original game Archives

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

The Last of Us Part II Remastered Coming to PC On April 3, 2025

“The Last of Us Part II Remastered” will be released on PC on April 3, 2025, available on Steam and the Epic Games Store. This marks the first time Windows users can access the game, which previously received over 300 Game of the Year awards on PlayStation. The remastered edition includes enhancements such as improved graphics, performance, and new content, including a roguelike mode called “No Return.” Pre-orders are currently available. The PC version will support customizable graphics settings, ultrawide monitor support, and full DualSense controller features. New playable characters Bill and Marlene will be introduced in the “No Return” mode, alongside a Guitar Free Play mode and restored cut content. The game will require a minimum of an Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300x processor and 16GB RAM.

AppWizard

March 30, 2025

Blades of Fire just showed off its first five minutes of gameplay, and I think it might be channelling God of War too heavily

MercurySteam announced its new action RPG, Blades of Fire, which is a spiritual successor to Severance: Blade of Darkness. The game features protagonist Aran de Lira, who navigates a woodland landscape and engages in combat with goblin-like creatures and undead foes. The gameplay showcase highlighted similarities to God of War in combat mechanics, aesthetic choices, and environmental design, raising concerns about the game's originality compared to its predecessor. The original Severance was known for its darker tone, while the new footage lacks this ambiance. MercurySteam's creative direction may aim to attract a broader audience familiar with modern titles. Blades of Fire is set to release on May 22.

AppWizard

March 28, 2025

An unannounced Hogwarts Legacy expansion and ‘definitive edition’ have reportedly been cancelled

Warner Bros. Games has canceled plans for an expansion and a "Definitive Edition" release of Hogwarts Legacy as part of its restructuring efforts. The cancellation was influenced by a cost-benefit analysis that deemed the financial investment unjustifiable. This decision follows substantial financial losses from other Warner titles, leading to studio closures and the cancellation of a Wonder Woman game. David Haddad, the chief of Warner Bros. Games, resigned prior to these closures. Despite the success of Hogwarts Legacy in 2023 and the company's commitment to the Harry Potter franchise, the cancellation of the expansion has raised questions. A sequel to Hogwarts Legacy remains a priority for Warner.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

Greedfall 2 aims to turn around a disastrous early access launch with a combat overhaul and a big new boat

Developer Spiders has released the first major update for Greedfall 2 to address player feedback on its combat system. The update includes faster attacks, improved animations, enhanced character movement, and a refined target lock system. Additionally, it introduces new content such as the region of Olima, a new companion, and the Hub for managing parties and accessing workshops. The update will make existing saves incompatible, requiring players to start anew. Greedfall 2 has struggled to attract players, peaking at 375 concurrent users compared to over 16,000 for the original game.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

Minecraft Movie Starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa Is Out Next Week

“A Minecraft Movie” is set to be released on April 4, 2025, as the first live-action adaptation of the popular video game. The film is directed by Jared Hess and features Jason Momoa as Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, Jack Black as Steve, Emma Myers as Natalie, Danielle Brooks as Dawn, and Jennifer Coolidge in a mysterious role. Production wrapped in April 2024, and the film will be available in standard theaters and IMAX. The storyline follows four misfits who are transported into the Overworld of Minecraft, where they must learn to build, craft, and survive with the help of Steve. The film aims to recreate Minecraft’s aesthetics using CGI and will include familiar gameplay mechanics and beloved creatures from the game. Promotional events include McDonald’s themed Happy Meals launching on April 1, 2025, featuring collectible toys and a new sauce. An in-game event titled “A Minecraft Movie” will run from March 25 to April 7, 2025, offering quests and rewards in Minecraft. The film is expected to receive a PG rating and has a rumored runtime of approximately 108 minutes. The marketing campaign targets both fans and new audiences through digital promotions and merchandise. The film's visual effects team aims to blend practical and digital effects to authentically represent Minecraft's mechanics. The score is composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, and the cinematography is handled by Enrique Chediak. Mojang Studios is involved in the production to ensure the film aligns with the game's spirit. The film's themes include adventure, community, and creativity, reflecting the core elements of Minecraft. Initial fan reactions to the trailer have been mixed, but anticipation remains high.

AppWizard

March 23, 2025

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster Preview – How Nightdive Studios approaches remastering an influential classic PC game

Nightdive Studios has released a series of modern ports and remasters, including a ground-up remake of the 1994 classic, System Shock. They acquired the license for System Shock nearly a decade ago and are now working on the System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, which has taken considerable time to develop. The remaster will feature optimized controller support for modern consoles and will maintain the original emotional resonance of the game. It will include a Vault with media related to the game's original creation. The remaster is set to be released on June 26 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam, Epic, GOG).

BetaBeacon

March 22, 2025

This overkill Android Game Boy is better than my memories of the real thing

The AYANEO Pocket DMG is a luxury, Game Boy-styled handheld device that offers a classic vertical format for enjoying retro games.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

Painkiller is back, and maybe they’ll finally get it right this time

A new installment in the Painkiller series, developed by Anshar Studios and published by 3D Realms, was announced during the Future Games Show Spring Showcase. The original Painkiller, released in 2004 by People Can Fly, is recognized as a classic first-person shooter known for its level design, weaponry, and heavy metal soundtracks. The new game will feature four distinct characters with unique abilities, a collectible system with Tarot cards, and reimagined enemies, while retaining classic weapons like the Painkiller. The game is set to launch in the fall and is currently available for wishlisting on Steam.

AppWizard

March 18, 2025

Half-Life 2 RTX is the future of PC gaming, for better or worse

Nvidia has released a complimentary two-hour demo of Half-Life 2 RTX for owners of the original Half-Life 2, showcasing advanced features such as full path tracing and neural shaders. The game includes enhancements like improved meshes, materials, lighting, and the Neural Radiance Cache, which optimizes ray-traced indirect light. The demo demonstrates significant upgrades in asset quality and shadow rendering, but the game is resource-intensive, requiring DLSS for playable performance, particularly at 4K resolution. The demo evokes the original game's atmosphere and is seen as a significant step in Nvidia's remastering efforts. There is currently no release date for the full version, but the demo is available for free on Steam.

AppWizard

March 18, 2025

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC is a bug-filled web of disappointment

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, released by Insomniac Games, features new elements like additional collectibles, skill trees, and two playable Spider-Men, but does not significantly innovate beyond its predecessor. The game has been criticized for its lifeless open world, repetitive side activities, and a dual protagonist mechanic that feels superficial. The PC version suffers from frequent crashes and performance issues, occurring approximately every 25 minutes, which detracts from the gaming experience. Despite its impressive visuals and refined core mechanics, the game is seen as lacking in narrative depth and engaging world design. It is available on Windows PC and PlayStation 5.