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Battlefield 6, Arc Raiders, and a surprising MMO are among Steam's best selling games of 2025
AppWizard
December 30, 2025

Battlefield 6, Arc Raiders, and a surprising MMO are among Steam’s best selling games of 2025

Valve has released its annual ranking of the best-selling games on Steam for 2025, based on revenue rather than player ratings. The rankings categorize games into tiers, with the 'platinum' tier including the top 12 earners, which are randomized. Notable titles in the top tier include Battlefield 6, Arc Raiders, EA FC 26, Dune Awakening, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Schedule 1, Monster Hunter Wilds, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake, Civilization 7, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, and Elden Ring Nightreign. The 'gold' tier features games ranked from 13th to 24th, including Europa Universalis 5 and Anno 117: Pax Romana.
It was a good year for survival crafting sickos, and I'll be playing some of these well into 2026
AppWizard
December 27, 2025

It was a good year for survival crafting sickos, and I’ll be playing some of these well into 2026

The author is actively involved in a community focused on survival crafting games, exploring various titles such as Dune: Awakening, Grounded 2, and Abiotic Factor. They have a nostalgic connection to Pax Dei, which features a grind-heavy, player-driven universe but faces challenges in player retention. Misery, currently in early access, offers a melancholic atmosphere with potential for future development. Recent updates to Rust, including a new jungle biome and blueprint system, have sparked renewed interest. Abiotic Factor, recognized as the Best Co-op Game of 2025, remains the author's favorite due to its charm and homage to the Half-Life series.
They survived the MMO massacre of 2025, but 2026 is going to be a tense year for WoW and FF14: And for completely different reasons
AppWizard
December 24, 2025

They survived the MMO massacre of 2025, but 2026 is going to be a tense year for WoW and FF14: And for completely different reasons

In 2025, the MMORPG landscape faced significant turmoil with the closure of New World, withdrawal of funding for Greg Street's MMO, cancellation of a ZeniMax title, and the demise of a Warhammer MMO. Despite this, World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14 have remained resilient. Final Fantasy 14 has struggled with design and content delivery, lagging behind competitors like World of Warcraft, which has benefited from Microsoft's acquisition. Creative Studio 3's rigid division between casual and hardcore content has hindered player engagement, while World of Warcraft has successfully implemented variable difficulty. Director Naoki Yoshida is addressing job design issues in an upcoming expansion expected in late 2026 or early 2027. World of Warcraft has seen a resurgence with recent expansions but faces challenges in eliminating combat mods that players rely on. Both games are at a critical juncture, with 2026 expected to be pivotal for their futures.
A grittier take on post-apocalyptic MMOs like Fallout 76, new shooter finally lands on Steam to mixed reviews
AppWizard
December 18, 2025

A grittier take on post-apocalyptic MMOs like Fallout 76, new shooter finally lands on Steam to mixed reviews

Pioner, developed by GFA Games, is an MMO with shooter elements set in a post-apocalyptic world inspired by Stalker. It features a 50km² island that players can explore, incorporating story-driven exploration, social spaces, and PvE and PvP zones. The game includes a faction-based progression system that allows players to build reputations and unlock better items. Players must manage hunger and rest while crafting tools for survival. Launched on Steam Early Access, Pioner has over 1,200 players but faces performance issues and bugs, resulting in a user score of 50%. A hotfix has been released to address these issues, and new story content is expected by January 2026, along with a roadmap for future developments.
With elements of Fallout and Escape From Tarkov, this brutal FPS is about to signal the end of my MMO hiatus
AppWizard
November 24, 2025

With elements of Fallout and Escape From Tarkov, this brutal FPS is about to signal the end of my MMO hiatus

Pioner is a post-apocalyptic MMOFPS set on a 50km² island that combines PvP and PvE combat, developed by GFA Games. It features social hubs and allows player choices to influence the game's world. The game has over half a million wishlists on Steam and is set to release in Early Access on December 16. A deluxe edition will include exclusive rewards such as a unique character skin, weapon skins, a weapon charm, a Japanese watch, premium currency, and an exclusive player title.
Over 9M dungeons have been cleared in co-op RPG Fellowship's first month of early access and now the devs are teasing big updates in the next few months
AppWizard
November 21, 2025

Over 9M dungeons have been cleared in co-op RPG Fellowship’s first month of early access and now the devs are teasing big updates in the next few months

Fellowship has gained popularity among RPG enthusiasts as a cooperative gaming title, particularly during a lull in the gaming community while waiting for a World of Warcraft expansion. Developer Chief Rebel reported impressive statistics regarding the game's performance in its first month of early access. The game is designed for shorter play sessions, appealing to both casual and dedicated gamers. Future developments from Chief Rebel are anticipated as the game evolves in the competitive cooperative gaming landscape.
In defense of tab-targeting: MMO devs have been trying to put dodge rolls in their games for 10+ years to avoid WoW, and it's never worked
AppWizard
November 16, 2025

In defense of tab-targeting: MMO devs have been trying to put dodge rolls in their games for 10+ years to avoid WoW, and it’s never worked

PC Gamer's column on MMORPGs explores trends in the genre, particularly the shift from tab-targeting systems to action combat systems among MMO designers. This trend emerged in the late 2010s and 2020s, with a prevailing belief that tab-targeting is outdated. The Old School RuneScape (OSRS) wiki highlights a mechanic called "tick eating," where players can consume food just before taking lethal damage, showcasing strategic gameplay. Action MMOs face challenges with tick rates that can hinder combat fluidity compared to single-player games, leading to a less stable experience. The author appreciates action combat but argues that tab-targeting and turn-based combat can also be engaging, emphasizing the complexity and depth of MMO combat in endgame content. The belief that action combat is superior is subjective, and the author suggests that developers should embrace traditional systems rather than reinventing them, as seen in the co-op PvE game Fellowship, which successfully integrates tab-targeting combat. The dominance of World of Warcraft in the MMO space raises questions about whether developers are overlooking the potential of established mechanics.
NetEase racks up its third studio casualty in one week, kneecapping dev working on a Warhammer MMO: 'Devastated doesn't even begin to cover it'
AppWizard
November 8, 2025

NetEase racks up its third studio casualty in one week, kneecapping dev working on a Warhammer MMO: ‘Devastated doesn’t even begin to cover it’

Jackalyptic Games, which was developing a Warhammer MMO, has ended its partnership with NetEase Games after nearly three and a half years. This is the third studio to be affected by NetEase's actions this week, contributing to a total of six Western studios that have closed this year. CEO Jack Emmert announced the situation on LinkedIn, indicating uncertainty for the studio's future, as many team members are now seeking new jobs. The trend of studios being abandoned by NetEase includes others like Fantastic Pixel Castle, Bad Brain, and T-Minus Zero, raising concerns about the viability of MMO development amid a challenging industry landscape marked by layoffs and project cancellations.
World of Warcraft Midnight's addon confusion strikes again, as game director breaks two-year Reddit silence to address countdown concerns
AppWizard
November 6, 2025

World of Warcraft Midnight’s addon confusion strikes again, as game director breaks two-year Reddit silence to address countdown concerns

Recent discussions in the gaming community have focused on the World of Warcraft (WoW) addon landscape, particularly with the upcoming Midnight expansion. Adam 'MysticalOS' Williams shared a video on the official subreddit discussing Blizzard's evolving stance on countdown addons, following a two-year hiatus from game director Ion Hazzikostas. Hazzikostas expressed concerns about players becoming overly reliant on timers during raids, which could diminish engagement with game mechanics. He emphasized the importance of preventing addons from surpassing the base user interface (UI) capabilities, as this could detract from competitive gameplay. Hazzikostas plans to clarify Blizzard's goals regarding addons in an upcoming blog post, aiming to create a level playing field where addons enhance the experience without providing unfair advantages. Specifically regarding audible countdowns, Hazzikostas stated that the concern is not about the countdown itself being automation, but about ensuring all players have access to similar functionalities. He mentioned that if Blizzard's design goals are not met, they might consider integrating an audio countdown feature into the base UI. MysticalOS acknowledged the need for enhancements to be integrated into the stock UI before addon customization. As the Midnight expansion approaches, significant changes to healing mechanics are expected, and experienced modders like WeakAuras' 'Stanzilla' will not update their addons for the new expansion.
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