landscape Archives

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

This game about being a chaotic mage might be the best indie immersive sim you can play, as I learned after destroying a mime’s house with magnetism

Rhell: Warped Worlds & Troubled Souls is a PC game that combines RPG elements with immersive simulation. Players encounter a mime in the game, who has an elaborate setup and a magnet-themed puzzle. The game features 40 spells, or runes, that can be creatively combined to solve puzzles. The design encourages experimentation and embraces failure, allowing quick respawns after mistakes. The gameplay includes slapstick animations that highlight comical misfortunes. Despite minor flaws in narrative and spell reprogramming, the game offers an engaging experience that appeals to fans of RPGs and puzzle-solving.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

Steampunk colony sim Steel Artery is here, and it’s “emergent chaos” aboard a giant train

Steel Artery is a train city-building simulation game set in a moving city called Steelpolis, developed by SoulAge23. It combines elements from colony simulation games and features fully autonomous citizens with their own needs and desires. Players manage the population, production chains, and resources while navigating challenges and social tensions. The game has stunning pixel artwork and offers a unique experience with each playthrough. It is available on Steam with an 89% positivity rate from initial reviews, highlighting its complexity and management challenges. The game is priced at .24 during a promotional period, with a 10% discount until May 22.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

GTA roleplayers built a secret Boiler Room rave beneath Los Santos, complete with DJs, club photographers, biker security, and a custom party drug

An underground rave event in GTA Online has been organized in collaboration with Roleplay.co.uk, featuring an interactive elevator leading to a hidden bunker transformed into a club. The event included a roleplayed custom drug smuggled from overseas and was secured by the Arms of Outcasts motorcycle club. The first event attracted 96 attendees, and the organizer expressed hopes for a larger crowd at future gatherings. Community engagement was highlighted through photography and discussions about the event's fictional elements.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

Japanese authorities just dropped a Minecraft map based on actual submarine topographic data, and it lets you explore the seabed from Tokyo Bay to the Mariana Trench

The Japan Coast Guard released a Minecraft map showcasing the submarine topography around Japan's coastline on May 12, coinciding with "Japan Coast Guard Day." The map is available for free download in Java and Bedrock formats and allows players to explore an artistically rendered version of Japan's underwater geography. Players start near Tokyo Bay and can encounter the Seven Islands of Izu and the Iwojima ridge, which includes active volcanoes. The map also features the Mariana Trench, the deepest oceanic trench, which the Japan Coast Guard first measured. The map can be accessed through the Japan Coast Guard's Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department website, and it includes a tool for looking up block coordinates. The initiative follows a similar project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2025, which created a Minecraft representation of the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

Excitement Builds for Horizon Group USA’s Minecraft Activity Kits

Horizon Group USA is collaborating with Mojang Studios to create a new line of licensed activity kits inspired by Minecraft, set to launch this summer. The collection will include Minecraft-themed slimes, STEM dig kits, and various hands-on crafts and activities. These products will be available at major retailers in the U.S., such as Amazon and Walmart.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

How Poppy Playtime made ‘free game, paid DLC’ work on PC

GameDiscoverCo held its annual offsite gathering, discussing various industry developments. Footprints.gg reported significant buzz for Forza Horizon 6 ahead of its launch, with GTA 6 also trending due to trailer speculation. Xbox plans include Project Saluki, a new Game Pass tier for the Chinese market, and Positron, potentially introducing a disc-to-digital entitlement program. Steam's bundle discounting interface has sparked discussions about pricing strategies. The PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for May includes Star Wars Outlaws and Red Dead Redemption 2. Roblox is experiencing shifts in user-generated content rights and cost models. The Source 2-powered s&box has launched on Steam, but interest is waning. Hushcrasher's analysis indicates rising game production costs are due to project scope rather than base costs. Concurrent user metrics suggest week one sales can reach 20 times peak concurrent users. Poppy Playtime, a horror puzzle game, has expanded from a free title to four paid chapters, with Huggy Wuggy becoming a popular character. Mob Entertainment, founded by brothers with a background in 3D animation, has seen Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 sell 408,000 copies on Steam and 19,000 on Epic Games Store. The free base game has 2.76 million downloads on Steam since the chapter's release. The franchise's revenue from four DLCs exceeds a million on Steam, with potential total revenue approaching 100 million when including console and mobile sales. The development team employs a parallel strategy for annual chapter releases, with varying DLC structures across platforms. The pricing of DLC has increased over time, reflecting greater ambition in production. Game director Bryce Clark emphasizes balancing puzzles and chase sequences to enhance player experience.

Tech Optimizer

May 16, 2026

Chamber Perk: O’Brien Technologies Emphasizes Education and Protection

O’Brien Technologies has launched a program called “Educate and Protect” to improve cybersecurity for businesses by addressing the human factor in breaches. They highlight that many cyber threats arise from human errors, such as clicking phishing links or misunderstanding data storage protocols. The company points out that cloud services do not automatically protect files without robust backup systems and that small businesses are often more vulnerable due to a lack of comprehensive security measures. They stress the inadequacy of relying solely on outdated tools like firewalls and antivirus software and advocate for a multi-layered cybersecurity approach. O’Brien Technologies recommends regular employee training, staying informed about threats, and ongoing commitment to cybersecurity. They offer tailored guidance for businesses looking to enhance their cybersecurity. Interested parties can contact them at 661-432-1301 or visit obrienmsp.com.

Winsage

May 15, 2026

Windows 11’s May update is causing install failures and slow internet — here’s what we know

Microsoft's Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11, KB5089549, released on May 13, 2026, has caused installation issues for some users, who receive an error message indicating a rollback. Additionally, a smaller group has reported decreased internet performance after the update. Users facing installation failures may see the system revert to the previous version automatically and can attempt to reinstall the update or troubleshoot by clearing the SoftwareDistribution cache or using the Windows Update troubleshooter.

AppWizard

May 15, 2026

Another metaverse is set to die in June

Meta's VR platform, Meta Horizon Worlds, is set to close in June. Hololive's metaverse initiative, Holoearth, will cease operations on June 28. Project lead Ikko Fukuda expressed gratitude to the community and acknowledged challenges in meeting expectations. The team will refund any unused Holocoin or Creator Points, and premium currency sales and user-generated items will be discontinued.

AppWizard

May 15, 2026

I’m tired of everything getting turned into a roguelite, but I’ll make an exception for pinball

Developers are rapidly creating quick-hit games inspired by various mechanics, with 257 new roguelites released on Steam in the past month. One notable title is Pin-Crawl, which introduces a roguelite twist to pinball gameplay, featuring upgrades that create chaotic effects and unique spells for strategic advantages. Although its visuals may not match those of established titles, it offers innovative gameplay mechanics, including stats, bosses, and meta progression. Pin-Crawl aims to deliver quick, engaging sessions, appealing to players' nostalgia for pinball while blending it with roguelite elements.