Pandora Archives

AppWizard

June 15, 2026

This week in PC games: a trio of surreal shooters, a big Stellaris expansion, and a new RPG from Octopath Traveller devs

This week features the Steam Next Fest, showcasing numerous game demos and playtests. Notable new game releases include: - Stellaris: Nomads: Introduces migrant civilizations with planet-scale spaceships in a 4X strategy game. - Day Trade Coach: A stock market trading simulator with a live news feed and professional trading terminal interface. - Mole: Players pilot a drill guided by whispers from the deceased in a whimsical setting. - Alaric: A "boomer shooter" with metroidvania design elements. - Copa City: A football management game set in 2026, focusing on the chaos of fan influx. - GoblinAmerica: An early access FPS where players embody US presidents to restore order and rewrite history. - The Last Salvage Squad: Features anime robots battling UFOs. - A four-dimensional chess game concept. Additional noteworthy titles include: - R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos: A remastered collection of turn-based PSP R-Type games. - The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales: An action-RPG with "2D-HD" graphics by veterans of Octopath Traveller. - Mech Spa: A nurturing game focused on mechs. - Mythic Love: Iberian Legends: An otome visual novel exploring Iberian folklore. - The Quiet Things: An autobiographical narrative addressing childhood trauma. - Moon River: A short RPG where players navigate a river revealed by moonlight, marking its full release. The Treehouse team is engaged in various activities, including urban adventures, exploring fungal brains, and artistic projects.

Winsage

June 11, 2026

Microsoft Patches Record 206 Flaws, Including Three Zero-Days and Critical RCE Bugs

Microsoft announced an update addressing 206 security vulnerabilities, including 39 classified as Critical and 167 as Important. The vulnerabilities include 63 privilege escalation, 56 remote code execution, 30 information disclosure, 27 spoofing, 20 security feature bypass, 7 denial-of-service, and 3 tampering vulnerabilities. Notable critical flaws include CVE-2026-45657 (use-after-free in Windows Kernel, CVSS score 9.8), CVE-2026-47291 (integer overflow in Windows HTTP.sys, CVSS score 9.8), and CVE-2026-44815 (stack-based buffer overflow in Windows DHCP Client, CVSS score 9.8). Microsoft also addressed vulnerabilities related to BitLocker bypass (CVE-2026-45585 and CVE-2026-50507) and introduced a new registry setting to mitigate risks associated with CVE-2026-49160 (denial-of-service vulnerability). The increase in patches is attributed to the use of artificial intelligence in vulnerability discovery, with the current year's reported vulnerabilities surpassing the total from all of 2018.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

PlayStation 5 Linux Tested: Steam PC vs Native PS5 Games

Linux has been successfully implemented on the PlayStation 5, allowing users to run an open operating system on the console. This implementation, led by security researcher Andy Nguyen (TheFlow), utilizes an exploit for PS5 consoles with system software versions up to 4.5. Users can boot Linux from a USB or SSD, with Ubuntu 26.04 LTS providing around 15GB of usable memory. The PS5's hardware, including its Zen 2 processor and GPU, is fully accessible, with CPU speeds reaching up to 3.5GHz and GPU speeds up to 2.23GHz when boost mode is activated. However, running Linux on the PS5 presents challenges, such as sourcing a unit with the required firmware and limitations in resolution, as users cannot exceed 1080p. Performance tests showed that Linux can match the PS5's performance in some titles, but issues with memory management were noted, leading to stuttering and crashes in certain games. For example, reducing texture quality improved performance in games like Pragmata, while rendering issues were observed in Crimson Desert. The implementation allows for a unique gaming experience, but it also highlights the complexities and limitations of running Linux on a gaming console.

AppWizard

May 3, 2026

There’s a game coming out this year where you fight your Steam backlog, and it’s more dangerous the more you’ve spent

Many PC gamers struggle with a growing backlog of unplayed games due to the ease of accumulating titles from platforms like Steam and GOG. Some gamers feel pride in their backlog, while others feel guilt over neglected purchases. Games like Tex Murphy: The Pandora Directive can be enticing at low prices, but busy schedules often prevent players from actually playing them. For example, after purchasing Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous at full price, players may find themselves distracted by other games like Overwatch 2, leaving their intended gaming sessions unfulfilled. Game Quest: The Backlog Battler is available on Steam, highlighting the irony that players may buy it knowing it could also become part of their unplayed titles.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era sold 250,000 copies and ‘broke even on development costs’ in 1 day

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era sold over 250,000 copies within its first day of early access. It received 91% positive reviews from more than 3,500 user reviews on Steam, achieving a "very positive" overall rating. The game reached a peak concurrent player count of nearly 52,000 on Steam and is currently among the top-selling games on the platform. The first patch for the game has been released, which includes bug fixes, network enhancements, balance adjustments, and localization fixes.

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

After getting Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora on PC Game Pass, unlocking its ‘Unobtanium’ max graphics mode, and then upgrading those stunning visuals even more with mods, I’m convinced this is the ‘But can it run Crysis?’ FPS PC gamers should install today

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is available for PC Game Pass subscribers and is considered Ubisoft's best open-world game in years. It features impressive graphics, enhanced by Ubisoft's Snowdrop engine, and includes a mode called 'Unobtanium' that challenges current hardware capabilities. To achieve 4K at 60fps with this mode, a powerful system is necessary. The game has undergone improvements and now includes a third-person mode, along with expansions like From the Ashes, which adds new characters and gameplay refinements. Despite initial technical issues, it is regarded as a solid first-person shooter and a benchmark for PC gaming setups.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Ubisoft made another Avatar game the world has forgotten about, so I opened Pandora’s boxed copy and dropped into the jungle

The article discusses the eccentricities of PC gaming, focusing on the character 'Able' Ryder from the Avatar game developed by Ubisoft. Ryder, who comes from a background of poverty in a California megacity, wins a place in the Avatar Program and awakens at Hell's Gate on Pandora after five years of cryosleep. He receives a warning from a fellow soldier about the dangers of developing a conscience. The game featuring Ryder was released 14 years before the more recent Frontiers of Pandora, which has since added a third-person mode. Ryder's experiences include crashing a gunship and facing humorous consequences, highlighting the unpredictable nature of gaming narratives.

AppWizard

February 18, 2026

Xbox has announced the rest of February’s Game Pass titles, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Microsoft is adding eight new titles to Game Pass in February, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Aerial_Knight’s DropShot, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Avowed, Death Howl, EA Sports College Football 26, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition, TCG Card Shop Simulator, Dice A Million, Towerborne, Final Fantasy III, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Several titles will leave Game Pass on February 28, including Monster Train, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, Injustice 2, and Middle Earth: Shadow of War.

AppWizard

February 18, 2026

Here’s the next batch of Xbox Game Pass games for February

Microsoft is adding several new titles to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service in February and early March. The upcoming titles include: - Aerial_Knight's DropShot (Available February 17th) - Death Howl (Launching February 19th) - EA Sports College Football 26 (Arriving February 19th) - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition (Available February 19th) - TCG Card Shop Simulator (Launching February 24th) - Dice A Million (Coming February 25th) - Towerborne (Available February 26th) - Final Fantasy 3 (Arriving March 3rd) - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (Launching March 3rd) Notable games leaving the service on February 28th include: - Monster Train - Expeditions: A MudRunner Game - Injustice 2 - Middle Earth: Shadow of War

AppWizard

February 18, 2026

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora™ Now Available on Game Pass

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora™ is now available on Game Pass for subscribers of Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Players take on the role of a Na’vi who has escaped captivity by the RDA and can explore Pandora, form alliances with clans, and protect the land from threats. The game features a third-person view and allows players to experience the vibrant world of Pandora. Additionally, a Game Pass Ultimate subscription provides access to Ubisoft+ Classics, which includes titles like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is also available for purchase on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, along with its From the Ashes expansion.