New World Archives

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

The Sims 4 Royalty and Legacy: all the confirmed features in the next expansion

The Sims 4 expansion titled Royalty and Legacy introduces new gameplay features focused on family dynasties, scandals, and prestige. It includes a new world named Ondarion with three neighborhoods: Dambele (West African-inspired), Verdemar (heroic outlaws and cunning nobles), and Bellacorde (romance and opulence). Key features include a new career (Noble), a new lot type (Backroom), a new skill (Swordsmanship), and a new resource (Favor). Players can manage dynasties, designate heirs and outcasts, and respond to scandals. A gameplay trailer is set to be released on January 22.

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

Facepunch Studios COO says he’ll buy New World for $25 million, and he might not be joking: ‘We’re always looking for new opportunities and we are open to all avenues’

Amazon is set to discontinue its New World MMO on January 31, 2027. Alistair McFarlane, COO of Facepunch Studios, has expressed interest in purchasing the game, stating that "games should never die." He humorously suggested a purchase price of "25m" on social media. Simon Collins-Laflamme, known for reviving Hytale, offered his expertise in acquiring canceled games. Popular streamer Gothalion also showed support for the idea of saving New World. McFarlane mentioned that his company is opening a publishing arm and is looking for new opportunities, emphasizing a commitment to preserving gaming experiences.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Amazon is shutting down New World next year

Amazon will cease operations of its multiplayer online game, New World, on January 31, 2027. The game has been removed from all platforms, but current owners can still access it until the shutdown date. Purchases made with in-game currency will not be refunded. Amazon plans to release New World: Aeternum for Xbox Series X and Series S, as well as PlayStation 5, in October 2024.

AppWizard

January 14, 2026

Minecraft 26.1 Snapshot 3 Unveiled: Latest Updates

Minecraft has released the 26.1 Snapshot 3 update, which includes several new features and improvements: - Players can access Game Rules from the in-game pause menu via the new World Options feature. - A search bar has been added to the Game Rules screen for better usability. - The difficulty button has been moved to the World Options screen. - World Clocks have been introduced, allowing players to create an internal time system that progresses with each tick. - Time Markers enable players to set specific points in time linked to World Clocks. - The Data Pack version has been updated to 97, and the Resource Pack version to 78. - Minor adjustments have been made to blocks, items, and entities, including rendering changes for the Tripwire texture. - The commands system has been refined to work with World Clocks, with the time command defaulting to the World Clock for the specific dimension. - Various bugs have been fixed, including issues with Z-fighting on the debug crosshair, crashes related to item enchantment functions, and inconsistencies with villager variants and wandering traders' item offerings. Players can install the update through the Minecraft Launcher by enabling snapshots in the “Installations” tab and are advised to back up their worlds.

AppWizard

January 14, 2026

Minecraft 26.1 Snapshot 3

In the latest Snapshot release, players can access game rules directly from the in-game pause screen via a new World Options button. The Data Pack version has been updated to 97, introducing new block and fluid tags, as well as modifications to the time command to integrate with new World Clocks. World Clocks maintain an internal time that progresses with each tick and can be paused or resumed. A new clock field links timelines to specific World Clock IDs, and Time Markers now assign names to designated points in time within a World Clock context. The time command is now based on World Clocks, and a new required field has been added to Game Test Environments for specifying World Clock IDs. New tags for blocks and fluids have been introduced, and the Tripwire texture has been updated for better visual clarity. Several bugs have been fixed in this release.

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Minecraft Is About To Reach Life-Threatening Levels Of Cute

The upcoming Minecraft update will enhance the appearance of baby animals by 2,740 percent, introducing bespoke designs, new animations, and sound effects. Notable additions include bunnies and wolf pups with new behaviors. The update will also allow players to craft name tags. Currently, these features are available in the Snapshot, Beta, and Preview versions, but a definitive release date for the full update has not been announced.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

“This new approach to world generation will redefine the block-game genre”: Hytale lead declares “fundamental shift” in how artists and game designers tackle Minecraft-style worlds

Hytale will enter early access next week, featuring a new "V1" world generation system developed from 2016 to 2020, with a "V2" system in progress since 2021. The V2 system aims to provide modders with intuitive tools for custom world generation without programming knowledge, using a node-based editor for real-time adjustments. The Hytale team is hiring over 15 world designers to enhance the game's handcrafted feel while maintaining procedural generation. The lead developer noted the project's remarkable turnaround from cancellation to a playable state in a short time.

AppWizard

January 5, 2026

Watch out Minecraft, Hytale says its new world generation system will “redefine the block game genre”

Hytale is set to launch in very early access soon, following a significant turnaround after its near demise a couple of months ago. The game, which has generated anticipation as a competitor to Minecraft, will initially release with Version 1 (V1) of its world generation system, while also providing glimpses of the forthcoming Version 2 (V2). V2, which has been in development since 2021, aims to replace V1 entirely and enhance world generation mechanics, allowing for easier creation of diverse environments. Players will explore the planet Orbis in V1, encountering "Gateways" that showcase V2 content under construction. The new visual node editor in V2 enables creators to modify world generation without coding skills, facilitating real-time changes and advanced procedural content creation. Hypixel plans to hire over a dozen new world designers from the community to further enhance world creation.

AppWizard

January 5, 2026

Code Vein 2 is largely more of the same despite its story reset, but I think I’m okay with that

Code Vein 2 has been announced and is set to launch on January 29, priced at .99 / £54.99. The game retains core mechanics from the original, including checkpoints called Mistles and a system for reclaiming lost currency called Haze. It features extensive character customization, with a detailed editor and various Blood Codes that influence play style. Combat dynamics include faster-paced encounters and new weapon types, such as twin blades and rune blades, with over 200 Formae to master. The narrative involves Blood-drinking Revenants and human hunters in an apocalyptic setting, with players awakening 100 years after a catastrophic event. Companions can assist in combat and revive players upon death, adding strategic depth. Exploration has improved, with more complex dungeon layouts and navigation aids.

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.