microtransactions Archives

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

Gabe Newell Fights Steam Monopoly Claims, Says “Customers Have Enormous Choice” Across Consoles and PC

Valve's Steam is facing multiple legal challenges, including a class-action antitrust lawsuit regarding its microtransaction strategies and a 30% commission on transactions. Gabe Newell, Valve's co-founder, is defending the platform against claims of monopolistic behavior, asserting that gamers have "enormous choice" in where to purchase games. Allegations suggest Valve has threatened developers who price their games lower outside of Steam, including a warning to Ubisoft about removing Rainbow Six Siege from the platform. Newell denies these allegations, stating that Valve does not dictate prices to third-party developers on other platforms. The outcomes of the lawsuits could significantly impact how games are marketed and sold.

BetaBeacon

May 31, 2026

The Best Android Games for 2026: Your Next Mobile Gaming Addiction Starts Here

The Android gaming market offers a variety of outstanding games, including indie hits, retro classics, and Nintendo-published originals. Some Android games are comparable to AAA console and PC titles. Subscription services like Google Play Pass and GameClub offer access to hundreds of games without microtransactions. Google's licensing of Android to more partners has made it a popular platform for gaming-focused mobile hardware. Despite some failed initiatives like Google Cardboard and Google Stadia, Android remains a strong gaming platform with options for all tastes.

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

Star Citizen reaches $1 billion in lifetime funding, 14 years after the project was first announced — game still in early access with no release window, including ‘Squadron 42’ campaign

Star Citizen was launched as a crowdfunding campaign on October 10, 2012, and has since surpassed billion in total funding, though a definitive release date is not yet available. The game is currently in an alpha state, with ongoing updates and numerous bugs. Over 1,000 employees are involved in its development, which has spanned three console generations. Chris Roberts has suggested a potential release window of 2027-2028, depending on the launch of Squadron 42, which is targeting a release in 2026. The game has transitioned from CryEngine to a proprietary engine, StarEngine, and features like Persistent Entity Streaming and Server Meshing have been introduced. Star Citizen is the most expensive crowdfunded game ever, and it has been covered by Tom's Hardware since late 2012.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

Destiny 2 hasn’t been the game I’d loved in years, but it still sucks to know it’s ending

Bungie announced that the live service development for Destiny 2 will conclude on June 9, 2026, after nearly nine years, ten expansions, three episodic narratives, and 30 seasons. The game initially gained popularity for its shooting mechanics and immersive worlds but began to shift in essence around 2022, with changes like power level disadvantages and a focus on challenge introduced by former game director Joe Blackburn in February 2023. Players experienced frustrations with microtransactions and item economies, and beloved worlds were vaulted, leading to alienation among long-time fans. The final expansion, Final Shape, aims to conclude the decade of storytelling amidst internal turmoil at Bungie.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

As Terraria turns 15, Re-Logic confirms crossplay is “soon” and that “updates will continue beyond 1.4.6”

Terraria celebrates its 15th anniversary since its initial release. The game has achieved total sales of 70 million, making it the eighth best-selling game of all time, with 39.6 million copies sold on PC. The modding platform tModLoader has 12.3 million downloads on Steam. Over the past year, the game averaged 461,000 daily players, with a peak of 1.4 million during the 'Bigger and Boulder' update. The average playtime for the base game is 101 hours and 18 minutes, while tModLoader users average 89 hours and 52 minutes. Re-Logic is working on crossplay functionality and future updates beyond version 1.4.6. A special collector's edition box set will be available for preorder in early June.

AppWizard

May 17, 2026

Lego racing game 2K Drive will be delisted next week, but online multiplayer won’t shut down until next year

Forza Horizon 6 has been released, while Lego 2K Drive will be removed from the digital marketplace on May 19, three years after its launch. Players who own or purchase the game before this date will retain access to its multiplayer features until May 31 of the following year, after which online functions will cease. Lego 2K Drive has received mixed reviews, with a critic rating it at 59%, citing "greedy microtransactions" as a downside. The game features a kart creator based on real-life Lego specifications but has faced scrutiny for its digital currency bundle aimed at children. Other games, including Disney titles and Star Trek: Resurgence, have also been removed from digital storefronts, with potential licensing issues suggested as a reason for Lego 2K Drive's withdrawal.

AppWizard

April 30, 2026

GTA 6 Free Alternative Lands on PS5 and PC To 5-Star Reviews

Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to have its third trailer released soon, likely coinciding with the start of pre-orders, as the game is set to launch in November. Take-Two's CEO has indicated that marketing efforts will ramp up ahead of the company's investor call on May 21. Rockstar Games has resumed social media engagement with fans, hinting at upcoming announcements. Meanwhile, a free open-world RPG called Neverness to Everness, referred to as ‘Anime GTA VI’ by fans, is available for players. This game allows players to explore a city, engage in criminal activities, and features a consequence system for getting caught. It is available on PC and PS5, but not on Steam for PC users. The PlayStation Store shows that 75% of players rated it five out of five.

AppWizard

April 18, 2026

Last Flag, the debut game from the studio founded by Imagine Dragons’ lead singer, becomes the latest multiplayer shooter struggling to find an audience

In 2026, attracting players to new multiplayer shooters has proven to be a significant challenge. Highguard experienced a decline in player engagement, fading from the scene within three months. Marathon, despite its high budget of 0 million, is struggling to justify its costs. Last Flag, a 5v5 multiplayer shooter developed by Night Street Games and co-founded by members of Imagine Dragons, launched on April 14 to a peak of fewer than 600 concurrent players, which has since dropped to just under 400. Despite a competitive price and a marketing push, the game has faced criticism for having bot-filled matches and a visual style reminiscent of Fortnite. Night Street Games is focused on building a sustainable community and is currently offering a free weekend on Steam to attract players. Mac Reynolds highlighted the difficulties of fundraising in 2026, indicating challenges for studios in maintaining operational viability.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

This free app can get your Android phone to run PC games better than ever

Winlator v11.0 is a free Windows-on-Android emulator that allows Android devices to run Windows PC games locally without cloud streaming or subscription fees. The update features significant enhancements in GPU performance, particularly for Adreno 8-series GPUs, improving graphics and reducing crashes for demanding titles on devices with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite. It introduces an experimental OpenGL wrapper called Gladio to extend compatibility to MediaTek and Exynos chips with Mali GPUs. The update also includes Wine 10.10 and Box64 v0.4.0, which enhance the operation of Windows software on mobile processors, promising faster load times and improved stability for 64-bit applications. Initial user feedback indicates remarkable performance improvements over previous versions and other emulators.

AppWizard

April 8, 2026

Samson, Minos, and More: Best New PC Games This Week

Samson: A Tyndalston Story, a brawler from Liquid Swords, is set to launch on April 8 exclusively on PC via Steam, with no microtransactions involved. The game is set in the fictional town of Tyndalston and features chaotic open-world elements, focusing on street fights and high-speed car pursuits. It is powered by Unreal Engine 5 and has drawn comparisons to GTA 4. Other notable releases in the week include Road to Vostok, entering early access on April 7, Minos and Beneath Cloudvein launching on April 9, and Bow and Banister releasing on April 10. Road to Vostok is a solo-developed survival shooter set in a post-apocalyptic border zone, while Minos allows players to control a minotaur in a roguelike structure. Beneath Cloudvein is a retro RPG about a missing dwarven mining expedition, and Bow and Banister features a violinist navigating a staircase with uncooperative limbs.