gaming landscape Archives

AppWizard

September 29, 2026

Minecraft Dungeons 2 Review (PS5) – A Stripped Back Dungeon Crawler Which Earns It Keep With New And…

The author has never played Minecraft and has mixed feelings about dungeon crawlers, finding titles like Diablo IV overly complex. They discovered Minecraft Dungeons 2, which offers a simpler dungeon-crawling experience without the usual complexities of the genre. The game's narrative involves the Illagers opening a portal to a realm called the Sift, where players must reclaim the Overworld. Minecraft Dungeons 2 lacks traditional class systems and deep character customization, instead allowing players to create characters from presets and use a straightforward equipment system. The game features fast travel, clear objectives, and a polished visual style, with responsive combat and a variety of weapons and armor. While it may feel shallow to some veteran players, it is designed for cooperative play and prioritizes accessibility. Minecraft Dungeons 2 is set to release for PS5 on September 29, 2026.

BetaBeacon

September 28, 2026

Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 Tested Running Cyberpunk 2077 on Android

Qualcomm is developing a software solution to run demanding Windows titles on future Snapdragon-powered flagship devices.

AppWizard

September 28, 2026

Shadow the Hedgehog is supposed to be dead

Shadow the Hedgehog was introduced in Sonic Adventure 2 and was initially not intended to remain in the series. His popularity surprised the Sonic Team, as noted by Takashi Iizuka. Despite dying at the end of Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow's character continued to engage fans and led to collaborations, including a voice role by Keanu Reeves. Sonic Team has allowed fan creations, which raises questions about the franchise's trajectory had Shadow not survived. His continued presence has resulted in various crossovers, including competing in Olympic-level sports against characters like Bowser.

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

After Warcraft 3’s first new campaign in 23 years, let’s normalize releasing new DLC for ancient RTS games

The gaming landscape is experiencing renewed interest in older titles, as seen with expansions for classics like Songs of the Past for The Witcher 3. Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3 are expected to remain relevant for years, making them candidates for future downloadable content. Quake has added a new episode, and Nightdive is remastering Thief. At BlizzCon 2026, the Warcraft 3 Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom expansion was announced, highlighting nostalgia for RTS games. Microsoft has revitalized the Age of Empires series with updates, while newer titles like Age of Empires 4 have struggled. Relic's Dawn of War: Definitive Edition has sold 750,000 copies, indicating demand for remastered RTS games. The remaster of Command & Conquer and Red Alert in 2020 shows the potential for nostalgia-driven content. Expanding existing titles like Rise of Nations and Supreme Commander could be beneficial, and while reactions to new content may be mixed, the concept has promise. The RTS genre has an opportunity to leverage its history while innovating for the future.

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

Drop everything and grab the popcorn: Majuular’s 4.5-hour documentary on Ultima Online is here to devour your weekend

YouTube essayist Majuular has released a new video focused on Ultima Online, part of a series that took six months to produce. The video explores the game's origins under Richard Garriott and Starr Long, its development by Raph Koster and his team, and its impact on the gaming landscape. Ultima Online has adapted to competition and remains accessible through official and fan-operated servers, including the In Mani Ylem server. Majuular's efforts to document the making of Richard Garriott's series have gained him over 200,000 followers on YouTube. His retrospective highlights Ultima's influence on role-playing games and includes personal stories and historical context.

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

#1 Best-Selling Steam Game Just Achieved Something No PC Game Has Since Palworld

The top-selling title on Steam from September 8 to September 22, 2026, is War Dogs, which has achieved significant sales and a peak of over 428,000 concurrent players. It ranks as the 36th biggest title on Steam and has received a "Very Positive" rating based on an 82% approval rating from nearly 52,000 user reviews. War Dogs is an online tactical first-person shooter featuring three teams in strategic combat, emphasizing collaboration and requiring players to invest time to master its mechanics. The game is currently in early access and is priced at .99, with expectations for a higher retail price upon final release.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

It’s tough to stand out in today’s games industry, but ‘sorta like Helldivers 2 except dog people’ worked on me

Gravhounds is a co-op wave shooter currently in early access on Steam, available for free during its open playtest. The game features polished gameplay, allowing players to team up against waves of enemies. It includes unique movement mechanics, enabling players to glide across buildable cables, and introduces light resource mining and tower defense elements using a gravity gun. The characters are designed as dogs with human bodies, adding a whimsical touch, and players respawn with a humorous cone of shame. Gravhounds distinguishes itself from traditional military-themed shooters through its creative design and engaging mechanics.

Winsage

September 24, 2026

86Box Setup Guide 2026: Emulate a Windows 98 PC in 13 Steps

86Box is an emulator that meticulously reconstructs vintage PCs, allowing users to boot operating systems like MS-DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows XP. The latest version, 6.0, was released on May 31, 2026, featuring a native Windows ARM64 build and discontinuing support for macOS 10.13 High Sierra. It has approximately 2,400 monthly searches in the U.S., indicating a demand for setup guides among enthusiasts. Unlike DOSBox, which creates a generic DOS environment, 86Box emulates specific hardware components for authentic execution of various operating systems. Originally a fork of PCem, 86Box has expanded its supported motherboards and developed a community of contributors. Version 6.0 has established it as the preferred choice for retro-PC builders in 2026. Before installation, users need a minimum of a 64-bit Intel Core 2, AMD Athlon 64, or ARMv8 CPU, 4 GB of RAM, and a compatible host operating system. The installation process involves downloading the appropriate build, sourcing a legal ROM set, and configuring the virtual machine using the 86Box Manager. Users can select specific graphics cards and sound hardware to replicate the original systems accurately. The setup requires installation media for the guest operating system, which must be sourced legally. Common pitfalls during setup include ensuring the BIOS ROM is available, matching CPU speed to software era, and installing the correct drivers. A properly configured virtual machine should display a BIOS POST screen and boot the selected operating system. Troubleshooting common issues often involves checking for missing ROMs, uninstalled drivers, or performance settings. 86Box is open-source and legal to use, but users must ensure they have legitimate licenses for any software used within the emulator.

AppWizard

September 24, 2026

Dutch foundation sues Epic Games over Fortnite’s “pressure” tactics that drive spending

The Massaschade & Consument Foundation has filed a lawsuit against Epic Games, alleging that Fortnite uses deceptive marketing tactics targeting younger players. The foundation claims that countdown clocks during gameplay create a false sense of urgency for limited-time offers, which often remain available after the timers expire, leading to confusion and potential overspending. The lawsuit raises ethical concerns about the responsibility of game developers to protect young gamers. The outcome could impact marketing strategies and consumer protection laws in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

September 24, 2026

Microsoft files patent for “ad-credit” system to show ads on PC and Xbox without disrupting gameplay

Microsoft has patented an "ad-credit" system to integrate advertisements into PC and Xbox gaming without interrupting gameplay. The patent, named 'Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access', identifies natural pauses in gameplay to display ads, rewarding players with credits for uninterrupted playtime after viewing. In 2022, Microsoft began testing ad-supported game streaming on Xbox. Additionally, new monthly cloud gaming limits for Game Pass subscribers will take effect in November 2026, with Essential subscribers limited to five hours, Premium to ten hours, and Ultimate to fifteen hours per month. Xbox has also announced layoffs affecting 268 positions across various studios as part of restructuring efforts.