older titles Archives

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 24, 2026

Top PC Games Under 200MB: Fun Without The Gigabytes!

Lightweight PC games under 200MB are gaining popularity due to their storage efficiency, quick download and installation times, and accessibility on older systems. These games offer diverse genres, including action, puzzle, strategy, RPGs, racing, simulation, and adventure. They can be easily transferred to USB drives for on-the-go gaming and often feature retro-inspired graphics. Resources for finding these games include indie platforms like Itch.io and GameJolt, abandonware sites, and online gaming communities. To ensure smooth performance, players should check system requirements, use compatibility modes, keep graphics drivers updated, and adjust in-game settings.

AppWizard

February 23, 2026

New report says older games like CS2 and League of Legends take up 35% of PC playtime, but Roblox reigns supreme

The gaming industry is experiencing significant changes, with a few major titles dominating player engagement. The "big five" PC games—Counter-Strike, Fortnite, Minecraft, League of Legends, and Roblox—account for 35% of player hours, while older titles make up about 10%. In 2025, newly released games, including annual franchises like Call of Duty, represented only 14% of player hours on Steam. A large portion of PC gamers, 45%, engage with games that are one to seven years old, and 41% play titles that are eight years or older. Despite challenges, industry revenue has been maintained or grown through price increases rather than expanding the player base. Roblox has emerged as a significant market driver, representing over 4.5% of non-China spending and accounting for 67% of net growth in 2025. Developers on Roblox are earning over 0 million annually, with a 70% year-on-year growth. Titles like Grow a Garden have surpassed engagement metrics for Blizzard's games, and others have outperformed Valve's Dota 2. The anticipated release of GTA 6 could signal a new era, although its 2026 launch is uncertain.

BetaBeacon

February 16, 2026

5 Android Game Features Players Didn’t Know They Needed

- Android's adaptive haptics provide layered, context-sensitive feedback in games. - Play Asset Delivery and progressive loading systems allow players to start interacting before the full file finishes installing. - Google Play Games cloud sync automatically backs up achievements, saved data, and progression levels. - Many Android games now have offline functionality and smart data optimization to reduce bandwidth usage. - Game Mode APIs allow developers to adjust performance based on system temperature and battery levels. - Android supports more granular notification channels for games to improve user engagement. - Usability-driven retention is crucial for the growth of mobile gaming revenue.

AppWizard

February 1, 2026

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Got a Remastered Mod

Ubisoft announced the cancellation of the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which was initially unveiled in September 2020 and faced multiple delays. The project was ultimately halted due to not meeting quality standards. In response to this cancellation, a mod called Sands of Time Remastered Mod has been released for PC gamers, enhancing the original game with high-quality textures and improved HD cutscenes. The mod also revamps the Dagger of Time's appearance and allows for additional visual enhancements using Reshade. The mod is available for download, but installation instructions can be found on the NexusMods page. Screenshots of the mod have been shared, showcasing the improvements.

AppWizard

January 11, 2026

Valve’s new Steam Deck update doesn’t promise much, but classic Call of Duty games could see some real performance gains

The January 8 SteamOS beta update introduces a feature called ntsync, which provides kernel-level support for a driver that enhances Windows game performance on Linux systems, particularly for the Steam Deck. This update may improve performance for older titles in the Call of Duty franchise and other classic games. Testing on Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare showed minor frame rate improvements when using the ntsync-enabled Proton-GE fork, stabilizing frame rates around 135-144 FPS compared to 130-140 FPS on the fsync build. Users have reported that issues like framerate drops and graphical glitches in Call of Duty Black Ops have been resolved with the new Proton-GE/ntsync combination. To utilize these improvements, users can opt into the SteamOS 3.7.20 beta branch and install the latest Proton-GE version via the Proton Up-Qt app.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

The best digital game sales right now on PC, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox

Gamers can take advantage of significant discounts on major digital gaming platforms as the holiday season ends. Discounts reach up to 90% on select titles, with notable games from 2023, such as Split Fiction, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, available at 30% to 50% off. The Steam Winter Sale features discounts on titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (20% off), Baldur’s Gate 3 (25% off), and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (50% off). The GOG Winter Sale offers DRM-free games, including Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Complete (50% off) and The Witcher series (85% off). The Nintendo eShop Sale includes Super Mario Odyssey (30% off) and Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (60% off). The PlayStation Holiday Sale features discounts on Arc Raiders (20% off) and Elden Ring (35% off). The Xbox Countdown Sale offers discounts on Battlefield 6 (30% off) and Hogwarts Legacy: Deluxe Edition (85% off). The sales conclude between January 2 and January 21, 2026, depending on the platform.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

Swen Vincke warns Divinity newcomers that they probably shouldn’t play the early games in the series: ‘They’re a bit outdated by now,’ which is putting it very mildly

Larian Studios announced their latest project in the Divinity franchise at The Game Awards, claiming it to be their "biggest game ever" following the success of Baldur's Gate 3. The studio has a history of crowdfunding for projects like Divinity: Original Sin 2. Co-founder Swen Vincke encourages new players to explore earlier titles in the series, as they are interconnected. The timeline of the Divinity series includes Divinity: Dragon Commander, Divine Divinity, Ego Draconis, Original Sin, and Original Sin 2. The first game, Divine Divinity, was released in 2002, followed by Beyond Divinity in 2004. Both older titles are available for purchase during GOG's Winter Sale.

AppWizard

December 21, 2025

My 2026 New Year’s resolution is to finally play these 8 Xbox and PC games in my backlog — mostly because new releases are getting too expensive

As 2025 ends, there is growing anticipation for the gaming landscape of 2026, with a focus on the rising costs of new games and their frequent need for extensive post-release patches. Notable examples include Monster Hunter Wilds and the acclaimed Divinity: Original Sin series, which features intricate turn-based combat and rich storytelling. The original Divinity: Original Sin was released in 2014, while its sequel, Divinity: Original Sin 2, launched in 2017 and introduced new features and character options. Baldur's Gate 3, set in the Baldur's Gate universe, has received numerous accolades for its storytelling and gameplay. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous involves character customization and narrative choices. The Hollow Knight series, including the upcoming Hollow Knight: Silksong, and the Ninja Gaiden series are also highlighted. Control, with its sequel Control: Resonant, features surreal visuals and unique gameplay. The Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine series includes a remastered version of the original game. Age of Mythology: Retold is set to be released with enhanced graphics and improvements. All mentioned titles are available on various platforms, including Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.

AppWizard

December 19, 2025

Steam Winter Sale 2025 is live with steep discounts on new and older PC games

Valve has launched the Steam Winter Sale 2025, featuring discounts on a wide range of PC games, including recent releases and classic titles, with reductions of 50% or more. The sale is available to all Steam users and will run until January 5. Notable discounts include: - Assassin’s Creed Shadows at 50% off - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 at 50% off - Avowed at 50% off - EA Sports FC 26 at 60% off - Cyberpunk 2077 at 65% off Other titles with smaller discounts include Hades 2, ARC Raiders, Silent Hill f, The Outer Worlds 2, and Battlefield 6. The sale also includes discounts on downloadable content and expansions. Steam's fixed-price model means prices will not change during the sale, and users can refund games if played for less than two hours and purchased within the last 14 days. The sale encourages users to check their wishlists for discounts and to avoid waiting for last-minute deals.