journey Archives

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

PSA: Grab the best upgrades from Death Stranding 2’s first area before you leave

In Death Stranding 2, the initial region of Mexico serves as a training ground offering valuable upgrades for players. Key upgrades include: - Trekking Boots: Earned by gaining two stars with The Bokka, providing enhanced grip. - Sticky Gun: Allows retrieval of cargo from a distance, useful for hard-to-reach packages. - Silenced Machine Pistol: Unlocked by achieving three stars with Ciudad Nudo Del Norte, ideal for stealth. - Big-Bore Handgun: Available at four stars with Ciudad Nudo Del Norte, effective for close-quarters combat. - Lightweight Assault Rifle Lv2: Earned after four stars with the Former Geophysics Research Lab, featuring increased ammo capacity and a grenade launcher. - Tri-Cruiser vehicle armor: Accessible at two stars with the Former Geophysics Research Lab. - EX Grenade: Available at two stars from the South Distribution Centre, effective against BTs. - Blood Grenade Lv2: Unlocked at three stars, inflicts greater damage than standard grenades. - Custom Electric Rod: Obtained by reaching two stars with Villa Libre, a melee weapon that conserves ammunition. Exploring Mexico early on is beneficial as players can secure these upgrades before progressing to later regions.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Microsoft tests Xbox app with Battle.net integration — updated app brings third-party game library aggregation

Microsoft is testing a new Xbox app for PC among Xbox Insiders, which will aggregate installed games from various third-party storefronts into a single interface. This feature will debut with the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X handhelds later this year. The initiative is part of Microsoft's strategy to transition Xbox from a console-centric brand to a service-oriented platform, aligning with the Game Pass initiative for both Xbox and PC users. Microsoft is optimizing Windows 11 for third-party handheld devices instead of developing its own Xbox handheld. While a widespread launch of the aggregated library feature has not been announced, initial rollout with the ROG Ally handhelds is expected during the holiday season, with broader support potentially arriving by the end of this year or in 2026.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Mario Kart 64 races onto PC with unofficial port, no emulation necessary

UltraHLE enabled players to run commercial Nintendo 64 games at playable frame rates on Windows 9x. The Harbour Masters collective has developed SpaghettiKart, an unofficial PC port of Mario Kart 64, by decompiling and recompiling the original game code for contemporary platforms, including Windows, Linux (Ubuntu 22), and Nintendo Switch. Players must provide their own Mario Kart 64 ROM and use "Spaghettify.exe" to load the game. SpaghettiKart currently supports only the US version and offers three rendering APIs: DirectX 11 for Windows, Metal for macOS, and OpenGL for other platforms. The port allows for custom assets and mods, although it is still in development and may have occasional crashes. Mario Kart 64 is the second-best-selling title for the Nintendo 64, with nearly 9.87 million copies sold globally. SpaghettiKart utilizes Libultraship, a library that reimplements Nintendo 64 SDK functions on modern machines.

AppWizard

June 23, 2025

Xbox App For PC Adds Aggregated Gaming Library in Preview

Microsoft is testing the integration of games from various digital storefronts, including Steam, into its Xbox app for PC, creating a new aggregated library accessible on the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally devices. This feature is available to Xbox Insiders in the PC Gaming preview starting today. The library will include titles from platforms like Battle.net, Epic Games Store, and GOG, allowing users to view all installed games in one place. Users must join the PG Gaming Preview via the Xbox Insider Hub to participate in testing. Additionally, the Xbox app for PC will introduce a new section this month for better game discovery, featuring games from Microsoft and third-party publishers on Game Pass.

AppWizard

June 23, 2025

Death Stranding 2 cements Hideo Kojima’s legacy as a PC game designer still living in the console world

In Death Stranding 2, players are tasked with delivering a pizza to an anime VTuber who has withdrawn from society. The game emphasizes the character's belief in the simple pleasure of hot pizza. Game director Hideo Kojima notes that the sequel allows for greater player freedom, including the option to avoid combat. The game combines immersive sim elements with a focus on delivery mechanics, offering various approaches to challenges. Players navigate diverse environments, including dust storms and blizzards, using new gear like the coffin surfboard. The balance between combat and delivery is maintained, with a versatile arsenal and attention to detail enhancing the experience. The day/night cycle introduces strategic elements, and the character Dollman serves both narrative and gameplay functions. The game encourages exploration and personal storytelling within its expansive world.

AppWizard

June 23, 2025

Google app is now home to your Pinterest-like personalized image feed

Google is rolling out a new "Images" tab in the beta version of its app, designed to create a personalized visual feed based on user-selected topics such as Fashion, Home Decor, and Travel. Users can interact with images by sharing, saving, or searching with Google Lens, and can hide images that do not interest them. The feature is currently in beta testing with a select group of users for feedback, and adjustments will be made before a broader release.

AppWizard

June 23, 2025

Five new Steam games you probably missed (June 23, 2025)

On any given day, Steam releases about a dozen new games. The following are details of specific games: - Korter 1996 - Release Date: June 20 - Developers: Mari-Anna Lepasson, James Flannery - Gameplay: Players explore a '90s arcade setting as a nine-year-old in an abandoned gaming haven, combining first-person exploration and 2D pixel platforming with a gameplay duration of around two hours. - Tower Wizard - Release Date: June 20 - Developer: Barribob - Gameplay: An incremental idle game where players build a wizard tower, featuring satisfying mechanics and numerous upgrades. It received over 900 "overwhelmingly positive" reviews shortly after release. - Chronicles of the Wolf - Release Date: June 19 - Developer: Migami Games - Gameplay: An exploration platformer that pays homage to the Castlevania series, featuring gothic pixel art and RPG mechanics, including characters from the Bloodstained series. - Blessed Burden - Release Date: June 19 - Developer: Podoba Interactive - Gameplay: A first-person parkour game where players, as a priest, descend into hell to confront evil, with a focus on speed and agility, and gameplay priced under ten dollars.

AppWizard

June 22, 2025

Almost a year after launch, Frost Giant’s StarCraft wannabe has finally added the feature it’s named after: ‘We called the game Stormgate, yet we didn’t actually have any stormgates’

Stormgate faced skepticism upon launch due to its aesthetics, narrative, and gameplay mechanics, which some players felt lacked polish. The game had limited single-player missions and a push for additional purchases. Developer Frost Giant has since overhauled the campaign, introducing a new feature called Stormgates, which are dimensional rifts on 1v1 maps that provide randomized rewards affecting gameplay dynamics. Examples of rewards include the Soulforge Relic, Sky Hunters, Void Prowlers, Swarm Mother, and Stormcaller Relic. These elements significantly impact match strategy, prompting players to adapt their tactics. Frost Giant is replacing traditional creep camps with Stormgates based on community feedback, and while creep camps have been removed from three ladder maps, they remain in other custom settings. The Stormgates are now integrated into 1v1 gameplay, with plans for expansion into other modes.

BetaBeacon

June 22, 2025

Get These Must-Have Free Apps for Android and iOS This Week

The text describes a list of free Android apps for productivity and lifestyle, as well as free Android and iPhone games that are available for a limited time.

AppWizard

June 22, 2025

I’ve already found the best fishing game in Steam’s Fishing Fest, Scale the Depths, which lets you feed fish to Nessie in Loch Ness and hunt for the mythic Beithir

The text describes a fishing-themed game called Scale the Depths, which features pixel-art graphics and involves players catching fish to serve whimsical creatures on Loch Ness. Players must cater to the unique dietary preferences of various patrons, including otters and the Loch Ness monster, while earning money to upgrade their fishing gear. Upgrades available in the game include enhancements to the fishing rod, hook, knife, and inventory size. Players can explore deeper waters for larger fish and treasures, with the ultimate goal of catching the mythical Beithir. The game requires active participation in fishing, with controls that can be challenging but improve with gear upgrades.