PC gamer Archives

AppWizard

April 13, 2026

Far Cry 2 review (2008)

Far Cry 2 is a free-roaming first-person shooter developed and published by Ubisoft, released on October 24, 2008, with a score of 94%. The game is set in Africa and revolves around the mission to find and eliminate an arms dealer known as The Jackal. It features an open-world experience that emphasizes player choice and procedural storytelling, allowing for dynamic narrative outcomes based on player decisions. Players encounter a variety of challenges that require strategic thinking and quick reflexes, and the game is noted for its stunning visuals and captivating soundtrack. Critics have pointed out some character depth issues and generic factions, but the overall immersive experience remains engaging.

AppWizard

April 13, 2026

One of our favorite games of 2025 is just $16 on GOG this week, and the dev says ‘if it’s still too expensive just pirate it honestly’

Skate Story is a game that combines skating and supernatural elements, allowing players to experience the perspective of a demon made of glass and pain. It was released in 2020 and is currently available on GOG with a 20% discount. The creator, Sam Eng, has openly encouraged players to pirate the game if they find it too expensive. The game has received critical acclaim for its unique premise and stylistic execution, with PC Gamer's Lincoln Carpenter praising its "stylish lunicidal skater" vibes. Skate Story is also available on Steam, but the promotional pricing is exclusive to GOG. Eng aims for the game to resonate with players.

AppWizard

April 10, 2026

PC Gamer’s ‘first can’t-miss cozy game of 2026’ has gone missing on Steam, and some players think Tetris is to blame

PC Gamer's Mollie Taylor praised the Starsand Island demo in December 2025, while Lauren Morton called it "the first can't-miss cozy game of 2026" in February. The game is currently unavailable on Steam due to the developer, Seed Sparkle Lab, using unauthorized visual elements from a classic title in their mini-game section. They apologized for this oversight and are working on a new build to remove the contentious content. Fans speculate the classic title might be Tetris, but this is unconfirmed. Seed Sparkle has decided to temporarily delist Starsand Island and will reward current owners with the "Shining Star" outfit set once the revised version is approved. Players' progress will remain intact. The studio is enhancing its internal review processes following this incident and a previous wave of fake positive user reviews. A specific return date for the game on Steam has not been disclosed, but it is still available on the Xbox Store.

AppWizard

April 10, 2026

Rust 2 Steam page appears, Facepunch immediately starts messing with fans about whether it’s legit: ‘Now you’re all questioning yourselves, is this real? Maybe?’

Garry Newman, the founder of Facepunch Studios, confirmed that there will be no sequel to Rust, stating "Nope" when asked about Rust 2. He expressed confusion over a rumored Steam page for the sequel, saying, "I have no idea at all." Rust was fully released on Steam eight years ago and has been a significant title since its early access launch in 2013. A Reddit post about Rust 2 sparked discussions among fans, but SteamDB flagged the app as suspicious, warning users it might be malicious. Facepunch's COO, Alistair McFarlane, commented cryptically, "You saw nothing," which added to the speculation. He later acknowledged the confusion caused by the post, indicating a playful interaction with the community. Newman previously mentioned that a sequel "definitely won't be a Unity game," leaving some room for speculation about future developments in the Rust franchise.

AppWizard

April 8, 2026

It Looks Like Steam Will Soon Use Frame Rate Data Gathered by Its Millions of Users to Estimate How Well a Gam

Valve is collecting frame rate data from its user base to predict game performance on individual systems. This initiative started with a SteamOS beta that gathers performance metrics. A code string in a recent Steam update suggests that Valve plans to use this data to estimate game performance based on users' CPU, GPU, and RAM specifications. Users will have the option to input their hardware details or receive projections based on their existing configuration. This feature aims to provide more comprehensive performance estimates compared to existing offerings from other digital game stores. The current data collection is limited to the beta client, but the rollout of this feature is expected to help gamers assess their hardware's capability to run new titles.

AppWizard

April 7, 2026

It Looks Like Steam Will Soon Use Frame Rate Data Gathered by Its Millions of Users to Estimate How Well a Gam

Valve is planning to use frame rate data from its user base to estimate game performance on individual gaming PCs. This initiative began with a beta version of SteamOS that collects performance metrics. A code string found in a recent Steam update indicates that users will soon be able to input their CPU, GPU, and RAM specifications to receive tailored performance estimates. Steam will also automatically generate projections based on users' current hardware configurations. This feature aims to provide more comprehensive performance insights compared to existing platforms like the Xbox app and Windows Store. The frame rate data collection is currently in beta and may take time to become widely accessible.

AppWizard

April 7, 2026

It Looks Like Steam Will Soon Use Frame Rate Data Gathered by Its Millions of Users to Estimate How Well a Game Will Actually Run on Your PC

Valve has integrated frame rate data from its user base to provide estimates on game performance tailored to individual gaming rigs, starting with a SteamOS beta that collects performance metrics. A recent code discovery suggests that users will soon be able to input their CPU, GPU, and RAM specifications for tailored performance projections. Steam will also automatically generate performance estimates based on existing hardware configurations for users accessing the platform on their gaming PCs. This feature aims to enhance the accuracy of performance estimates, particularly for the Steam Machine, which may benefit from data collected from similar configurations. The frame rate data collection is currently in beta and may take time before becoming widely accessible.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

A new Crimson Desert patch adds the only RPG feature that matters: A hide helmet button

Crimson Desert has introduced an update that allows players to hide their helmets, offering customization options in the settings menu. Players can choose to make their headgear visible during cutscenes, throughout the game, only in combat, or not at all. The update also includes a new whimsical armor set and helmet for cats, improved movement controls with a "classic" option, and has been positively received, with PC Gamer awarding it a score of 80.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Get the Homeworld Remastered Collection, Deserts of Kharak, and 8 more RTS games for just $8

The Homeworld Remastered Collection is currently available on Steam for 90% off, priced at .99. Deserts of Kharak is also offered at a 90% discount. The Humble Bundle includes these titles along with other games such as Railroad Tycoon 2 Platinum, Army Men series, Shattered Union, and Freedom Force series. The bundle is available until April 24.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

“Gabe really had a great vision”: Steam became a PC gaming cornerstone because Valve built a community with “stickiness,” says Nightdive chief who worked on GameStop’s Steam competitor

GameStop was a pioneer in digital distribution before Valve's Steam became the leading platform for PC gaming. Larry Kuperman, a veteran of the gaming industry, contributed to the development of Impulse, an online store acquired by GameStop. In the 2000s, third-party digital distribution was not intuitive, as game sales were primarily controlled by physical retailers. BioWare regretted not creating a platform like Steam. Amazon's attempts to compete with Steam were unsuccessful. Kuperman attributes Steam's success to its community-building efforts, which fostered loyalty among users. The platform significantly lowered barriers for game developers, allowing anyone to publish games for a nominal fee. Steam has been crucial for indie developers, providing extensive reach and discoverability compared to other platforms like GOG. Kuperman credits GOG as essential for his work at Nightdive, and Gabe Newell's ideas continued to shape Valve after he stepped back from active development.