Grand Theft Auto Archives

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

This month 25 years ago in PC gaming, our biggest concerns were pro gaming, moral panics about violent games… and we still thought Halo was a PC exclusive

In June 2000, PC Gamer UK highlighted the emerging world of esports, featuring professional gamers Amir Haleem and Sujoy Roy, who had earned significant prize money and were considering transitioning to full-time gaming careers. The magazine suggested that gaming could become a viable profession, drawing parallels to sports figures like David Beckham. By 2025, Haleem became CEO of a blockchain company, while Roy led partnerships at OG esports, reflecting the evolution of professional gaming careers amid ongoing concerns about sustainability and burnout. The 2000 Channel 4 Dispatches documentary 'Video Nasties' sparked debates about violent video games, claiming they could influence players' perceptions of real-world situations. Anticipation for Team Fortress 2 was high, with promises of innovative gameplay elements, while Bungie's Halo was initially expected as a PC-exclusive but was designed for console controls. The summer of 2000 saw few notable game releases, with The Longest Journey receiving modest reviews. Additionally, Bluetooth technology was beginning to gain traction in the market, although its use in competitive gaming was met with skepticism.

BetaBeacon

June 25, 2025

Netflix is delisting 20+ mobile games next month, including Hades, Braid and Monument Valley

Netflix will be delisting more than 20 mobile games next month, including titles like Hades, Braid: Anniversary Edition, and the Monument Valley trilogy.

Winsage

June 23, 2025

Microsoft dropped this CPU for Windows 11, yet it runs these games flawlessly

The brother's Windows 10 PC had memory issues due to a dead CMOS battery, leading to boot failures and a corrupted installation. The Intel Core i5-7600K processor does not meet the requirements for Windows 11, prompting a recommendation to build or purchase a new system. Instead, the brother transitioned to Linux, which allowed for gaming on existing hardware. The i5-7600K can handle games like Grand Theft Auto V, X4: Foundations, Terraria, and The Witcher 3, although some settings may need to be adjusted for optimal performance. The Linux community has facilitated smoother transitions for users with older hardware, and virtualization offers workarounds for running Windows applications.

AppWizard

June 12, 2025

‘The game should speak for itself’: MindsEye’s publisher denies developer claims of a conspiratorial ‘effort to trash’ it

MindsEye, created by a co-founder of the Grand Theft Auto series, has received mostly negative reviews on Steam, with criticisms highlighting a lack of charm. Build a Rocket Boy co-CEO Mark Gerhard suggested that the negative feedback may be due to a conspiracy involving paid bots, while Hakan Abrak, another key figure at the studio, dismissed these claims and emphasized that the game should speak for itself. The game's showcase at the Summer Games Fest failed to captivate audiences, evoking nostalgia for past titles rather than presenting innovation. The studio's other project, Everywhere, is seen as having potential, but the negative reception of MindsEye could impact future endeavors.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

New data reveals GTA Online players also love Minecraft and Fortnite | Esports News

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto Online has 20 million monthly active players as of April 2025, its highest engagement since June 2022. Many of these players also engage with other popular games, particularly Fortnite, Roblox, Call of Duty, and Minecraft, with an 11% overlap of GTA Online players with Minecraft. Despite its large user base, there has been a 19% decline in average playtime among gamers who play both GTA Online and Minecraft on PlayStation. This trend suggests that player engagement with GTA Online can fluctuate based on the popularity of competing titles.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

Experts warn GTA and Minecraft being used to lure in cyberattack victims – here’s how to stay safe

Cybersecurity experts have reported a significant increase in game-themed malware targeting the gaming community, especially younger players. From April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, there were over 19 million attempts to download malicious files disguised as popular games, affecting around 400,000 individuals globally. Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) was the most targeted game, with nearly 4.5 million attack attempts, followed by Minecraft with 4.1 million, Call of Duty (CoD) with 2.6 million, and The Sims with 2.4 million. Cybercriminals exploit established games and lure victims with fake offers, often leading to infostealers, cryptocurrency hijackers, backdoors, and Trojans. Kaspersky advises gamers to avoid pirated content and be cautious of suspicious offers.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

Former GTA and Red Dead dev’s ritualistic horror game is expanding on its planned PC-only launch, and is now releasing on consoles too

Ritual Tides is a horror game developed by a team with experience from Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Star Citizen. It features a mysterious island setting and a narrative involving a religious cult. The game was showcased at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase, and its trailer includes a haunting narrator and unsettling visuals, complemented by disconcerting pencil-style artwork. More information can be found on the official website.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Chronicles: Medieval Is a Mount and Blade-Like ‘Dynamic Medieval Sandbox RPG’ Out Next Year in Early Access

Raw Power Games, an independent studio based in Copenhagen, Denmark, introduced its first title, Chronicles: Medieval, during the Summer Game Fest 2025. The studio has around 100 employees with experience from notable games like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. Chronicles: Medieval is a dynamic medieval sandbox RPG set in 14th to 15th century Europe, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and proprietary 'Asgard' technology. Players can craft their own narratives, engage in intense combat, and lead armies in battles. The game features character creation, troop recruitment, and third-person battlefield engagement, with historical units like English longbowmen and French cavalry. The combat system emphasizes realism and fluid weapon mechanics, developed in collaboration with HEMA expert Björn Rüther. The game allows for player choices and potential diplomatic interactions, with modding capabilities hinted at. An early access launch on PC is planned for next year.

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

Torchlight 3 studio Echtra Games, acquired by Zynga in 2021 to help it move into PC and console gaming, is being closed without doing that

Zynga has announced the closure of Echtra Games, the studio behind Torchlight 3, ending development on future titles and reducing roles at the studio. This decision is part of a broader realignment of the company's resources and priorities. Echtra was acquired by Zynga shortly after the release of Torchlight 3, which received mixed reviews. The closure follows the shutdown of NaturalMotion's Star Wars: Hunters and reflects a trend within the gaming industry of companies reassessing their portfolios. Additionally, Take-Two Interactive, Zynga's parent company, has faced a workforce reduction of approximately 5% and sold its Private Division publishing division. The share price of Take-Two fluctuated after the delay of Grand Theft Auto 6, now set for a May 26, 2026 release on consoles.

AppWizard

June 2, 2025

GTA-style action meets Minecraft-style creation: Everything we know about Everywhere

Leslie Benzies, the former lead developer of the Grand Theft Auto series, is set to release his first game, MindsEye, on June 10, available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. MindsEye is an action-adventure game set in the world of Everywhere, an upcoming open-world, massively multiplayer online game developed by Benzies' studio, Build a Rocket Boy. Everywhere features a futuristic city called Utropia and allows players to create their own experiences using a system called Arcadia. MindsEye follows the story of Jacob Diaz, a former soldier in a desert metropolis, and incorporates elements reminiscent of GTA gameplay, including driving, shooting, and exploration. The release of Everywhere is dependent on the success of MindsEye, which is currently in its testing phase.