gaming world Archives

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

Minecraft enjoyers, this spectacular-looking voxel game from a solo dev should probably be on your radar

Lay of the Land is set to be released on April 8 on Steam. The game features vibrant visuals created through procedural techniques, a Creative Mode for unrestricted building, and a survival mode that requires resource gathering. Players can manipulate terrain with various tools and engage in combat using magical abilities. The game is developed by a single developer known as 'Tooley1998' or Southern Cross Interactive. Pricing details have not been announced, but players can wishlist the game for updates.

AppWizard

February 23, 2026

New report says older games like CS2 and League of Legends take up 35% of PC playtime, but Roblox reigns supreme

The gaming industry is experiencing significant changes, with a few major titles dominating player engagement. The "big five" PC games—Counter-Strike, Fortnite, Minecraft, League of Legends, and Roblox—account for 35% of player hours, while older titles make up about 10%. In 2025, newly released games, including annual franchises like Call of Duty, represented only 14% of player hours on Steam. A large portion of PC gamers, 45%, engage with games that are one to seven years old, and 41% play titles that are eight years or older. Despite challenges, industry revenue has been maintained or grown through price increases rather than expanding the player base. Roblox has emerged as a significant market driver, representing over 4.5% of non-China spending and accounting for 67% of net growth in 2025. Developers on Roblox are earning over 0 million annually, with a 70% year-on-year growth. Titles like Grow a Garden have surpassed engagement metrics for Blizzard's games, and others have outperformed Valve's Dota 2. The anticipated release of GTA 6 could signal a new era, although its 2026 launch is uncertain.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

New Xbox boss Asha Sharma promises not to flood its games with “soulless AI slop”

Asha Sharma has been appointed as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming following Phil Spencer's departure. Concerns have arisen regarding her potential reliance on generative AI in game development, but Sharma has stated her focus will not be on "chasing short-term efficiency" and emphasized the importance of preserving Xbox's unique essence. She aims to avoid "soulless AI slop" and believes in the value of human-crafted games. Sharma's background includes experience at Meta and Instacart, and she has previously expressed optimism about AI's potential in various fields. She envisions a return to Xbox's "renegade spirit," promoting a culture of questioning norms while maintaining effective elements. Matt Booty has been promoted to Chief Content Officer and reassured that there are no planned organizational changes for Xbox studios.

AppWizard

February 18, 2026

Steam Next Fest hasn’t even started, and its first must-play demo is already here

Titanium Court is expected to gain significant attention in the gaming world, potentially winning multiple game of the year awards. The game is a finalist at this year's Independent Games Festival and features a unique premise involving a court suspended in time and space. Its gameplay includes complex puzzles and a captivating aesthetic, drawing comparisons to acclaimed titles like Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn. A demo is available for players who want to experience it early.

AppWizard

February 13, 2026

Marathon console players can turn off PC matchmaking if they want, but Bungie made a point to give everyone the same gameplay experience

Bungie's new title, Marathon, will launch on March 5, marking the company's first release outside the Destiny universe in over a decade. Players will have the option to disable cross-platform matchmaking, allowing PS5 and Xbox Series X/S users to avoid competing against PC players. Marathon will feature a mix of PvP, PvE, and PvPvE gameplay elements, but will not use matchmaking strategies from other titles like Arc Raiders. A server slam is scheduled for February 26 to preview the game. Sony has received positive feedback from playtests, which has informed adjustments to improve the game before its release.

AppWizard

February 13, 2026

Billionaire founder of Minecraft slams anyone advocating using AI to write code as ‘incompetent or evil’

Markus Persson, the creator of Minecraft, has expressed concerns about the rapid integration of generative AI in programming, describing it as an initiative being "forced down our throats" by "evil" entities. He fears losing creative autonomy and control over coding, comparing AI writing code to AI drafting laws. Persson advises aspiring developers to "Learn. Your. Craft," emphasizing the importance of foundational skills in programming. His views align with some industry leaders who advocate for coding literacy as a fundamental skill, while others, like GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, stress the necessity of mastering AI to remain competitive in the job market.

AppWizard

February 13, 2026

Hideo Kojima still isn’t done, Death Stranding 2’s PC port brings “new modes and features” that the PS5 is also getting, and we’ll learn more next month

Hideo Kojima has confirmed the PC port of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, which will launch on March 19. Both the PC and PS5 versions will feature platform-specific enhancements, new modes, and gameplay elements. Jay Boor, head of publishing at Kojima Productions, indicated that these additions will provide players with new challenges and rewards.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

High on Life 2’s horrible personality gets in the way of a truly great shooter

High on Life 2 is a first-person shooter from Squanch Games that features offbeat humor and unconventional gameplay. The game includes absurd moments, such as using a weapon to snort cocaine and a laser to circumcise a pixelated artifact. It targets a niche audience with jokes about drugs, drinking, and skateboarding, and features a character named Knifey, an Australian knife. The game offers a diverse arsenal of unique weapons, including a shotgun that draws enemies in and an assault rifle that launches foes into the air. Combat stages also serve as skateboarding arenas, providing dynamic and fast-paced action reminiscent of modern titles like Doom. The reviewer suggests that the game would benefit from focusing more on shooting mechanics and less on distractions.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

Microsoft Briefly Torpedoes Game’s Steam Page Over Screenshot

Minecraft has inspired numerous clones and voxel-based crafting simulations over the past 15 years. Recently, the upcoming game Allumeria was temporarily removed from Valve’s Steam platform due to a DMCA copyright notice from Microsoft, which claimed that Allumeria used "Minecraft content, including but not limited to gameplay and assets." The takedown was triggered by a screenshot from the game’s Steam page that depicted a world similar to Minecraft. Unomelon, the developer, stated that Allumeria does not reuse any of Minecraft's assets. The DMCA claim was generated through Tracer.AI, an AI platform used by Microsoft and Mojang to identify copyright violations. Jens Bergensten, Chief Creative Officer at Mojang, acknowledged the situation and stated he would investigate further. Approximately 12 hours later, Microsoft withdrew their DMCA claim, and Allumeria's Steam page was reinstated.

AppWizard

February 1, 2026

Minecraft Steam rumors reignite, after insider says more Xbox games will land on Valve’s PC store

Windows Central reports that the GamingLeaksandRumors subreddit has become a popular source for gamers seeking information about upcoming game releases, hardware innovations, and industry trends. Recent discussions include speculation on anticipated titles, next-generation consoles, and shifting market dynamics. TheGamer emphasizes the significance of community insights in shaping the gaming industry's future.