gathering Archives

AppWizard

August 24, 2026

Ray Chase, the voice of Cyclops in X-Men ’97, has ‘1,000 freaking hours’ in Slay the Spire and is running a ‘smell build’ in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: ‘ I wear perfumes and walk into battle with my fancy boy outfit’

Ray Chase began his gaming journey on a DOS computer and was influenced by shareware games from his grandfather, including Duke Nukem 1 and 2, Ken's Labyrinth, and Wolfenstein 3D. He is a voice actor known for roles in hundreds of games, including Noctis in Final Fantasy 15 and Cyclops in X-Men '97. He is currently involved in the dating simulator Date Everything and is working on its next chapter. Chase enjoys playing Deltarune Chapter 5, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Mina the Hollower, praising their unique features. He has logged 600 hours in Slay the Spire, which he played from early access to release, and considers it one of his favorite games alongside Brotato. He uses Reaper and Audacity for voice recording and maintains a tidy desktop with minimal items.

AppWizard

August 19, 2026

Sony reportedly reverses course on live service co-op Horizon game after ‘negative player feedback’

Guerilla Games is rethinking their live service co-op game, Horizon Hunters Gathering, due to negative feedback from playtests. The game will shift from a live service model to a more traditional co-op format focused on storytelling. Sony has set a deadline for the team to present a milestone by December, or the project may be canceled. Many developers have been reassigned to other projects, with a smaller group working on the next single-player Horizon installment. Sony is moving away from live service games, with only Helldivers 2 and MLB The Show performing well. The future of another live service game, Fairgames, is uncertain due to development challenges.

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

Sword & Shield Simulator Now Available on PC

Sword & Shield Simulator is a PC game currently in Early Access, developed by Wildlands Interactive and co-published with Ultimate Games S.A. Players assume the role of a medieval blacksmith, forging weapons and armor while gathering resources from battlefields. The game features advanced blacksmithing mechanics, including modular sword and shield assembly, and incorporates resource gathering activities like tree felling, hunting, and mining. It includes mini-games such as lockpicking and crossbow shooting, and players can manage their smithy and engage in trading. The game world consists of three regions—Danburg, Bloodlands, and Grainmill—offering over 140 story missions and side quests. Future updates will add the Talstein region and new content. The game is expected to remain in Early Access for about six months, with plans to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2026/2027. Minimum system requirements for PC include Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Core i5-10400F or equivalent CPU, 8 GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 1070 8GB or equivalent GPU, and 8 GB of available SSD space.

BetaBeacon

August 16, 2026

Fairy Tale City Builder with 85% Positive Reviews on Steam is Being Ported to Android

Dear Villagers is set to release a mobile version of the popular fairy tale city-building simulator, Fabledom. The game is now available for pre-registration on Google Play for Android users.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

How to Fix Minecraft Lag and Stuttering on PC and Mac in 2026

Experiencing a freeze in Minecraft Java Edition can be frustrating due to the game's demands on computer performance, which can lead to lag spikes, stuttering, and low FPS. Performance issues can often be resolved without new hardware by optimizing settings on Windows and macOS. To address lag, identify the type of lag and adjust settings one at a time, starting with visuals and add-ons, then moving to memory, Java, drivers, and multiplayer servers. Quick fixes include closing background apps, restarting Minecraft, testing in a single-player world, disabling shaders, using default resources, and lowering render distance. Different types of lag include low FPS, stuttering from world loading, network or multiplayer server lag, and performance drops after enabling visual add-ons. To diagnose lag, symptoms should be matched with potential causes and fixes, such as adjusting video settings or checking server performance. Common issues include low FPS, stuttering while exploring, FPS drops when shaders are enabled, resource pack hitching, and problems with memory allocation or incompatible Java versions. Each issue has specific symptoms, causes, and recommended fixes, such as adjusting render distance, disabling shaders, or ensuring the correct Java version is used. Platform-specific fixes for macOS and Windows involve updating drivers, managing graphics settings, and ensuring proper memory allocation. Configuration mistakes can hinder performance improvements, and hardware limitations may also play a role in lag. For ongoing issues, gathering relevant logs and system details is essential for seeking help, and preventative tips include maintaining a clean test profile, gradually adding mods, and matching versions carefully.

AppWizard

August 10, 2026

‘Thank you so much for the best weekend ever’: The id Software gang got together at QuakeCon, and it sure looks like everyone had a great time

QuakeCon recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of the iconic game that launched a franchise, featuring a reunion of id Software co-founders Adrian Carmack, John Carmack, Tom Hall, and John Romero. Despite past tensions, the atmosphere was nostalgic and positive, with Tom Hall sharing a clip of the group revisiting old Doom design notes. Romero Games expressed gratitude for the event, and Donna Jackson, known as the "id mom," made a surprise appearance. American McGee reflected on his career transformation thanks to Carmack and Romero. The reunion highlighted the enduring legacy and camaraderie within the gaming community.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

id co-founder John Carmack revisits Doom at QuakeCon: ‘Still a great game after all these years!’

At QuakeCon in Gaylord, Texas, John Carmack, a key figure in gaming, played the Evercade port of Doom and shared his experience on X, noting he reached level four and spent 15 minutes on levels four and five, expressing that it remains a great game after many years. In contrast, Larian Studios' Swen Vincke mentioned he has never revisited Ultima 7 due to concerns it might not match his fond memories, preferring to focus on his own game development. Carmack's enjoyment of replaying classic games reflects a common sentiment among gamers who appreciate revisiting their favorites.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

All the news from QuakeCon 2026

QuakeCon 2026 is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Quake franchise. A new episode titled "Dawn of the Machine," created by MachineGames and id Software, is now available as a free update for Quake, featuring a 19-map campaign, time-bending mechanics, a new soundtrack, and a new Deathmatch map. A special event discussing this episode will take place on August 6 at 1:30 PM CT with industry legends. The id Signature Series has new designs available for purchase, including tees and hoodies. "Quake: The Board Game," a cooperative dungeon crawler developed by Archon Studios, is set to launch in Q4 2026. The DOOM Collection for Evercade, including DOOM (1993) and DOOM II), is available for preorder, along with a limited-edition Evercade Nexus DOOM Edition releasing in October 2026. Additionally, "Return to Castle Wolfenstein" is now available uncensored in Germany on various platforms.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Arise Dark Lord is a new RTS where you raise evil armies and crush “godless heathens”

Introversion Software has announced their new game, Arise Dark Lord, an action RTS hybrid where players act as a dark lord aiming to conquer lands with undead legions. Players can raise the dead or control orcish forces to build a corrupting army and claim territory. The game features resource gathering from forests and mountains and allows players to construct a Dark Tower for defense against human resistance. Arise Dark Lord is in early development, with a projected release in 2027, and a Prologue is available on itch.io. The game showcases a Tolkien-inspired art style and enjoyable gameplay.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Fields of Mistria 1.0 changes: What’s new in the full release version?

Fields of Mistria 1.0 has been fully released after two years of early access, featuring significant updates and enhancements. The town's story is complete, with repairs following an earthquake finalized. Players can now experience ten heart events for datable characters, allowing for deeper relationships. Marriage and children have been introduced, enabling players to start families. The Saturday Market has two new merchants, Stillwell and Zorel. An achievements system rewards players retroactively, and there is no need to start a new save file to access the new content. Key updates include the completion of the Town Repair Questline, an increased Town Renown Cap, the addition of the Mistril Town Rank Event, and new quests. Beta localizations for seven languages have been added. Gameplay enhancements include new perks, customizable house exteriors, and engagement ring crafting. Quality of life improvements include player character rotation and improved drop rates from treasure chests. Art enhancements and new soundtracks have been introduced, along with substantial performance improvements and bug fixes.