grief

AppWizard
April 17, 2026
Death Stranding 2 is a sequel that continues the narrative of delivering packages in a post-apocalyptic Australia, focusing on themes of loss, grief, and human connection. Players control Sam Porter Bridges, voiced by Norman Reedus, as he works to unite communities and faces new threats, including red robots. The game features challenging gameplay with environmental hazards and tactical combat elements. It is available for purchase through Fanatical's Mystery Egg Bundle, where players have a chance to acquire it for a low price, though there is no guarantee of receiving the game. The bundle offers additional keys for a collection of games at a discounted rate.
AppWizard
March 30, 2026
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach sold 425,000 copies on PC in its first week and has a total of over two million copies sold, combining sales from PlayStation 5 and PC. The game launched exclusively on PlayStation less than a year ago and transitioned to PC in nine months, making it the fastest exclusive to do so. Sony is reportedly adjusting its strategy for PC releases, with live-service games moving to PC while single-player titles are expected to remain exclusive to PlayStation 5.
AppWizard
March 20, 2026
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach features themes of connection, grief, and the transient nature of existence, set in Australia and linked to the Chiral Network. The game is noted for its engaging gameplay and visual capabilities, with performance tests showing around 60 fps in demanding environments on high settings with an RTX 4070 Ti and Intel Core i9-12900K. Lowering settings can yield up to 94 fps, while enabling frame generation can surpass 126 fps. PICO upscaling combined with DLSS frame generation provides optimal visuals. The Steam Deck struggles with performance, achieving only 24 fps on the Portable preset. The game supports various controllers, including the Nintendo Switch 2 and DualSense, with a new difficulty mode called "to the wilder" that increases challenge through tougher enemies and resource management.
AppWizard
March 15, 2026
Developer Sedleo's game, 1348 Ex Voto, features Aeta, a female knight-errant, and her relationship with Bianca, a castle servant. The game explores themes of grief and loyalty rather than romantic longing, with their bond remaining largely platonic despite discussions about its implications for LGBTQIA+ representation. Aeta's quest involves rescuing Bianca after their home is attacked, set against a historical backdrop where records of female relationships are limited. The gameplay follows a hero's journey format, but the emotional connection between Aeta and Bianca is minimal, with only about 15 minutes of shared screen time over six hours. While the game offers a medieval adventure with rich visuals and commentary, it struggles to compete with other titles in narrative depth. The game has sparked debate about representation and narrative choices in the gaming industry, particularly regarding its portrayal of sapphic relationships.
AppWizard
February 18, 2026
Microsoft is adding several new titles to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service in February and early March. The upcoming titles include: - Aerial_Knight's DropShot (Available February 17th) - Death Howl (Launching February 19th) - EA Sports College Football 26 (Arriving February 19th) - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition (Available February 19th) - TCG Card Shop Simulator (Launching February 24th) - Dice A Million (Coming February 25th) - Towerborne (Available February 26th) - Final Fantasy 3 (Arriving March 3rd) - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (Launching March 3rd) Notable games leaving the service on February 28th include: - Monster Train - Expeditions: A MudRunner Game - Injustice 2 - Middle Earth: Shadow of War
AppWizard
January 18, 2026
Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan has been a key figure in Slipknot for three decades and recently launched his first fully playable game, Vernearth, inspired by Minecraft. The game allows players to build structures, engage in battles, and embark on quests, and it officially launched on December 1. Clown's passion for gaming began in his youth, and he faced challenges in game development due to financial barriers. He developed Vernearth over four years with his daughter and a drum tech, creating a unique version of Minecraft with new gameplay elements and a darker atmosphere. The game serves as a personal outlet for Clown, helping him cope with grief related to family losses. He is also exploring online therapy integration within the game and has launched The Auction House for players to trade items. Additionally, he is working on an original soundtrack for Vernearth while taking a break from new material with Slipknot.
AppWizard
January 10, 2026
Luto is a first-person psychological horror game that explores grief and existential dread through the character Sam, who is trapped in a cycle of time and memory. The game lasts approximately five to six hours and features unsettling environments that reflect Sam's internal struggles. Unlike other horror games, Luto builds tension through environmental storytelling and an oppressive atmosphere. Players navigate a disorienting loop of time, encountering ghostly mannequins and an omnipresent narrator that challenges their perceptions. The game encourages introspection and blurs the lines between reality and illusion, creating a complex narrative that prompts players to confront uncomfortable truths about grief and memory. Luto is available on Steam.
AppWizard
December 30, 2025
M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan, the percussionist and creative director of Slipknot, has launched a custom Minecraft server called Vernearth, driven by a spiritual and creative necessity rather than financial gain. His gaming history includes experiences with various platforms and genres, and he views Vernearth as a significant artistic creation that combines music, coding, and personal culture. Crahan respects Minecraft deeply, having purchased it on its release day and watched its updates, and he finds it therapeutic for processing grief, including the loss of a child. He is open to embracing artificial intelligence, seeing it as a creative ally that can enhance his work, and believes that AI is an inevitable part of societal evolution. He suggests that younger generations may not share the same apprehensions about AI as older ones, emphasizing that life is moving forward with or without resistance to technology.
AppWizard
December 29, 2025
M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan, the percussionist and creative director for Slipknot, has launched a custom ‘Minecraft’ server called ‘Vernearth’, which he describes as a significant artistic endeavor reflecting his lifelong passion for video games. His gaming journey began with early consoles like Atari and Intellivision, and he views ‘Vernearth’ as a culmination of his creative exploration, influenced by various games including ‘Quake’, ‘Goat Simulator’, and ‘World of Warcraft’. Crahan has a personal connection to ‘Minecraft’, having introduced it to his children and used it as a means of coping with grief. He also shared his perspective on artificial intelligence, likening it to a personal assistant and suggesting its potential for enhancing creativity in music. Crahan believes that younger generations will embrace AI technology, contrasting their views with those of older generations who may be more apprehensive about its implications.
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