Notch Archives

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Icarus Is The Perfect Survival Sim No One’s Talking About

The search for the ideal survival game began with the early beta of Minecraft in 2009, leading to the exploration of various titles over nearly two decades. A recent discovery, Icarus, released in December 2021 by Dean Hall, has garnered 29,000 positive reviews on Steam and maintains a vibrant player base. Icarus allows players to experience a sense of safety at night while encouraging exploration during the day, set on a planet with terraforming issues. The game features a realistic approach to sustenance, manageable food and water consumption, and introduces an oxygen meter that adds complexity to gameplay. It offers three modes: Open World, Missions, and Outposts, with Missions providing structured quests. Icarus is set to launch on PS5 and Xbox on March 26.

AppWizard

February 13, 2026

Billionaire founder of Minecraft slams anyone advocating using AI to write code as ‘incompetent or evil’

Markus Persson, the creator of Minecraft, has expressed concerns about the rapid integration of generative AI in programming, describing it as an initiative being "forced down our throats" by "evil" entities. He fears losing creative autonomy and control over coding, comparing AI writing code to AI drafting laws. Persson advises aspiring developers to "Learn. Your. Craft," emphasizing the importance of foundational skills in programming. His views align with some industry leaders who advocate for coding literacy as a fundamental skill, while others, like GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, stress the necessity of mastering AI to remain competitive in the job market.

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

Hytale Really Is The Next Minecraft, As Players Have Already Started Their Own Brand-New Herobrine Legend

The legend of Herobrine in Minecraft originated from a screenshot posted on 4chan's /v/ board about 16 years ago, depicting a figure with white eyes lurking in the fog, believed to be Notch's deceased brother. The myth gained popularity after a viral stream by Copeland, where viewers saw Herobrine watching him fall into lava. Mojang, the game's developer, humorously claimed that Herobrine had been 'removed' with each game update. The combination of low render distances and foggy landscapes contributed to the eerie atmosphere, leading players to believe they might encounter Herobrine.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

How I Fell Back In Love With Minecraft After 10 Years Away

The author first played Minecraft in 2010 and was captivated by its charm, comparing it to a digital Lego set. Over time, they drifted away from the game due to burnout and political controversies surrounding its creator, Markus “Notch” Persson. The author visited Mojang in March 2011 when Minecraft had sold over a million copies, a figure that has since grown to over 350 million. Persson's demeanor changed after the game's acquisition by Microsoft for .5 billion in 2014 and the emergence of GamerGate, leading to the author's negative feelings towards the game. The Donut SMP server, created by YouTuber DrDonut, peaked at nearly 46,000 players in a single day and features an in-game economy where players can buy and sell resources. The author's son initially sought a Minecraft Realm for his classmates but later requested to join the Donut SMP server after tensions arose in the Realm. The author, initially hesitant, found common ground with their son on the server, leading to collaborative gameplay that involved resource gathering and crafting. They created a secret base and automated systems, learning about supply and demand in the game's market. This experience rekindled the author's joy in Minecraft and strengthened their bond with their son.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

These 10 Android Apps Will Make Your Phone Smarter Than Ever

Your smartphone can be enhanced with various applications that improve productivity, personalization, and digital well-being. A recent video from Xtream Droid highlights ten lesser-known Android apps: 1. Gesture Suite: Allows users to create custom gestures for over 70 actions, automating tasks like turning on the flashlight or controlling music playback. 2. Transfer: Turns your phone into a local file server for quick, wireless file sharing without cables or third-party services, ensuring privacy and security. 3. Safe Space: Provides encrypted, offline storage for sensitive files, protecting data from unauthorized access without relying on cloud services. 4. LED Keyboard: Offers customizable LED effects, multilingual support, and advanced typing features while ensuring user privacy by not collecting typing data. 5. Shelf Launcher: A minimalist app that integrates gesture controls, quick search options, and note-taking features to optimize workflow and productivity. 6. Lock Me Out: Helps manage screen time by allowing users to set app blocking modes and schedule lockouts to minimize distractions. 7. Regain: Tracks app usage patterns and provides insights to maintain a balanced relationship with your device, promoting healthier digital habits. 8. Action Notch: Transforms the phone’s camera cutout into a functional control button for quick access to tasks like taking screenshots or switching apps. 9. Smart Dock Launcher: Offers a desktop-like experience with multi-window support and customizable layouts for better multitasking on Android devices. 10. NotePinr: An offline task management app that allows users to create to-do lists and reminders, with the ability to pin important notes to the notification bar.

AppWizard

December 13, 2025

Doom Eternal and other must-play FPS games are 88% off in this unmissable bundle

Fanatical has launched the Prestige Collection, a build-your-own bundle deal featuring 24 games, including Doom Eternal: Deluxe Edition. Discounts start with the purchase of two games and increase with additional titles: two games cost .50 each, three games cost .25 each, and four or more games cost each. The bundle includes popular titles such as Ultrakill, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and Deathloop, with a total price of .99 for all four, offering savings of 88% off the standard price. The bundle is available until January 8, 2025.

AppWizard

December 6, 2025

Stellaris 4.3 will “bring things down a notch” with a stat squish, but it could make parts of the 4X game “much harder”

Paradox Interactive is developing the next significant update for Stellaris, version 4.3, called 'Cetus,' expected to be released in the first quarter of 2026, depending on open beta testing results. The update will focus on refining the game's economy and naval mechanics, with updates to the beta build every two weeks. The initial phase of the open beta will target economic updates and ship design modifications, resulting in a 7% improvement in overall performance. Economic adjustments will include changes to empire size modifiers, unemployment rates, base technology costs, ethics modifiers, upkeep costs, living standards, happiness levels, planetary ascension, and automation buildings. The update aims to lower economic levels and control non-linear growth, while some threats remain unchanged. The development team plans to address issues such as game performance reporting, desynchronization tracking, and optimizations for various game elements. Fixes for ethics shifts and faction issues, new job swap options, and a streamlined slavery mechanic are also in progress, along with improvements to memory usage and multiplayer stability. The release timeline will depend on the outcomes of the beta testing.

AppWizard

December 1, 2025

Best PC Games Released in 2025. GAMIVO Experts Select Titles No Gamer Should Miss

In 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 became a standout title, selling over 3 million copies in its first month and receiving rave reviews for its blend of turn-based mechanics and quick-time events. Other notable RPG releases included Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Monster Hunter: Wilds, and Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. Action games such as Split Fiction and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds were also well-received. The year featured family-friendly games and intense titles like Doom: The Dark Ages and horror games such as Silent Hill f and Dying Light: The Beast. Indie games like Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong gained recognition, alongside lesser-known titles like Despelote and Blue Prince. Remakes included The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, while The Last of Us Part II made its PC debut without technical issues. Stellar Blade and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth also launched on PC, receiving positive acclaim.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

How long is Resident Evil Requiem?

Resident Evil Requiem is estimated to offer between 12 and 15 hours of gameplay. Producer Masato Kumazawa indicated that the playthrough length will be similar to that of Resident Evil 4 Remake. Game director Koshi Nakanishi noted that gameplay duration varies by approach but aligns with typical Resident Evil content. Leaker Dusk Golem stated that Requiem is longer than Resident Evil Village but shorter than Resident Evil 4. Historically, Resident Evil games have varied in length from six to 20 hours, with recent titles leaning towards the longer end. Resident Evil 3 Remake is the shortest, while Resident Evil 6 is the longest, with Village and Resident Evil 7 averaging around ten hours.

BetaBeacon

November 18, 2025

This $199 Meta Quest 3S deal takes me back to the golden age of console gaming when the GameCube was new and games were all about fun and high scores

- The Meta Quest 3S is a portable VR gaming console that functions like a wearable Nintendo Switch. - This year's Meta Quest 3S Black Friday deals include a 9 deal at Costco, which includes a full year of Meta Horizon Plus subscription. - The Meta Quest 3S is being offered at its lowest price ever, making it a must-have gaming purchase this holiday season.