open world Archives

AppWizard

May 15, 2026

Forza Horizon 6’s return to ‘wristband progression’ isn’t the stand-in for a career mode I wanted it to be, but maybe that’s for the best

Playground Games has announced the return of wristband progression in Forza Horizon 6, allowing players to start as a tourist in Japan and earn wristbands through races and challenges. These wristbands indicate vehicle performance tiers, starting from C-rank and progressing to B and A-rank. Players can explore the open world and participate in events with any car, but concerns arise about rapid car accumulation, especially with the Premium edition and the presence of Wheelspins, which provide high-value rewards. Forza Horizon 6 features two progression paths: the Horizon Festival and Discover Japan, offering structured engagement while rewarding players for various tasks. The game aims to balance unrestricted exploration with a sense of advancement, though it may not fully replace a traditional career mode.

AppWizard

May 15, 2026

NETMARBLE RELEASES GAME OF THRONES: KINGSROAD ON PC AHEAD OF GRAND LAUNCH

Netmarble has released Game of Thrones: Kingsroad for PC, featuring an open-world rendition of Westeros and three classes: Knight, Sellsword, and Assassin. The game became available on May 14, 2026, through platforms like the Netmarble Launcher, Steam, and the Epic Games Store. To celebrate the launch, Netmarble is hosting four events with rewards including a Rare Wildling Outfit and a Legendary Artifact Box. A mobile version of the game is set to launch on May 21, 2026. The game is officially licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of HBO.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

15 PC Games That Rely More on CPU Than GPU

In competitive gaming, unique character abilities combined with a 5v5 format create innovative experiences, with high stakes in competitive shooters where low frame rates can lead to defeat, demanding on CPU resources. Baldur’s Gate 3 features an immersive storyline and expansive world, requiring a robust CPU due to its intricate physics and character interactions. Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020 onwards) is a CPU-intensive simulation game that offers real-time world streaming, dynamic weather, and air traffic management. GTA Online allows players to engage in a sprawling open world of crime, with complex AI interactions that demand substantial processing power. Civilization VI, while not graphically intensive, requires significant CPU load for its intricate gameplay mechanics and constant calculations. Counter-Strike 2 demands high FPS and stable frame rates, making it extremely CPU-intensive due to its tactical team-based combat. World of Warcraft is one of the most CPU-intensive MMOs, requiring significant processing power for large-scale battles and exploration. Total War: WARHAMMER III places considerable demands on CPU performance due to its real-time warfare mechanics with vast armies. Overwatch relies on steady frame rates and real-time calculations, necessitating a powerful CPU, while also depending on the GPU for optimal performance. Minecraft's resource generation and real-time world building place significant demands on the CPU across various modes. Call of Duty: Warzone requires a powerful CPU to maintain fast frame rates and execute numerous physics-related calculations on a massive map. Starfield is one of the most demanding PC games of 2023, emphasizing the need for a capable CPU to handle its complex mechanics and expansive environments.

AppWizard

May 12, 2026

‘Palworld Online’ has been trademarked, but there’s hints of potential AI use

Pocketpair submitted a trademark application for 'Palworld Online' on April 27, 2026, which is currently labeled as 'live' by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). A similar trademark was filed in South Korea on April 24, 2026. The trademark pertains to "recorded computer game programs and recorded game software," and includes "toy design," suggesting potential new merchandise linked to the Palworld Trading Card Game (TCG). It also references "Artificial intelligence as a service (AIAAS) services featuring software using artificial intelligence (AI) for developing computer games." The 1.0 release of Palworld is projected for sometime in 2026, with speculation about the possibility of an MMO format.

AppWizard

May 11, 2026

The PC version of Forza Horizon 6 appears to have been leaked online

The PC version of Forza Horizon 6 has leaked online ahead of its official launch on May 19, with early access available from May 15 for Premium Edition players. Reports indicate that the game was acquired and cracked by unauthorized users, likely due to a developer's accidental upload of a pre-loaded version to Steam's backend without proper encryption. The game is reportedly available for download on various platforms, with players sharing screenshots and gameplay videos on social media. Discussions on Reddit suggest that while the cracked version may be unstable, it appears to be genuine. Microsoft has not commented on the leak. Forza Horizon 6 is set in Japan and follows the successful Forza Horizon 5, which received a Metacritic score of 92. Early previews have described the game as a strong contender in the open-world racing genre.

AppWizard

May 10, 2026

Warner Bros Adds Denuvo to LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Right Before Launch

Warner Bros has updated the Store page for LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight to include Denuvo anti-tamper technology, raising concerns about transparency since it was not disclosed at the pre-order launch. Other major publishers, including Capcom, Square Enix, Bethesda, and Bandai Namco, have removed Denuvo from several of their titles, indicating a trend against its long-term use. The game, set for release on May 22, features a narrative-driven action-adventure experience where players explore Batman's origins and navigate an open world with various vehicles.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

Hololive indie action-adventure game An Automaton’s Journey releases for PC via Steam on June 4

CCMC Corporation's holo Indie label has launched a Steam page for the action-adventure game, An Automaton's Journey, developed by Xyros Games, set to release on PC worldwide on June 4 (June 3 for CDT time zone and westward). Players will control Cecilia Immergreen, a Hololive English -Justice- Vtuber, exploring an expansive open world with a 2D Zelda-esque gameplay system across eight distinct dungeons. The game features appearances from at least 18 Hololive members, including Ninomae Ina'nis, Shiranui Flare, Usada Pekora, and Ceres Fauna, as allies and bosses. Gameplay includes exploration, dungeons with puzzles, side quests leading to boss battles, and item collection with 15 unique items. Players will face 13 bosses and over 40 fan mascot enemies affected by a mysterious curse.

AppWizard

May 6, 2026

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Forza Horizon 6, Mixtape, Subnautica 2, and More

Final Fantasy V is available on May 5 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. Forza Horizon 6 will be available on May 19 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC, with early access starting on May 15. Ben 10 Power Trip is set for May 6 on Cloud, Console, and PC. Descenders Next (Game Preview) will also be available on May 6 for Cloud, Console, and PC. Wheel World, Wildgate, and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will be released on May 6 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Mixtape will be available on May 7 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC. Outbound is scheduled for May 11 on Cloud, Console, and PC. Black Jacket and Call of the Elder Gods will be available on May 12 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC. Elite Dangerous will be available on May 12 for Cloud and Console. DOOM: The Dark Ages will be released on May 14 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC. Subnautica 2 (Game Preview) will also be available on May 14 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC. InKonbini: One Store. Many Stories was released on April 30 for Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC. Dead by Daylight’s Bloodbound Release Update is available now for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Sea of Thieves: Last Ship Standing Act 3 is part of Season 19. World of Warships: Legends is available now for Cloud, Console, and PC. Titles leaving Game Pass on May 15 include Galacticare, Go Mecha Ball, Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo, Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship, and Planet of Lana.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Channeling its inner Silksong, Subnautica 2 causes a chain reaction and pushes a second game to move its release date early

The release date of Outbound has been moved from May 14 to May 11 to avoid competition with Subnautica 2, which has over a million Steam wishlists. Farm to Table has also adjusted its launch date to May 9 for a more relaxed experience for players. This trend of shifting release dates is reminiscent of the impact Hollow Knight: Silksong had on other games. Subnautica 2 is currently the most-wishlisted game on Steam. The developers of Subnautica 2 have opted not to use generative AI in their game development, despite their parent company Krafton adopting an "AI first" approach.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

A new Crimson Desert update just fixed its empty world problem, and added two legendary pets

Crimson Desert has received a significant update (version 1.05) that introduces two new features: 'rematch' and 're-blockade' options. The rematch feature allows players to re-engage with any previously defeated boss at the original battle site using a Memory Fragment, with 69 bosses available and two modes—'Reminisce' for original encounters and 'Resonate' for scaled challenges. The re-blockade feature lets players adjust enemy respawn rates in strongholds, with three settings: 'Conflict,' 'War,' and 'Stable,' affecting 23 forts and quarries. Additionally, players can now discover two legendary animals, the Iron Eagle and the Hyacinth Macaw, and interact with goose and duck pets. The update also includes various bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements.