feeling shortchanged. Exploration is more forgiving, with fewer hazards and a safety net that teleports players back without penalty. Overall, The Dark Ages emphasizes accessibility and streamlined gameplay, potentially diluting the challenge expected by long-time fans of the franchise.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

The best PS5 game is coming to PC sooner than expected

The PC port of Stellar Blade is set to launch on June 11, available through the Epic Games Store and Steam. It will feature support for DLSS 4 and FSR 3, ultrawide monitor compatibility, higher resolution textures, and an unlocked frame rate. The PC version will also include a new boss fight with the cyber warrior Mann and 25 new costumes for the protagonist, Eve, along with additional content from the console version like a photo mode and the Nier Automata DLC. The developer, Shift Up, expects the PC version to outperform the PS5 version due to the larger market share of PC gaming in the AAA sector. The PS5 version has received upgrades, including enhanced image quality through the PSSR upscaler.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

CHARTS: New content brings Destiny 2 back to Steam No.2

Destiny 2 has re-entered the Steam Top Ten, ranking second, following the announcement of new content including two expansions: Edge of Fate in July and Renegades in December. The game surged 83 places in rankings after the launch of the Rite of the Nine on May 6th. Counter-Strike 2 remains the highest-grossing title on Steam. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is in third place, while The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has dropped to seventh. Valve's Steam Deck is fourth, and Doom: The Dark Ages is fifth in pre-orders. Apex Legends climbed to sixth, and Stellaris returned to the Top Ten at eighth due to a sales event. Schedule 1 fell to ninth, and War Thunder is tenth. The Steam Top Ten for the week ending May 13th is as follows: Counter-Strike 2, Destiny 2, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Steam Deck, Doom: The Dark Ages, Apex Legends, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, Stellaris, Schedule 1, War Thunder.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

5 hidden features on Steam I wish I knew about sooner

Steam offers several features to enhance the gaming experience for users: 1. Users can hide games from their library by right-clicking on the title, selecting Manage, and choosing Hide this game, allowing for a clutter-free collection. 2. Steam's launch options enable performance tweaks by allowing users to input custom commands in the Launch Options field, such as -windowed, -novid, and -high. 3. Middle-clicking game links in the Steam Store opens them in a new window, facilitating easier comparison during sales. 4. Steam's input customization allows users to tailor controller settings, including button mapping and sensitivity adjustments, through the Controller settings. 5. Users can upload custom artwork and banners for games to personalize their library and improve organization by right-clicking on a game's tile and selecting Set Custom Artwork.

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

Almost 200 Overwatch staff unionise

Nearly 200 developers from the Overwatch series have formed a union called The Overwatch Gamemakers Guild-CWA, announced by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The union includes members from various departments such as design, production, engineering, art, sound, and quality assurance. The unionization effort was motivated by layoffs in the gaming industry and aims to improve workplace conditions. Members believe collective action will help address long-standing issues like layoffs, excessive crunch periods, and inadequate working conditions in the gaming sector.

AppWizard

May 11, 2025

MechWarrior 5’s beefy story expansion is out, and it has the most videogame title I’ve ever had the pleasure to read

The latest expansion for Piranha Games' mech shooter, MechWarrior 5: Clans, is titled MechWarrior 5: Clans – Ghost Bear: Flash Storm. This expansion introduces eight new pilotable mechs, including four OmniMechs: Night Gyr, Ebon Jaguar, Fire Moth, and Huntsman, as well as four battlemechs: 100-ton Kodiak, 35-ton scout Jenner IIC, 50-ton Hunchback IIC, and 65-ton Rifleman IIC. Players can customize these mechs in an expanded mechlab. The expansion is available for £16.75. PC Gamer contributor Jonathan Bolding previously praised the original MechWarrior 5: Clans for its focused narrative campaign, despite the lack of sandbox play.

AppWizard

May 10, 2025

PC gaming remains undefeated: Nintendo now says it has the right to brick your Switch if it thinks you’re pirating games or modifying the console

Nintendo has updated its online user agreement, allowing the company to make a console "permanently unusable" if a user violates the agreement. The revised End User License Agreement (EULA) includes extensive restrictions on actions such as publishing, modifying, or distributing Nintendo Account Services, as well as using unauthorized copies. The EULA also places responsibility on legal guardians for minors and emphasizes that users do not own their games outright but merely license them. Concerns about backward compatibility and potential service discontinuation for the upcoming Switch 2 have emerged, alongside a growing preference among gamers for more control over their gaming experiences.

AppWizard

May 9, 2025

Quake finally makes it into the World Videogame Hall of Fame

Quake has been officially recognized as one of the four inductees into the World Videogame Hall of Fame for 2025. It is a pioneering first-person shooter that introduced mouse controls and real-time 3D graphics, and its extensive mod support contributed to its longevity. Quake's server-client architecture laid the foundation for online gaming and esports. The game's legacy code has influenced many franchises, including Heretic, Hexen, Doom, and Call of Duty. John Romero, co-creator of Quake, expressed his delight at the induction. The 2025 inductees also include Defender, GoldenEye 007, and Tamagotchi.

AppWizard

May 9, 2025

US court throws out FTC appeal against Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard

The Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals ruled that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) did not sufficiently prove that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard would restrict the availability of the Call of Duty franchise on competing platforms. The court upheld a previous ruling that blocked the FTC's attempt to halt the merger, stating that the FTC's case lacked adequate evidentiary support and did not raise substantial questions about reduced competition. The merger, initially announced in 2022, received approval in 2023, allowing Microsoft to integrate Activision Blizzard into its portfolio.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Save 20% Off Two of the Best PC Games of 2025

Fanatical is offering a 20% average discount on two games released in 2025. 1. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is discounted by 22%, with its price dropping from .99 to .79. The game allows players to explore a sandbox world set in 14th century Bohemia, with 100% completion taking around 125 hours, though many players spend over 150 hours. 2. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available for .99 after an 18% discount from its retail price of .99. The game features a turn-based combat system and has received the highest user rating on Metacritic. It explores themes of mortality and grief and has been praised for its narrative and emotional depth.