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AppWizard

August 30, 2026

Modern gamers spoiled by Steam will never understand the joy of a MegaPak

The PC gaming industry is currently facing challenges such as developer layoffs and rising hardware prices due to demand from AI data centers, but there is an abundance of games available, often at lower prices than in the past when adjusted for inflation. The Megapak series, which ran from 1994 to 1998, is noted for its role in PC gaming history, particularly Megapak 5, which showcased the gaming landscape of the time. The series served as an entry point for many into role-playing games, but the fate of Megapak Corp is unclear after its final collection was released in 2001. The decline of the Megapak era coincided with the rise of budget titles and a shift towards vibrant packaging. There is a nostalgia for the simplicity of evaluating games individually, as modern algorithms and user reviews can overshadow unique game qualities.

AppWizard

August 25, 2026

A disturbing ’90s point-and-click horror game about waking up in a rundown asylum with no recollection of who you are is getting a glow up in 2026

In 1998, notable PC games included Half-Life, Unreal, StarCraft, Thief, and Baldur's Gate, while console games featured Nintendo 64's Ocarina of Time and Banjo-Kazooie, and PlayStation's Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil 2. Sanitarium, an isometric point-and-click adventure game, was released in April 1998, focusing on the story of Max, an amnesiac in a sanitarium. A new version, Sanitarium Enhanced, is set to be released by Ziggurat, featuring widescreen support, controller support, an extras gallery, a new hint mode, bug fixes, and optimizations for the Steam Deck, with availability on Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles in 2026.

AppWizard

August 22, 2026

Dishonored was a last-ditch effort by Arkane Studios after years of fruitless contract work, according to the game’s co-creator: ‘I think we had four months of money left’

Harvey Smith, former head of Arkane Austin, has launched a new studio called Black Pony Immersive, focusing on immersive simulations inspired by titles like Deus Ex and System Shock. Smith's previous experience at Arkane included a critical period of financial uncertainty, which led to a decision to concentrate on their core vision, resulting in the successful creation of Dishonored. With Black Pony Immersive, Smith aims to foster creativity without succumbing to industry trends, following the less successful title Redfall. The immersive sim genre is seeing a resurgence, with other projects like Gloomwood and Fallen Aces, as well as an unnamed RPG from WolfEye Studios, indicating a promising future for the genre.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

The most profound objective in any Halo series was ‘spiritually inspired’ by the nuke sequence in Modern Warfare 2

Growing up during the golden age of first-person shooter games featured iconic titles like Modern Warfare 2, F.E.A.R., Halo: Reach, and Black Ops 2, allowing for extensive gameplay due to minimal responsibilities. Niles Sankey, the designer of Halo: Reach, revealed that the Modern Warfare series significantly influenced its campaign design, particularly in crafting inter-character relationships and narrative depth. He noted that moments in Reach were inspired by the work of Infinity Ward, including the "Objective Survive" mission, which was spiritually inspired by the Nuke sequence in Modern Warfare 2. The final mission of Reach, Lone Wolf, presented a groundbreaking narrative choice by suggesting that the protagonist might not survive, challenging traditional storytelling conventions in video games.

AppWizard

August 19, 2026

Dishonored co-creator Harvey Smith launches a new studio and it literally has the word ‘Immersive’ in the name

Harvey Smith, former studio director at Arkane Austin, has founded a new studio called Black Pony Immersive with executive producer Ben Horne. The studio aims to create imaginative first-person action RPGs with a focus on emergent game systems. The development team includes talent from companies like Arkane, Insomniac, Epic, Avalanche, and Volition. Black Pony Immersive's mission reflects a commitment to immersive storytelling and gameplay, inspired by the legacy of Looking Glass Studios. The closure of Arkane Austin in 2024 followed the poor performance of Redfall, but there is hope that some creative ideas from that period may be revived at Black Pony. Specific details about their first project are not yet disclosed, but hints are available on their website.

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

11 Of The Best Retro Emulators For PC Gamers

Emulators are applications that allow older gaming console games to run on modern PCs, making retro gaming accessible despite the scarcity of original consoles and unavailability of many classic games on modern platforms. Emulators like RetroArch provide a unified interface for various retro consoles, while Dolphin emulates GameCube and Wii games, MelonDS is known for Nintendo DS titles, mGBA is the leading Game Boy Advance emulator, Super ZSNES enhances SNES gaming, Rosalie's Mupen GUI is designed for Nintendo 64, Flycast is the top Sega Dreamcast emulator, PCSX2 is the best for PlayStation 2 games, PPSSPP is the go-to for PSP, MAME emulates arcade games, and DOSBOX Pure Unleashed is for MS-DOS games. Each emulator offers unique features and improvements over original hardware, enhancing the gaming experience.

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

Warren Spector retires from game development, at least he thinks so

Warren Spector has announced his intention to retire from the game development industry after nearly 44 years, citing personal reflections on age, health, and a declining enthusiasm for the current gaming landscape. He has contributed to iconic titles such as the Ultima series, Wing Commander, Deus Ex, and Thief. Spector expressed a desire to create three specific games before retiring, with one being ambitious, another modest, and the third uncertain. There is speculation that System Shock 3 may be one of these projects. Despite some recent titles not achieving expected success, Spector's career is marked by significant achievements. He emphasized the importance of continued innovation in gaming and encouraged new developers to bring fresh ideas. Spector plans to focus on writing, reading, and possibly consulting, and hinted at exploring his musical interests. He left open the possibility of returning to the industry in the future.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

One of Bethesda’s Best Games Getting New Release Next Week

On August 11, a beloved title from Bethesda will return exclusively for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and potentially PC users as part of the Xbox Game Pass offering. The addition of Date Everything to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass has been officially announced for the same day. Titles such as Grounded 2 and Bounty Star will also be added to the Premium tier after their initial releases in the Ultimate and PC tiers. Speculation surrounds the potential addition of Wolfenstein 3D, which has not been formally announced, but may be revealed at QuakeCon. Wolfenstein 3D, released in 1992, is recognized as a pivotal title in the first-person shooter genre and was ported to the Xbox 360 in 2009. The upgraded version will soon be accessible through Xbox Game Pass.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Big Shooter Sale On GOG Includes Over 400 Cheap PC Games

Good Old Games (GOG) has launched the "Shooter Promo" sales event, running until August 15, featuring over 400 PC games focused on classic and contemporary shooters. Iconic titles such as Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Metro 2033, and Red Faction are available at significantly reduced prices. Highlights of the sale include: - Medal of Honor: Allied Assault War Chest - Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault - FEAR: Platinum - FEAR 2 - BioShock Remastered - BioShock 2 - RoboCop: Rogue City - Far Cry - Far Cry 2 - Stranglehold - Metro 2033 Redux - Metro Last Light - Metro Exodus - Clive Barker’s Undying - Call of Juarez: Gunslinger - Turok - Turok 2 - Sin Gold - Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood - Powerslave Exhumed - Painkiller Black Edition - Warhammer 40k: Fire Warrior - Red Faction - Warhammer 40k: Space Marine GOG promotes a DRM-free model, allowing players to enjoy these titles offline.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Former Bethesda lead artist is looking forward to Fallout 3’s remaster because the game they released was ‘100% not what we intended, and it was very, very constrained’

Nate Purkeypile, a former artist at Bethesda, contributed to iconic games like Fallout 3, Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, and was the lead artist on Fallout 76. He is now an independent developer working on a stealth-archer bowhunting first-person shooter called The Axis Unseen. Purkeypile expressed enthusiasm for the announced remaster of Fallout 3, noting the technical limitations faced during its original development, such as restrictions on lighting. He believes that enhancements like increased draw distance could improve immersion and advocates for a remaster that offers more than just graphical updates, referencing successful remakes like those of Resident Evil. He emphasized the need for remasters to meet modern gaming standards while resonating with nostalgia.