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AppWizard

August 13, 2026

The Best Places to Buy and Rent PC Games Online in 2026

The digital landscape for purchasing PC games has evolved, offering various online stores for Linux, macOS, and Windows games, with some also featuring e-books, movies, and software. Notable platforms include Steam, Epic Games Store, Humble Bundle, and Xbox, each with diverse game libraries. Some publishers, like Blizzard and EA, initially required exclusive downloads but are now allowing games across multiple storefronts. Steam offers extensive titles and a Verified program for Steam Deck users, while GOG.com focuses on classic games and itch.io on indie titles. Consumers can purchase games from different platforms and use tools like CheapShark to compare prices and find deals.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

Helldivers 2 borrows from Dead Space and Silent Hill for its horrific new aliens

The recent update for Helldivers 2 introduces new enemies, the Crusher and the Wretch, to the Illuminate faction, while the anticipated Cultist unit is not included. The update, titled "Devoid of Liberty," presents a new narrative involving a void in Illuminate space, enhancing gameplay and strategy. Players will face challenges from the new foes, which add variety to combat. The update features improved graphics, new weaponry and armor sets, and quality-of-life enhancements, including changes to magazine and backpack reloads. The level cap has been raised to 300.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Believe the hype for Wardogs, possibly the next great multiplayer FPS

Wardogs, a military simulation first-person shooter from the creators of Battalion 1944, will enter early access on September 10. The game supports up to 100 players in player-versus-player action and features a mode where three teams compete for control over a territory on a large map. Players earn account-level currency through various actions, which can be spent on gear, creating a personal stake in survival. The game encourages collaborative play and strategic loadout management, offering generous cash rewards for gameplay. Preorders are available, and players can request refunds if they find the beta unsatisfactory. The studio has committed to avoiding monetization during early access, with cosmetic skins earned through gameplay. Wardogs is designed as a PC-first FPS and will support community servers.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

The vibey offroading game with more than a million Steam wishlists has a release date

Over the Hill is an offroad driving game developed by Funselektor, featuring an old-school 4x4 and a low-poly landscape. It has over a million wishlists since its announcement and will be released in a couple of months. The game emphasizes exploration and camaraderie, allowing players to use a grappling hook and team up in co-op mode. Early gameplay has impressed players with its focus on the driving experience rather than speed, encouraging a slower pace. The game includes areas set in Canada and Algeria, with more content promised. Attendees at Gamescom may have the chance to experience the game before its official launch.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

‘I am a big roguelike guy, but also a fan of minimalism and elegance’: Sam Barlow, creator of Her Story, guides us through the games in his Steam Library

Sam Barlow is the director of Half Mermaid and a notable figure in interactive fiction, known for his work on games like Arrival, Ghost Rider, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Her Story, Telling Lies, and Immortality. He has a fondness for the game D: The Game, appreciating its cinematography and atmosphere despite its design flaws. Barlow has dedicated over 500 hours to Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island, which he considers one of the greatest roguelikes. He also treasures Riven, keeping it installed at all times for its artistic value. On the non-gaming side, he relies on Fade In, a screenwriting software that he finds essential for his work. Barlow's desktop is chaotic, as he saves everything there, leading to a cluttered environment.

AppWizard

August 9, 2026

Lae’zel actor Devora Wilde didn’t know she was in Space Marine 2 until players told her

Devora Wilde is a video game voice actress known for her role as Lae'zel in Baldur's Gate 3. Her resume includes roles in Solasta 2, Clair Obscur, Crimson Desert, Split Fiction, and Red Solstice 2. Recently, she discovered her participation in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 after receiving fan comments and recognizing her voice in an audio log. Wilde often remains unaware of her projects until close to release, a common practice to prevent leaks. In Space Marine 2, she voiced multiple characters, including a servo-skull and a Cadian soldier. She has also voiced Tzarina Katarin Bokha in Total War: Warhammer 3, the female Arbitrator in Darktide, and a Sister of Battle in the Adepta Sororitas animation, Penitence, on Warhammer TV.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

29 years later, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night gets its second PC port in 4 weeks thanks to fans of the PS1 version

PC gamers can now enjoy a native port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, originally launched on the PlayStation 1, following the release of a recompilation based on the Xbox 360 version. The unofficial port, NocturneRecomp, allowed players to experience the 2007 Xbox 360 version, while SymphonyRecomp, introduced by BlackLabelHQ, offers an alternative. The new recompilation provides the PS1 version natively on PC, featuring widescreen resolutions and a built-in randomizer. The Sega Saturn version included additional content, such as new areas and the playable character Maria Renard, but it remains unclear if this content will be included in the new port. The PC version retains the nostalgic charm of the '90s credits theme.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

Silent Hill producer believes shaking up the series was necessary to win over players because ‘at best, only about half of the original users will return with a remake’

Silent Hill f is a new installment in the Silent Hill franchise that departs from traditional formats while retaining psychological horror elements. It has been developed alongside Silent Hill: Townfall and the Silent Hill 2 remake, reflecting a commitment to expanding the series. The development team aimed to engage both new and returning players by offering innovative content rather than relying solely on nostalgia. Konami's collaborative efforts with partners like Bloober Team and Annapurna have emphasized psychological horror as a core concept, focusing on themes of inner conflict, guilt, and fear. This approach has set the stage for a broader exploration of the franchise's potential.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Silent Hill: Townfall’s director finds it ‘utterly terrifying to be the next one in the series’ but is still confident fans will enjoy the experience

Silent Hill: Townfall is set to debut a preview at Gamescom, with insights shared by director Jon McKellan and series producer Motoi Okamoto. McKellan expressed the team's mixed emotions about following previous titles, particularly Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill f, describing it as both terrifying and an honor. The game is set in a small foggy town in Scotland named St. Amelia, during 1996, and will explore themes related to the anxieties of the internet's integration into daily life. McKellan mentioned that while they will lean into familiar expectations, they also aim to subvert them with new twists. Okamoto emphasized the importance of maintaining the franchise's core identity of strong psychological horror narratives while allowing for innovation in gameplay styles.

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

There’s Not Much Room For Improvement In Halo: Campaign Evolved’s PC Settings

Microsoft is delivering a second remake of Halo: Combat Evolved using Unreal Engine 5, which offers stunning visuals but poses challenges for players with older or lower-end hardware. The game performs well on high-end systems, such as an RTX 3090 running smoothly at 60 fps in 4K with the High preset. However, it lacks flexibility for performance adjustments, making it more efficient to use higher presets rather than fine-tuning settings. Key settings include: - Effects Quality: Keep high unless performance issues arise. - Geometric Quality: Maintain high until VRAM limitations are a concern. - Global Illumination Quality: Can be kept high without significant performance impact. - Lighting Quality: Adjust for substantial performance gains if frame rates dip below 60 fps. - Texture Quality: Adjust based on available VRAM. - Reflections: Dial down to medium or low to enhance frame rates. - Atmospheric Quality: Based on personal preference. - Post-Processing Quality: Can be adjusted down with minimal performance impact. - Screen Shake: Toggle based on personal preference. - Motion Blur: Consider turning off due to intensity. - Upscaling Technique: Choose based on GPU brand. - Async Compute: Keep off unless using a high-end graphics card and CPU. - Low Latency Mode: Select based on GPU for optimal responsiveness. - Frame Generation: Can enhance frame rates but may introduce latency.