New York City Archives

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

New York City Has Been Under Construction in Minecraft at 1:1 Scale for 5 Years – It Covers 700 Square Kilometers

The Build The Earth project team is working to recreate New York City in a virtual environment at a 1:1 scale, covering approximately 700 square kilometers. A team of 50 to 80 Minecraft players collaborates on this project, focusing on accuracy and detail, with many areas undergoing multiple reconstructions. The project aims to evoke genuine emotional responses from users by creating a virtual space that resonates with authenticity.

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

New York City is being recreated at 1:1 scale inside Minecraft — project is 5 years in and contains over 50,000 buildings so far

YouTuber MineFact has showcased the progress of the Build The Earth project, where his team has recreated a significant portion of Lower Manhattan in Minecraft at a 1:1 scale. This project involves 50 to 80 players and covers nearly 700 square kilometers (approximately 270 square miles). Completed neighborhoods include Liberty Island, NoHo, SoHo, Nolita, Bowery, Little Italy, Chinatown, and Two Bridges, with all areas south of Canal Street recreated except for the Financial District. PippenFTS is another key figure in the project, which aims to replicate the entire planet in Minecraft, involving 45 teams and over 3,719 members in the BTE New York City team. The project is expected to take multiple decades, with ongoing work in other parts of Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, while The Bronx and Staten Island remain untouched. The team is seeking volunteers to join the project, offering guidance and templates for newcomers.

Winsage

January 12, 2026

VLC gets native support for Snapdragon-powered PCs — but its devs haven’t forgotten your ancient Windows XP rig

The latest update to VLC, versions 3.0.22 and 3.0.23, introduces native support for Arm processors, specifically for Windows ARM64, requiring a minimum of Windows 10 RS5 17763 / 1809. This update improves playback across various formats, enhances subtitle rendering, includes codec updates, introduces a Dark Mode user interface, allows users to manage playing files, and addresses multiple security issues. The Snapdragon X2 Plus chip outperforms Intel's Core Ultra 7 265U and 256V processors, delivering up to 3.5 times the CPU performance of the former and a 52% increase in multi-core performance compared to the latter. Microsoft reported that 90% of usage time on Arm-based PCs is dedicated to natively compiled applications.

AppWizard

December 29, 2025

James’ most anticipated PC games for 2026

Control Resonant is a sequel where players control Dylan Faden in The Oldest House and New York City, featuring melee-focused combat and psychic abilities. Denshattack is an arcade-style train driving game with fast-paced action and whimsical scenarios. Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core introduces new dwarf classes and roguelike elements in a cooperative gameplay setting. Planet of Lana II expands on its predecessor with intricate puzzles and collaboration with an alien companion. Good Boy is a "Petroidvania" game where players control a wheeled robot exploring a planet, capturing insects to unlock areas. Highguard is a competitive FPS with a free-to-play model, focusing on engaging gameplay mechanics.

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

‘MARVEL Cosmic Invasion’ Launches Today on PC and Consoles

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is an arcade-style tag-team beat ‘em up game released on multiple platforms including Steam, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X. It features 15 playable superheroes, an innovative tag-team battling system, local and online co-op for up to 4 players, and a campaign mode alongside an arcade mode. Players can face villains like Thanos and M.O.D.O.K., unlock power-ups, and experience pixel art and an original soundtrack by Tee Lopes. The game is priced at .99 and is available through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

GTA 5’s character-swapping system was a stroke of genius that was supposed to feature in San Andreas 9 years earlier—this masterclass mod makes that dream a reality

Marvel's Spider-Man 2, released on PS5 in late 2023 and set to launch on Steam in early 2024, features a character-swapping mechanic similar to that of Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V). The character-switching mechanic in GTA V was first discovered by a user named Silent on GTA Forums in 2012 and allows players to switch between three protagonists: Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. A modder named Kaizo has developed a project called Real Multiple Protagonists, which utilizes Rockstar's original source code to enhance this mechanic. Kaizo explains that while GTA: San Andreas had a two-player mode that allowed character switching, it required extensive coding to unlock its full potential. His mod draws inspiration from GTA V's aerial transition and aims to replicate it, although it is limited to free roam mode without mission code. Kaizo faced technical challenges, particularly with camera transitions and UI development, but found the process rewarding. His work has revived interest in San Andreas' two-player mode, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the game and the impact of modding.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

From Borderlands 4 to Expedition 33, Fanatical’s Black Friday prices are cheaper than Steam

Steam is not hosting its own Black Friday sale, but Fanatical is offering a Black Friday sale with various game discounts. Notable titles include: - Borderlands 4: .99 (£41.99, 30% off) - Dynasty Warriors: Origins: .59 (£41.59, 36% off) - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: .23 (£30.23, 28% off) - V Rising: .23 (£11.23, 62% off) - Marvel's Spider-Man 2: .49 (£35.49, 29% off) - Ghostrunner 2: .59 (£5.59, 84% off) - Horizon: Forbidden West - Complete Edition: .39 (46% off) - The Precinct: .74 (£13.74, 45% off) - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater: .49 (£38.49, 45% off) Fanatical's Flash Deals will feature three discounted titles daily from November 21, 2025, to November 30, 2025.

AppWizard

October 18, 2025

Metro Rivals: New York Announced For PC & Consoles

Dovetail Games is set to launch a new title, Metro Rivals: New York, in 2026. The game is a subway racing simulation set in a near-future version of New York City, divided into ten districts contested by celebrity drivers known as Track Titans. Players begin with a basic train and must complete missions, earn cash fares, and upgrade their train performance to challenge these titans. The game features a single-player campaign and a PvP mode for up to four players, focusing on precision and control at designated platforms. Players can also explore the city at a relaxed pace, customize their trains with skins and liveries, and personalize their characters. In-game purchases will be cosmetic only, ensuring no pay-to-win scenarios.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Meta to shut down Messenger apps on Windows and Mac

Meta will phase out its standalone Messenger applications for Windows and Mac computers, with functionality expected to cease around December 15, 2025. After this date, users will be redirected to Messenger.com or Facebook.com. Users are advised to back up their messages and media, and utilize secure storage features for a smooth transition to web-based Messenger or mobile applications. In 2024, Meta launched a Progressive Web App (PWA) version of Messenger, which operates within a browser and offers similar functionalities to the desktop applications. The Messenger desktop app has also been removed from the Mac App Store. Meta is enhancing its Threads app with new features, including private messaging, to compete with other platforms. The company faces lawsuits related to youth mental health concerns and has faced backlash for using user AI chat data for ad personalization without an opt-out option.

AppWizard

October 13, 2025

Magic: The Gathering’s latest crossover is with none other than the heroes in a half-shell, and they come bearing ‘pizza lands’

The latest expansion for Magic: The Gathering features a crossover with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, set beneath the streets of New York City. The new set will include characters such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, and their mentor Splinter, appealing to fans of all ages. Each card is designed with attention to detail, reflecting the source material while enhancing gameplay. The expansion aims to provide a unique blend of strategy and nostalgia for both seasoned players and newcomers.