modding capabilities Archives

AppWizard

July 31, 2025

August 2025 is the month of remakes and remasters

August is a subdued month for new video game releases, particularly original titles, but features several remakes and remasters. Key releases include: - Dawn of War: Definitive Edition launching on August 14, which consolidates all expansions and multiplayer modes, enhances textures, supports 4K resolution, and improves lighting, reflections, and modding capabilities. - Gears of War: Reloaded releasing on August 26, featuring significant graphical enhancements, modern features like cross-play and DLSS, and an optional streamlined control scheme. - Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, a remake of Harvest Moon DS, set to launch on August 27, promises gameplay efficiency improvements. - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, releasing on August 28, is a full remake with new features like the Fox Hunt multiplayer mode and real-time wear and tear mechanics, marking Konami's first major MGS project since Hideo Kojima's departure.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

Experts warn GTA and Minecraft being used to lure in cyberattack victims – here’s how to stay safe

Cybersecurity experts have reported a significant increase in game-themed malware targeting the gaming community, especially younger players. From April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, there were over 19 million attempts to download malicious files disguised as popular games, affecting around 400,000 individuals globally. Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) was the most targeted game, with nearly 4.5 million attack attempts, followed by Minecraft with 4.1 million, Call of Duty (CoD) with 2.6 million, and The Sims with 2.4 million. Cybercriminals exploit established games and lure victims with fake offers, often leading to infostealers, cryptocurrency hijackers, backdoors, and Trojans. Kaspersky advises gamers to avoid pirated content and be cautious of suspicious offers.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Microsoft Finally Gets Into the Handheld Game With ROG Xbox Ally

Microsoft unveiled its new handheld gaming consoles, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, during the Summer Game Fest on June 8. Both models feature a design resembling a pair of controllers attached to a wide screen and are expected to launch this holiday season. They will operate on Windows 11 and allow for gaming through remote play, cloud gaming, or directly on the device, providing access to a wide range of PC games and popular applications. Initial impressions of the consoles have been positive, with reports highlighting their comfortable design and gameplay experience. Microsoft aims to compete with existing handheld devices like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, and the Ally will debut with popular titles, including Roblox.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Chronicles: Medieval Is a Mount and Blade-Like ‘Dynamic Medieval Sandbox RPG’ Out Next Year in Early Access

Raw Power Games, an independent studio based in Copenhagen, Denmark, introduced its first title, Chronicles: Medieval, during the Summer Game Fest 2025. The studio has around 100 employees with experience from notable games like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. Chronicles: Medieval is a dynamic medieval sandbox RPG set in 14th to 15th century Europe, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and proprietary 'Asgard' technology. Players can craft their own narratives, engage in intense combat, and lead armies in battles. The game features character creation, troop recruitment, and third-person battlefield engagement, with historical units like English longbowmen and French cavalry. The combat system emphasizes realism and fluid weapon mechanics, developed in collaboration with HEMA expert Björn Rüther. The game allows for player choices and potential diplomatic interactions, with modding capabilities hinted at. An early access launch on PC is planned for next year.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

‘The Witcher 3’ Is Finally Bringing The Best Part Of PC Gaming To PS5 And Xbox Series X/S

CD Projekt Red is celebrating the tenth anniversary of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with various initiatives, including an anniversary trailer, concerts, and developer discussions. An update scheduled for 2025 will enhance modding capabilities for The Witcher 3 on consoles, allowing PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S players to use mods previously available only to PC players. Console users will need a mod.io account to access these mods, while PC players can use other platforms like Nexus Mods. All mods must be approved by CD Projekt Red, and while simpler mods will work without the developer’s mod kit, those requiring code alterations will need it. Mod creation will remain exclusive to PC. The update aims to increase engagement among console players, who have previously had limited modding experiences.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Modders use reverse engineering to bring Mario Party 4 to PC, more GameCube games to follow

The gaming community has seen a rise in reverse-engineering source code from retro console games, particularly from the Nintendo 64 era and earlier, leading to native PC ports. The decompilation of Mario Party 4 is nearly complete, making it the first fully decompiled GameCube title, which will facilitate unofficial PC ports. A port of Mario Party 4 with online multiplayer is in development. Other GameCube titles like Super Smash Bros. Melee and Metroid Prime are also being targeted for decompilation. An unofficial PC port of the Xbox 360 game Sonic Unleashed has been completed. Previous titles such as Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time have received PC ports with enhanced features. Modders are experimenting with advanced technologies like ray tracing for classic games. A modding tool has improved the recompilation process, but technical challenges remain. Nintendo has not taken legal action against these decompilation efforts, and modders use clean room tactics to avoid legal issues, requiring ownership of the original game for PC ports.

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

The Last of Us Part II Remastered Coming to PC On April 3, 2025

“The Last of Us Part II Remastered” will be released on PC on April 3, 2025, available on Steam and the Epic Games Store. This marks the first time Windows users can access the game, which previously received over 300 Game of the Year awards on PlayStation. The remastered edition includes enhancements such as improved graphics, performance, and new content, including a roguelike mode called “No Return.” Pre-orders are currently available. The PC version will support customizable graphics settings, ultrawide monitor support, and full DualSense controller features. New playable characters Bill and Marlene will be introduced in the “No Return” mode, alongside a Guitar Free Play mode and restored cut content. The game will require a minimum of an Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300x processor and 16GB RAM.

AppWizard

March 3, 2025

This New Unofficial PC Port Of Sonic Unleashed Could Be The Best Version Of The Game Yet

Fans have created an unofficial PC port of Sonic Unleashed called Unleashed Recompiled, enhancing the original game and adding features for modding and performance. The project was developed by a team led by Skyth and Sajid, utilizing tools named XenonRecomp and XenosRecomp to convert Xbox 360 executables into a PC-compatible format. The port includes support for ultrawide monitors, high-resolution graphics, increased framerates, and expanded modding opportunities. To avoid legal issues with Sega, the developers did not include original game assets, advising users to source them from their legally acquired copies. Sonic Unleashed originally released in 2008 on Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3, featuring both high-speed daytime levels and combat-focused nighttime segments. The PC port is available for download on the project's GitHub page, which also offers instructions for extracting game files from the Xbox 360 version.