hearts Archives

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

Recent Arc Raiders Steam reviews hit ‘mixed’ for the first time since launch, and I can see why

Arc Raiders received over 41,000 positive reviews on Steam between October 30 and November 6 of last year, indicating early success and player enthusiasm. However, as of May 2026, the game has shifted to a mixed reception, particularly following the Riven Tides update, which failed to meet player expectations. Concerns include unsatisfactory game balance and accelerated weapon degradation, making gameplay frustrating. The development team is considering balancing adjustments in response to player feedback.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

Chicken Jockey! Buildable LEGO Minecraft Baby-Zombie & Chicken with little chick (21582) officially revealed

The LEGO Chicken Jockey (21582) set will launch on August 1, 2026, with a retail price of .99 / €29.99. It consists of 344 pieces and features a buildable baby zombie riding a chicken, along with a brick-built chick. The baby zombie measures 15 cm (6 in) in height and 5 cm (2.5 in) in width. The set does not include any minifigures and is designed for ages 9 and up. It is inspired by the Minecraft video game and the 2025 film adaptation.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

LET’S PLAY: FANTASTIC PETS

In pet management, skill points are collected through experience points (XP) gained by riding pets. Mr. Pigginton earns XP from being ridden, while Sir Oinksly, a diamond rarity pet, receives a +1 XP boost. After riding Sir Oinksly, he reached level five, granting the owner their first skill point.

AppWizard

May 3, 2026

Review: ‘Minecraft’ is still getting better with version 26.1

Minecraft was developed by Markus "Notch" Persson in May 2009 and led to the establishment of Mojang Studios a month later. The official version was released for Mac and PC in November 2011. By September 2014, it had sold 54 million copies and had 100 million registered users, prompting Microsoft's acquisition of Minecraft and Mojang Studios. Under Microsoft's ownership, the game has continued to grow, with the latest version, Minecraft 26.1, released in March, featuring new blocks, mechanics, mobs, and challenges.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

Indie dev apologizes for rough game launch, commits to turning it around: ‘The critique is fair … we got work to do’

Industria 2, a narrative first-person shooter developed by Bleakmill, was released in 2024 and is set in a dystopian parallel dimension after the original game. The game has received only 48% positive ratings, prompting the developer to apologize and acknowledge the need for improvements. Bleakmill has implemented two patches to address critical issues and plans further updates. Many players view the game as having potential despite its rocky launch, and support from other developers suggests a possibility for recovery.

AppWizard

April 30, 2026

GOG Giving Away 3 Classic 1990s Games for Free

GOG is offering three classic PC games from the 1990s for free until May 8. These titles, exclusive to GOG, are not available on platforms like Steam or the Epic Games Store. The games include: 1. The Adventures of Robbo - A puzzle game that debuted in Poland in 1989 and in the U.S. in 1993, where players guide a robot through levels collecting bolts. 2. Heartlight - A puzzle game released in Poland in 1990 and in the U.S. in 1994, where players help an elf named Percival collect hearts while navigating levels. 3. Electro Man - An MS-DOS exclusive platformer recognized as the first professional-level PC game developed in Poland, featuring a cyborg named Jacek seeking vengeance after an alien attack.

AppWizard

April 28, 2026

A new Minecraft mob might have leaked thanks to a holiday decoration, and I already love it based on its name alone

Hallmark is set to release a holiday ornament featuring a new character named Blub for Minecraft, available starting October 10. A listing for the "Minecraft Blub Ornament" has appeared on Hallmark's website, generating excitement among fans. Speculation exists that Blub may be linked to the upcoming Minecraft Dungeons 2 or a future update to the main Minecraft game. Fans are sharing creative interpretations of Blub's appearance, with one concept depicting a blue bunny. The gaming community is eager for more information about Blub and its potential role in the Minecraft universe.

AppWizard

April 27, 2026

Cancelled The Last of Us Online director says it was ‘the best multiplayer game’ the team had ever played

The Last of Us Online was canceled, disappointing many fans who anticipated it as a significant addition to the franchise. Former game director Vinit Agarwal called it "the best multiplayer game [the team] ever played," a sentiment shared by many ex-colleagues. Initially intended as a mode for the single-player campaign, the project evolved into a standalone multiplayer spin-off. The cancellation decision arose from a choice between continuing TLOU Online or prioritizing the next game directed by Neil Druckmann. Agarwal learned of the cancellation just 24 hours before the public announcement, describing it as "soul-crushing." He expressed a commitment to ensuring future projects do not go unnoticed. The gaming community is now looking forward to Druckmann's next title, speculated to be Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, with hopes that elements of TLOU's multiplayer experience may eventually return.

AppWizard

April 24, 2026

Intel VP says PC games would run up to 30% faster if they were properly optimized for its CPUs

AMD has gained a larger share of the CPU market with its Ryzen series and X3D lineup, leading to perceptions that Intel is falling behind in CPU performance. Intel's Vice President Robert Hallock stated that a significant part of the performance gap may be due to software optimization rather than just hardware limitations. He noted that many games are not optimized for specific CPUs, resulting in untapped performance potential of 10 to 30 percent. Hallock indicated that game developers often focus on optimizing for mainstream graphics cards and may prioritize AMD hardware, affecting the performance of Intel's Core Ultra 200 Series CPUs.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Quarter Muncher: My love-hate relationship with Minecraft

Minecraft, developed by Mojang Studios, was released in May 2009 and has become one of the best-selling games of all time. It features two primary modes: survival and creative. The game has undergone nearly 16 years of updates while maintaining its core simplicity. The author reflects on their personal journey with Minecraft, starting from childhood and shifting interests over the years, including a period of decreased engagement due to the popularity of Fortnite in 2017. They experienced a resurgence of interest in late 2022 and early 2023 through survival mode but found playing alone less enjoyable. In late 2024, they attempted to create a new realm with friends, which lasted about a month. Despite their ongoing passion for Minecraft, the author struggles with the lack of enthusiasm from friends, leading to short-lived gaming experiences.