narratives Archives

AppWizard

May 9, 2025

A Minecraft Movie releases digitally next week

Warner Bros will release A Minecraft Movie for digital streaming on May 13, available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. DVD and Blu-ray versions will be released on June 24. The film features Jack Black and Jason Momoa and includes special features such as featurettes on building the Minecraft world, the film's unique mobs, musical elements, the chemistry between the lead actors, and a comedic journey of characters voiced by Matt Berry and Jennifer Coolidge. The film grossed 1 million globally in its opening weekend, and discussions about a potential sequel have emerged. Critics have noted the film's charm, while an unfinished version has leaked online.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Split Fiction has sold 4m copies

Split Fiction has sold over four million copies, as announced by Electronic Arts (EA) in its financial report for the quarter ending March 2025. EA's CEO, Andrew Wilson, noted that the game exceeded expectations and gained global attention. The game sold one million copies within 48 hours of release and reached two million in its first week. A film adaptation is also reportedly in development.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Calling all cozy mystery fans: the follow-up to 2022’s best puzzle game gives you even more ways to play detective

Strange Antiquities is a game set in the town of Undermere, where players run a curio shop and assist customers with peculiar requests involving occult relics. Players gather an eclectic inventory of items, such as stone tablets and brass effigies, each with its own story. The game features evolved mechanics for identifying artifacts through visual and tactile exploration, allowing players to assess qualities like color, texture, warmth, and hardness. An innovative feature called "inner perception" encourages players to tap into their intuition regarding the emotional qualities of items. Exploration is also a key component, with players navigating a map to discover new artifacts and information. The game promises a rich and immersive experience, blending cozy and eerie atmospheres as players curate their collections and craft narratives.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

I’m the Private Messaging App Signal, and the Trump Administration Is Ruining My Brand

Signal, known for its commitment to privacy and end-to-end encryption, is facing controversy due to a breach involving an unofficial version used by Mike Waltz, a former National Security Adviser. This incident has raised questions about the app's reputation and its ability to maintain secure communications. The app's founder, Moxie Marlinspike, emphasizes privacy, but the association with political figures has complicated its image. Signal has recently released version 7.34.0, which improved compatibility with Arm64 processors, but the media focus has shifted to the political controversy. This breach raises concerns for potential users who value anonymity, and Signal's open-source design allows for public scrutiny, contrasting with competitors. The company faces challenges in restoring user trust while competing with alternatives that prioritize data monetization and advertising. Signal's commitment to privacy and technology remains, but it must work to distance itself from political narratives to recover its trusted status.

AppWizard

May 3, 2025

Weekend PC Download Deals for May 2: Golden Week, Star Wars, and LudoNarraCon

This weekend, there are numerous PC deals available due to the Golden Week festivities and the Steam Wargames Fest. Various storefronts, including Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG.com, are celebrating Star Wars Day with special offers. The annual LudoNarraCon is taking place, featuring discounts on games like Wanderstop, Afterlove EP, and The Crush House. Fanatical is offering a customizable Bethesda Bundle with games like The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind GOTY Edition and Fallout 4, with pricing options for purchasing multiple titles. Green Man Gaming has a 15% discount on PC games using the coupon code MAY15. Humble Choice subscription is available for .99 per month, offering titles such as Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered and Dredge. Ubisoft is providing discounts with the coupon code LEGEND.

AppWizard

May 2, 2025

FILM SCENE | OPINION: Fan explains ‘Minecraft Movie’ tropes

The film industry is experiencing several key trends that are reshaping storytelling: 1. Filmmakers are prioritizing diverse narratives that reflect a broader spectrum of human experiences. 2. Technological advancements, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, are transforming the viewer's experience by creating immersive worlds. 3. The rise of streaming platforms is altering film distribution, democratizing access to films and allowing a wider variety of voices to be heard. These trends influence the types of films produced and shape audience expectations and engagement, fostering a new era of cinema characterized by creativity and experimentation.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Marvel Contest of Champions Finally Gets a PC Release

Kabam has opened pre-registrations for the PC version of Marvel Contest of Champions on Steam, set to launch in 2025. The game will feature all content currently available on the mobile platform and allows players to engage in 1v1 combat with over 300 Champions from the Marvel Universe. Players can collaborate with friends in Alliances and enjoy customizable controls and cross-platform support between PC and mobile.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

The Best PC Games of 2025 So Far (Spring Edition)

Spring 2025 has seen the release of several notable PC games, including: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Released on April 24, 2025, by Sandfall Interactive, it sold over 1 million copies in three days and features a blend of French art nouveau aesthetics and JRPG combat mechanics. - Monster Hunter Wilds: Released on February 28, 2025, by Capcom, it introduces full narrative integration and dynamic monster interactions. - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered: Released on April 22, 2025, by Bethesda Game Studios, it attracted over 4 million players shortly after launch and features enhanced visuals and gameplay updates. Other early 2025 releases include: - Blue Prince (April 10, 2025) - Split Fiction (March 6, 2025) - Atomfall (March 27, 2025) - Assassin’s Creed Shadows (March 20, 2025) - Two Point Museum (March 5, 2025) - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (January 23, 2025) - Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (January 22, 2025) - Ninja Gaiden II Black (January 23, 2025) - The Talos Principle: Reawakened (April 10, 2025) Highly anticipated titles for later in 2025 include: - Grand Theft Auto VI (Late 2025) - Doom: The Dark Ages (May 15, 2025) - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (August 28, 2025) - The Outer Worlds 2 (Expected 2025) - Borderlands 4 (September 12, 2025) - Marvel’s Blade (TBA 2025) - Hades II (Full Release later 2025) - Frostpunk 2 (Summer 2025) - Slay the Spire 2 (Early Access Expected 2025) - Anno 117: Pax Romana (Expected 2025) - Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (October 2025) - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Expected 2025) - Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Expected 2025) In 2024, top-rated PC games included: 1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 2. Metaphor: ReFantazio 3. UFO 50 4. Tekken 8 5. Caves of Qud 6. Animal Well 7. Satisfactory 8. Balatro 9. Thank Goodness You’re Here! 10. The Last of Us Part II Remastered The PC gaming landscape in 2024 was characterized by significant hardware advancements, improved game integration and compatibility, and thriving online communities.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

EA makes job cuts at Respawn

Electronic Arts is implementing layoffs at Respawn Entertainment, affecting approximately 100 employees, due to the discontinuation of two early-stage incubation projects, including an extraction shooter set in the Titanfall universe, codenamed R7. Additionally, EA is reducing between 300 and 400 positions across the company, primarily within the Experiences team. Respawn has assured fans of its ongoing commitment to developing Apex Legends and its Star Wars titles. EA's representative stated that the layoffs are part of a strategy to align teams and allocate resources for future growth. Respawn expressed gratitude to affected employees and is offering support, while reaffirming its dedication to player-first experiences and innovation.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

Elden Ring Nightreign: Can Your PC Run the Gothic Multiplayer Action?

Elden Ring Nightreign is set to launch on May 30, 2025, for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One, with a base price of .99 and a deluxe edition priced at .99. The game will introduce co-op multiplayer elements and emphasize multiplayer combat, where teams must defeat a boss within a limited timeframe. The minimum system requirements include Windows 10 (64-bit), AMD Ryzen 5 5500 or Intel Core i5-10600 CPU, 12GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX 580 (4GB) or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (3GB) GPU, and 30GB of available storage. The recommended specs are Windows 11 (64-bit), AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or Intel Core i5-11500 CPU, 16GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (8GB) or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB) GPU, and 30GB of available storage. The game will support various controllers and is expected to use third-party DRM through GuardIT, though Steam Deck compatibility is yet to be confirmed.