immersive sim Archives

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

This week in PC games: Hytale, Quarantine Zone, a weird Batman sim, and a fresh batch of RPGs and shooters

The Maw can manifest in various forms, including a blinking cursor or unreturned messages. New PC game releases include: - Big Hops: A 3D platformer featuring a frog with jumping and tongue skills. - Confidential Killings: A detective game that could use a more imaginative name. - Quarantine Zone: The Last Check: Players act as a border guard during a zombie apocalypse, exploring moral dilemmas. - Hytale: A sandbox building RPG now in early access, developed by Hypixel Studios. - Hank: Drowning on Dry Land: A whimsical narrative game featuring a drunken, time-traveling character. - Cassette Boy: An action RPG puzzler with retro visuals and themes of object permanence. - Streetdog BMX: A game with children performing stunts on bicycles across colorful maps. - The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon: The thirteenth installment in an RPG series. - Tabulo: A roguelite chess game. - Craftlings: A blend of Lemmings and colony-building elements. - The Fortress: A first-person turn-based dungeon-crawling RPG. - NEUROXUS: A fast-paced mech shooter with a neon aesthetic. - Moving Simulator: A game reflecting the moving experience. - Lunar Ascendant: Players become the first mayor of the Moon, navigating social media and factions. James and Julian will attend preview events, while Mark and Ollie are excited about Hytale's launch. A review for Pathologic 3 is being crafted.

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

GTA 6’s ten-year development cycle would be a “very bad bet” for anyone but Rockstar, says former Bethesda dev

Concerns are rising about the release of GTA 6, with speculation that it may not launch until 2027 due to delays, ongoing leaks, and legal challenges faced by Rockstar. Former Bethesda lead artist Nate Purkeypile warns that the project's scale could be risky for any studio other than Rockstar, which has a track record of successfully managing large-scale games. The anticipated budget for GTA 6 is rumored to be around a billion dollars, with a development cycle exceeding a decade. Purkeypile emphasizes the importance of experience in handling ambitious projects, citing the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077 as a cautionary example. He suggests that Rockstar's experience allows them to take their time, but warns that many studios fail when attempting similar large projects without the necessary background. Purkeypile also expressed a desire for a potential GTA 7 set in Texas, incorporating immersive sim elements, but noted that the current development pace might delay its arrival until the 2040s.

AppWizard

January 8, 2026

Crimson Desert, Atomic Heart 2, Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy and more — every Xbox and PC game shown during New Game Plus Showcase

The New Game Plus Showcase, created by content creators, aims to generate excitement around video game announcements without charging developers for participation. The inaugural showcase occurred on January 8, 2023. Deep Dish Dungeon is a dark survival game combining base-building mechanics and survival elements, available for wishlist on Steam, with plans for release on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5. The Blood of Dawnwalker is an open-world fantasy ARPG where players live as a human by day and a vampire by night, set for release in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5. Prologue: Go Wayback! is a survival game featuring procedurally generated maps, currently in Early Access on Steam for [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: In the gaming landscape, the period following The Game Awards often sees a lull in major presentations until the summer showcases like Summer Game Fest or the Xbox Games Showcase. However, this year has marked the emergence of a notable event—the New Game Plus Showcase, commonly referred to as New Game+. This initiative, crafted by content creators, aims to rekindle "genuine excitement and conversation" surrounding video game announcements. Uniquely, it does not impose fees on developers for participation, setting it apart from many other industry events. Announced on December 29, the inaugural showcase took place on January 8 at 1 P.M. PT / 4:00 P.M. ET. Deep Dish Dungeon This intriguing dark survival game from Pokuch and META Publishing presents an engaging blend reminiscent of Valheim and Prey, combining base-building mechanics with survival elements and mysterious alien powers. Gamers can wishlist it now on Steam, with plans for release on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC platforms like Steam, GOG, Epic Games, and PS5. The Blood of Dawnwalker A captivating gameplay presentation and developer interview highlighted The Blood of Dawnwalker, an open-world fantasy ARPG where players navigate life as a human by day and a vampire by night. The showcase emphasized the dynamic interactions within the game world, which reacts to player actions. This title is anticipated for release in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5. Prologue: Go Wayback! Brendan "PLAYERUNKNOWN" Greene shared insights into his new survival game, Prologue: Go Wayback!, during the showcase. The game features procedurally generated maps and deeper survival mechanics, currently available on Steam in Early Access for .99, with a free demo accessible for players. Beautiful Light A fresh glimpse into Beautiful Light, an extraction shooter inspired by STALKER, revealed intense combat scenarios against mutants and other players, set against atmospheric backdrops. This title is slated for a December 2026 release on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Project Shadowglass Starhelm Studios provided an exclusive look at Project Shadowglass, an immersive sim that challenges players to orchestrate daring heists in a dark fantasy realm. Unlike many retro-style pixel graphics games, this title adopts a first-person perspective, enhancing its unique appeal. It is set to launch on Steam, with wishlist options available now. Aphelion DON'T NOD showcased Aphelion, a sci-fi action-adventure game featuring an astronaut named Ariane who must navigate a perilous frozen world to rescue her partner, Thomas. The presentation highlighted the game's musical elements and is expected to release on Xbox, Steam, and PS5 in late 2026. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn A developer interview for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a third-person ARPG from Owlcat Games, explored character creation and the game's world responsiveness. Set in the beloved sci-fi universe of the TV show, it promises an engaging experience for fans and newcomers alike. Distant Shore: BRETAGNE Distant Shore's latest title is an action-adventure physics-based puzzle game where players manipulate objects in their environment using magnetic forces. Currently available for wishlist on Steam, it promises to offer a unique gameplay experience. Avowed Obsidian Entertainment discussed Avowed, a fantasy RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe. The developers revealed updates including new playable races and enhancements to weapon classes. Notably, the game will also be available on PS5, with preorders now open. Grounded 2 Obsidian also presented Grounded 2, showcasing new insect encounters and various items players can craft. The highlight was the ridable ladybug buggy mount, equipped with a water gun, adding a whimsical touch to the survival experience. Outward 2 The sequel to Nine Dots' immersive RPG, Outward 2, is set to challenge players with a more difficult survival experience. The developers shared insights during the New Game Plus showcase, with an Early Access release planned for Q3 2026 on PC. Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call Inspired by Fable and The Elder Scrolls, Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call is an open-ended action RPG that emphasizes player freedom and deep interactions within its fantasy world. It is expected to launch on PC in 2026, with console releases to follow. Dragontwin Draconic Interactive AB is developing Dragontwin, an open-world strategy RPG that allows players to customize and fly dragons into combat. Currently in Early Access for Patreon supporters, it will be available on PC and consoles later. Atomic Heart DLC #4 The showcase featured a first-look teaser for the upcoming fourth DLC for Atomic Heart, generating anticipation among fans eager for new content. The CUBE Mundfish revisited The CUBE, an MMO shooter set on a massive, rotating cube in the sky. This unique environment promises to shift gameplay dynamics, and players can wishlist it now on Steam. IMMORTAL: Gates of Pyre IMMORTAL: Gates of Pyre, an RTS that combines accessible gameplay with complex mechanics, was highlighted in a developer interview. It has been in development for five years and is set to launch on Steam in the future. ExeKiller ExeKiller is a retro-futuristic western action game that blends various gameplay styles, offering players the freedom to approach quests in multiple ways. It is currently available for wishlist on Steam. Far Far West Developer Evil Raptor is crafting Far Far West, a co-op shooter where players embody robot cowboys tackling bounties. This title is set to launch on PC in 2026, appealing to fans of cooperative gameplay. Erosion Erosion presents a captivating open-world roguelike experience with time-looping mechanics and a strong narrative focus, set in a post-apocalyptic Wild West. A playtest is currently live on Steam, with a full release planned for Spring 2026 on both Steam and Xbox. The Division 2: Survivors and The Division 3 The Division 2 developers showcased the upcoming winter-themed extraction mode, Survivors, while also confirming the development of The Division 3 and a mobile game inspired by the original title." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].99, with a free demo available. Beautiful Light is an extraction shooter inspired by STALKER, scheduled for release in December 2026 on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Project Shadowglass is an immersive sim focused on orchestrating heists in a dark fantasy realm, set to launch on Steam. Aphelion is a sci-fi action-adventure game featuring an astronaut navigating a frozen world, expected to release on Xbox, Steam, and PS5 in late 2026. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is a third-person ARPG set in the sci-fi universe of the TV show, featuring character creation and world responsiveness. Distant Shore: BRETAGNE is an action-adventure physics-based puzzle game where players manipulate objects using magnetic forces, available for wishlist on Steam. Avowed is a fantasy RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, with updates on playable races and weapon classes, and will be available on PS5. Grounded 2 features new insect encounters and a ridable ladybug buggy mount, enhancing the survival experience. Outward 2, the sequel to Nine Dots' RPG, will offer a more challenging survival experience, with Early Access planned for Q3 2026 on PC. Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call is an open-ended action RPG emphasizing player freedom, expected to launch on PC in 2026. Dragontwin is an open-world strategy RPG allowing players to customize and fly dragons, currently in Early Access for Patreon supporters. Atomic Heart DLC #4 was teased during the showcase, generating anticipation for new content. The CUBE is an MMO shooter set on a rotating cube, available for wishlist on Steam. IMMORTAL: Gates of Pyre is an RTS combining accessible gameplay with complex mechanics, set to launch on Steam in the future. ExeKiller is a retro-futuristic western action game that allows multiple gameplay styles, available for wishlist on Steam. Far Far West is a co-op shooter featuring robot cowboys, set to launch on PC in 2026. Erosion is an open-world roguelike with time-looping mechanics, currently in playtest on Steam, with a full release planned for Spring 2026 on Steam and Xbox. The Division 2 developers showcased the upcoming winter-themed extraction mode, Survivors, and confirmed the development of The Division 3 and a mobile game.

AppWizard

December 14, 2025

The Deus Ex remaster that everyone thinks looks awful is delayed, there’s no new release date, and preorders are being refunded

The remaster of Deus Ex, initially set for release on February 5, 2026, has been postponed by developer Aspyr in response to community feedback regarding the game's visual presentation. Original art director Jerry O'Flaherty expressed dissatisfaction with the remaster, and fans feel it does not capture the essence of the original game. Critics have noted that the new visuals detract from the original's aesthetic, and there are concerns about the remaster's pricing compared to the Game of the Year edition available on other platforms. Aspyr's previous projects have had mixed success, and the current situation suggests that significant revisions may be needed before the remaster meets fan expectations. There is uncertainty about the future of the project, with concerns that it may be shelved.

AppWizard

November 12, 2025

Your PC backlog is going to grow as Digiphile enters the PC games bundle market

Digiphile is a new digital gaming platform founded by former Humble Bundle professionals, focusing on community engagement and innovative features. It allows users to contribute to monthly game bundles and includes a credit exchange system for trading games. The platform also incorporates a charitable aspect, offering exclusive physical items for donations. Digiphile's inaugural bundle, "The Return of the Immersive Sim," includes titles like System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster and proceeds will support the Arbor Day Foundation. The platform aims to provide competitive pricing and diverse offerings in the digital gaming market.

AppWizard

October 19, 2025

I spent an undisclosed but fireable amount of time playing games at work, and here are my 10 Steam Next Fest demos you shouldn’t miss before they’re gone

- Constance, developed by btf, will be released on November 24, 2025, and features unique paintbrush mechanics and an emotional narrative centered on mental health. - Ambrosia Sky, developed by Soft Rains, is set to release Act One on November 10, 2025, and involves players navigating a vibrant, fungus-infested colony as a scarab agent. - Reanimal, developed by Tarsier Studios, has an unspecified release date and offers a chilling experience in an abandoned factory, showcasing horror elements. - Tides of Tomorrow, developed by Digixart, will be released on February 24, 2026, and is a narrative-driven adventure set on an ocean planet facing ecological disaster. - Skate Story, developed by Sam Eng and published by Devolver Digital, is scheduled for release on December 8, 2025, and combines skateboarding gameplay with a haunting soundtrack in a surreal afterlife setting. - Dice A Million, developed by countlessnights, is set to release in January 2026 and introduces a roguelike experience where players use dice instead of cards. - Starsand Island, developed by Seed Lab, will be released in Q1 2026 and offers a farming sim experience with cozy gameplay and stunning visuals. - Bubsy 4D, developed by Fabraz, is set for release in 2026 and features a whimsical platforming adventure with collectibles and challenges. - Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, developed by Unfrozen and published by Ubisoft and Hooded Horse, will be released in 2026 and has over a million wishlists, paying homage to the classic Heroes of Might and Magic 3 while introducing new mechanics.

AppWizard

October 16, 2025

You’ve never played a sci-fi game like this, and it’s launching soon

Ambrosia Sky, developed and published by Soft Rains, is a first-person shooter and immersive sim set to launch its first act on November 10, 2025, for PC. The game takes place in a distant future where humanity has abandoned Earth, and players will control Dalia, who is involved in the Ambrosia project focused on immortality. Dalia returns to Saturn, her childhood home, to address a catastrophe that has devastated her community. Her dual mission involves cleansing alien fungus contamination and performing last rites for the deceased. The game includes a skill tree that requires collecting fruit samples for upgrades, and players can replay missions to recover missed items. A demo featuring voice acting for Dalia is available until October 20, 2025, during Steam Next Fest, and the game is confirmed to perform well on the Steam Deck and other handhelds. Ambrosia Sky will be available on Steam and the Epic Games Store.

AppWizard

September 25, 2025

Deus Ex Remastered announced for PlayStation 5, but surely it’ll also be on PC, right?

Eidos-Montréal and Aspyr announced a remaster of Deus Ex during Sony's State of Play event, set to launch on PlayStation 5 on February 5, 2026. The remaster will also be available on Xbox and PC via Steam. Enhancements include rebuilt character models, improved lip-syncing, and ragdoll physics, along with quality-of-life features such as autosaves, faster loading times, achievement tracking, cloud saves, and support for ultrawide and multi-monitor setups.

AppWizard

September 8, 2025

Dishonored ‘sounded a little bit ridiculous’ in the beginning, but came together with the help of the Sweeney Todd musical

Lackrow Boulevard in Dunwall is home to The Black Friar hotel, which is associated with the Hatters Gang. At number 131, AudioLog produces audiograph players that capture and replay spoken words through punchcards, preserving the thoughts of various characters. Austin Grossman, a significant figure in the gaming industry, is the creator of the audiograph. He contributed to influential games like System Shock and Deus Ex and wrote the novel You, reflecting on his experiences at Looking Glass Studios. Grossman praised Dishonored 2 for its dual protagonist system and the transition from Dunwall to Serkonos. He expressed a desire to explore more islands in the Dishonored universe and suggested that the series could benefit from a lighter tone. He also noted that the island in Deathloop is part of the Dishonored universe, set in a distant future, and highlighted the narrative design differences between the two games. Grossman believes that the emotional depth of the stories distinguishes them from other titles like Prey. He considers writing for the Dishonored series a privilege and acknowledges the unpredictable nature of success in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

July 12, 2025

Ken Levine wanted System Shock 2’s final level to be set in outer space, but the idea was shot down by its senior designers: ‘They’re like dude, we have 14 months to make this game’

System Shock 2 is a highly regarded PC game known for its storytelling and gameplay, but its final act, The Body of the Many, has received criticism for not matching the quality of earlier parts. This level features a challenging environment that can leave players unprepared for the final confrontation with the antagonist, Shodan. Ken Levine, the game's designer, acknowledged that the finale's shortcomings stemmed from his ambitious vision for a zero-gravity environment outside the ship, which was impractical given the tight development timeline. Despite his colleagues' skepticism, he created a level that differed significantly in appearance and gameplay, which he later admitted was not one of the game's strongest. Levine's initial concept of an exterior level influenced later games like Dead Space and Prey. System Shock 2 recently received a remaster from Nightdive, which has been well-received, while Levine is working on a new project called Judas.