modding Archives

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

I’ve played over 50 hours of Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator this month, and it’s cured my gaming burnout

Alex Cope shared how a surprise game reignited his passion for gaming amidst the industry's burdensome state, characterized by fatigue from live service models and monetization strategies. He found enjoyment in American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2, appreciating their vast open worlds that allow for solo exploration and community engagement. The driving experience is central to his enjoyment, with no rigid campaign structure and the freedom to traverse any map from the start. The journey itself is meditative, with leveling up providing longer, rewarding drives rather than just monetary gains. The games feature a modding community that offers extensive customization options, and the multiplayer aspect allows players to join convoys and engage with others. Both games are compatible with handheld devices like the Steam Deck, which he prefers for gaming, and they continue to receive updates. While there are some performance limitations, the overall experience remains impressive, providing a soothing escape from daily gaming. The base versions of the games are affordably priced, with ample opportunities for exploration in the core maps.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

The mod we called ‘the best Fallout game you’ll play this year’ back in 2018 just launched on GOG

Upcoming releases in the Fallout franchise include a remaster of Fallout 4, a remaster of Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 5, a prequel to Fallout 3 set in Fallout 76, and the third season of the Fallout television series. Fallout: New California, a full conversion mod for Fallout: New Vegas, has been released on GOG after nearly a decade of development. The mod features a narrative set in 2260, where players assume the role of a character from Vault 18 and make decisions that impact the New California Republic. The story includes various factions such as the New California Republic, the New Reno Mob's Bishop Family, the Shi Clans, the Enclave Leonidas Squadron, the Super Mutant Army, and the Raider Alliance. Critics have praised Fallout: New California as a significant achievement in modding. The mod is easily installable for players with Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition via GOG.

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

Mod activates split-screen support in Halo: Campaign Evolved PC that’s just sitting there, unused

The PC version of Halo: Campaign Evolved lacks split-screen functionality, which is available on Xbox and PS5. This absence has disappointed players, especially with the rise of living room PCs. A mod called "Halo Campaign Evolved Split-screen Coop," created by Jpurd123, allows for local split-screen play by utilizing existing code in the game. The mod supports only two-player split-screen and has been tested with the Steam version, leaving other platforms potentially unsupported. Additionally, both players must use controllers, as mixing input methods causes issues. Despite these limitations, the mod's quick development reflects the community's dedication to enhancing the gaming experience.

AppWizard

July 27, 2026

Modder restores missing PS2-era visual effects to Metal Gear Solid 2, including ‘a ton of things that were literally left marked as BLUEPOINT TO-DO still in the source code’

The MGSHDFix mod was created to improve the ports of Metal Gear Solid 1 and 2, as well as the original MG1 and MG2, following their mixed reviews. The latest version, MGSHDFix 4.0.0, was released recently, with a hotfix version 4.0.1 following shortly after. However, Luxtorpeda is still distributing the earlier version 3.1.0 on Linux systems, although this issue is expected to be resolved soon.

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

Modding wizard creates Grand Theft Auto multiverse that lets players travel instantly between Rockstar’s first three games: ‘We got inter-GTA portals before GTA 6’

A modder named DryxioGTA has created a mod for the Grand Theft Auto series that allows players to travel between Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas using portals. The mod enables instantaneous travel between the three worlds while maintaining distinct saves, missions, and settings for each game. Players can interact between the cities, such as shooting through a portal, which triggers responses from civilians in the current world. A video showcasing the mod was shared on YouTube, demonstrating its functionality. Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to be released in November.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

GTA: Vice City gets free DLC-sized story content ahead of GTA 6 launch

Fans of Grand Theft Auto can download a free mission pack titled Vice City: New Legacy for GTA: Vice City, created by modder Rohansrinivasan123. This DLC includes 25 original story missions featuring gang wars, heists, and shootouts, along with new characters and storylines. The mod is designed using Sanny Builder and CLEO and is available on the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Nexus Mods page, specifically for the original version of the game. Rockstar Games is preparing to release Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with pre-orders available for the Standard and Ultimate Editions. Pre-loads will begin on November 12, 2026.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

A modder has brought No Man’s Sky-style seamless takeoffs to Starfield, and even in beta they look pretty great

Bethesda's space RPG, Starfield, faces challenges due to frequent loading screens that disrupt the gameplay experience. A mod called Seamless Planet Takeoffs aims to enhance the takeoff experience by allowing players to remain in the cockpit during launch, providing a more immersive transition. The mod is still in beta and does not completely eliminate loading screens but improves the experience by masking transitions. The creator, 0xBobby, notes that while the mod enhances takeoff fluidity based on atmospheric conditions, seamless landings remain difficult to achieve and may not be possible.

BetaBeacon

July 19, 2026

Tired of free-to-play trash? These 6 Android games are worth paying for in 2026

- Minecraft Bedrock for Android offers full cross-play gameplay support with Bedrock PC and console users, as well as the same marketplace and servers. - Stardew Valley on Android has a more stable multiplayer scene and supports extensive modding, but there is no official mod support for the Android version. - Animal Crossing Pocket Camp Complete offers a mobile-first design focused on a cozy camp experience, and progression is tied to leveling up friendships with villagers. - Balatro is an addictive rogue-like deck builder game that feels like a cross between poker and solitaire. - Siralim Ultimate is a monster-catching RPG with over 1,200 creatures to engage with and places an emphasis on strategic squad-building. - Dead Cells is a unique game with smooth and responsive combat that can be challenging and addictive, offering a decent narrative and dark humor.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

The best Mario Kart game gets free PC port, includes 200 tracks

Mario Kart Wiicompiled, an unofficial port of the original Mario Kart Wii, is set to be released next month by YouTuber Patchzy. This adaptation is designed for PC and features both controller and keyboard controls, moving away from the original's motion controls. Players will have access to all 32 classic tracks from Mario Kart Wii and over 200 additional tracks through the Retro Rewind feature. The port aims to maintain the original's graphics while allowing for potential enhancements, supporting uncapped framerate and 4K resolution. Mario Kart Wii was originally released in 2008, received a Metacritic score of 82/100, and sold over 37.38 million copies, making it one of the most successful titles on the Wii.

AppWizard

July 15, 2026

Verity Minecraft mod surpasses 4.9 million downloads in under a month as viral horror sensation continues

Verity, a character in Minecraft, gained popularity after a viral video amassed over 20 million views since its release in May 2026. On June 16, PnTMC released the Verity - Bedrock Edition mod on CurseForge, which received 4.9 million downloads in 28 days, allowing players to interact with Verity. The Undertalelover mod, also for Bedrock Edition, has 2.8 million downloads, while VarmiteYT's Java Edition mod has over 800,000 downloads in under two weeks.