negative reviews Archives

AppWizard

April 29, 2026

‘Eventually the slop will just fall to the bottom’: Garry’s Mod sequel launches to ‘mixed’ reviews, but Garry himself isn’t worried about AI games on the main page

s&box, the successor to Garry's Mod, has been unveiled as an open-source platform aimed at a mature audience, similar to Roblox. It has received a mixed reception on Steam, with many negative reviews citing issues related to AI-generated content. The platform features hastily assembled games, including one titled Terry's Granny (Now with Co-op!). Newman from Facepunch stated that while the studio does not encourage using AI for game creation, they recognize its value as a learning and productivity tool. He emphasized the importance of human creativity and a balanced approach to AI use, suggesting a 50/50 method. Newman mentioned that Facepunch uses AI mainly in early pre-production phases and views it as a tool for learning rather than a replacement for creative processes. He believes that low-quality AI-generated content will eventually be disregarded by users. S&box is now available on Steam for users to explore and contribute to its community.

Tech Optimizer

April 23, 2026

Everywhen issues six checks to spot unsafe websites

Everywhen has released guidelines to help organizations identify unsafe websites and combat online fraud. The guidance includes six checks users can perform before visiting unfamiliar sites: 1. Utilize website safety checker tools like Google Safe Browsing and Norton Safe Web. 2. Verify the site contains standard business information, such as contact details and social media links. 3. Conduct reputation checks by reviewing public feedback for complaints related to fraud or poor service. 4. Evaluate visual and editorial standards for indicators of illegitimacy, such as poor grammar or outdated branding. 5. Maintain updated antivirus software to block malicious downloads and phishing attempts. 6. Adjust browser settings to receive alerts about suspicious websites. The guidance highlights the importance of scrutinizing URLs for unusual spellings or characters and distinguishes between HTTP and HTTPS, noting that the padlock symbol does not guarantee trustworthiness. The initiative aims to protect both consumers and organizations from cyber threats, particularly as fake websites increasingly target personal information and financial transactions.

AppWizard

April 19, 2026

XCOM spiritual successor Warhounds dumps its gen-AI portraits, and I’m breathing a sigh of relief

Everplay is developing a turn-based strategy game called Warhounds, inspired by classics like XCOM and Jagged Alliance. The game faced criticism during its Steam Next Fest demo for using generative AI for character portraits, which were described as "shiny, unrealistic, and completely at odds with the look of the game." In response to community feedback, Everplay clarified that the AI-generated portraits were temporary placeholders and announced plans to replace them with over 100 hand-crafted designs. The new portrait system will create images directly from each character's in-game 3D model, ensuring visual consistency and accommodating custom recruits. Warhounds features an accuracy system that calculates bullets individually, eliminating random misses, and introduces meaningful consequences based on player decisions. The game is set for release in 2026, with a wishlist option available on Steam and a free demo for players.

AppWizard

April 12, 2026

Open-world crime game Samson beats up a bunch of bugs in a new patch, as developer admits it ‘released a game with flaws’

Liquid Swords is developing an open-world crime game called Samson, which incorporates a roguelike element similar to Grand Theft Auto. The studio, led by Christofer Sundberg, faced significant changes last year, resulting in the layoff of half its team and a shift in the game's design to a more streamlined experience. Samson currently has a 53% Mixed rating on Steam, with many negative reviews citing bugs and technical issues.

AppWizard

April 6, 2026

Your joys will always be someone else’s junk

Crimson Desert has sold over 4 million copies in two weeks and has a Very Positive rating on Steam, despite mixed player reactions. Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 2, launched on Steam in 2023, is a free-to-play mecha shooter that has received negative reviews due to monetization and networking issues, yet the author enjoys it for its mechanical satisfaction and representation of Gundam's universe. The author has rekindled interest in Gundam and finds GBO 2's combat mechanics compelling, despite its shortcomings. Engaging with a game considered subpar has helped the author clarify personal gaming preferences and appreciate design elements that resonate with their interests.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Slay the Spire 2 adds end-of-run badges ‘to let you know what was unique about each adventure’ in latest beta patch

Developer Mega Crit has introduced a new feature called badges in Slay the Spire 2, which will highlight unique player achievements at the end of gameplay runs. The current balance of reviews for the game stands at 801 negative against 817 positive. Ascension 6 has been reworked to increase the cost of removing cards from the deck at the Merchant. The Blade of Ink card has been revamped to generate Inky Shivs, and the Borrowed Time card now offers increased energy gain. The Doormaker enemy has been adjusted for enhanced challenge, while Leading Strike has received buffs and other cards like Speedster and Untouchable have been slightly nerfed. The History Course relic has been adjusted for its X-value, and the Skulking Colony has been buffed to attack on all turns. New portrait art has been added for several cards, and improvements have been made to dialogue timings and speech bubble positions. Clarifications in card descriptions and updates to translations have been implemented. Various bug fixes have addressed issues from startup crashes to specific softlocks related to card upgrades.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

March’s top new PC/console games; Steam’s wishlist email changes

Insights from the GameDiscoverCo newsletter highlight trends in game discovery and sales data for March 2026. Key points include: - The introduction of The Rage Index and The Abandonment Leaderboard by GDCo's Insights Lab. - The U.S. PlayStation hardware price analysis indicates challenges for the PlayStation 5 due to AI-related component shortages and inflation. - Valve has updated the Steam homepage in desktop Beta with enhanced features for user navigation. - The Nintendo Switch 2 saw a 154% increase in sales month-on-month following the launch of Pokémon Pokopia. - PlayStation Plus announced its April titles, including Lords of the Fallen and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, while Xbox introduced Barbie Horse Trails and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for Game Pass. - Antoine Mayerowitz discussed the need for better base pricing strategies for PlayStation. - Roblox’s Rivals gained popularity due to ranked play modes. - Amazon Luna is releasing a Masters Of The Universe-licensed game and free games for Prime members. - Indie.io is launching Indie Pass, a subscription service for PC indie games. - Rec Room is closing on June 1st, and Sony is acquiring Cinemersive Labs. - Slay The Spire 2 sold over 5 million copies, while Crimson Desert sold 2.2 million on Steam. - Slay The Spire 2 leads new releases revenue with over 0 million gross, followed by Crimson Desert. - MLB The Show 26 sold over 1 million units in the U.S. - Valve's changes to wishlist notification statistics aim to help developers optimize marketing strategies.

AppWizard

March 23, 2026

Mega Crit responds to the panic over Slay the Spire 2’s 1st balance pass, saying these changes are ‘the first of many’: ‘No change is necessarily permanent’

Slay the Spire 2 has experienced financial success and positive player feedback, but recent balance changes led to negative reviews on Steam. The controversy centered around the card Prepared, which was changed to Prepare in a beta patch, altering its cost and functionality. Mega Crit acknowledged community concerns and emphasized the importance of player feedback in their patching process. They stated that the beta branch is for testing experimental changes and that adjustments are based on player input, metrics, and design philosophies. The studio remains optimistic about future changes, indicating that nothing is permanent at this stage of development.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Capcom ditches Resident Evil 4 Remake’s new, performance-choking DRM

Capcom's recent decision to replace Denuvo DRM with Enigma Protector for the Resident Evil 4 Remake lasted only 28 days due to performance issues reported by players. Digital Foundry confirmed that CPU performance suffered compared to the Denuvo version, leading to a rise in negative reviews despite the game maintaining a high Steam user score. On March 3, Capcom removed Enigma Protector from Resident Evil 4, leaving the game without any third-party DRM currently listed on its Steam page. There is no indication that Denuvo has been reinstated. GOG offers DRM-free alternatives but does not host Resident Evil 4 or the newly released Requiem.

AppWizard

February 17, 2026

‘This shouldn’t be normal’: developers speak out about bigotry on Steam, the world’s biggest PC gaming storefront

Steam has faced criticism for its inadequate moderation policies, allowing abuse and bigotry to proliferate, particularly affecting marginalized creators, including those from the transgender community. Developers have reported issues with bigoted reviews and campaigns against games deemed politically incorrect by Steam curators. Nathalie Lawhead, a designer, experienced harassment and found it difficult to have harmful reviews removed, with Steam moderators initially clearing abusive comments that violated community guidelines. Despite some reviews being removed after public outcry, the moderation process highlighted systemic issues, with developers feeling unsupported and overwhelmed by the volume of support tickets. Some games have been targeted by organized campaigns based on developers' perceived political stances, contributing to a hostile environment for marginalized creators. The lax moderation has economic implications for developers, as negative reviews can significantly impact a game's success on a platform that dominates the gaming market. Many developers feel compelled to endure this hostile environment to maintain visibility and sales on Steam, leading some to enhance their security measures or challenge hateful comments publicly.