PC gamer Archives

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

Facepunch Studios COO says he’ll buy New World for $25 million, and he might not be joking: ‘We’re always looking for new opportunities and we are open to all avenues’

Amazon is set to discontinue its New World MMO on January 31, 2027. Alistair McFarlane, COO of Facepunch Studios, has expressed interest in purchasing the game, stating that "games should never die." He humorously suggested a purchase price of "25m" on social media. Simon Collins-Laflamme, known for reviving Hytale, offered his expertise in acquiring canceled games. Popular streamer Gothalion also showed support for the idea of saving New World. McFarlane mentioned that his company is opening a publishing arm and is looking for new opportunities, emphasizing a commitment to preserving gaming experiences.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Owner of big gaming platform can’t believe how bad Windows 11 is – and hints are dropped about big things for Linux gamers this year

Michał Kiciński, the new owner of GOG, expressed surprise at the longevity of Windows, criticizing it as poor-quality software. Maciej Gołębiewski, managing director of GOG, noted the company's strategic shift towards Linux, driven by increasing game compatibility and the success of SteamOS. This pivot is part of a broader industry trend as developers recognize the value of alternative operating systems. GOG plans to embrace Linux more fully by 2026. Meanwhile, Microsoft has focused on integrating AI into Windows 11, which has faced criticism for not addressing foundational issues, particularly in performance and functionality.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Forza Horizon 6 release date may have leaked in Forza Horizon 5

The preorder pop-up linked to Forza Horizon 5 indicated a four-day early access period beginning on May 15, with the official release set for May 19, and offered an exclusive Ferrari J50 for preorders. However, attempts to replicate the pop-up experience have been unsuccessful, raising questions about its authenticity. The Xbox Direct showcase is scheduled for January 22, where Forza Horizon 6 and other titles are expected to be unveiled.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

How well do you know classic videogame cheats? See if you can answer these 10 tricky questions

A variety of gaming quizzes are available, covering topics such as health bars, in-game currencies, and patch notes. The author reflects on their experience as an intern at a website focused on cheat codes and tips in the mid-2000s, where they verified user submissions for genuine cheats. During that time, they relied on GameFAQs, official guides, and hearsay, occasionally contacting game publishers for hidden cheats. Although the website has become less relevant and cheat codes are not as prominent today, the author expresses nostalgia for that era and introduces a quiz about classic cheats and secrets from the '90s to the 2010s.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

The studio behind the best metroidvania of 2021 has a new game coming out next month—and I’m dropping everything to play it

Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a modern metroidvania known for its class-based combat, exploration mechanics, and pixel art. Released in 2021 by LABS Works, it was notable among other metroidvania titles like Axiom Verge 2 and Ender Lilies. LABS Works is currently developing a new game called Lovish, which will be a single-screen platformer featuring straightforward combat and intricate puzzles. Lovish is set to launch on Steam on February 5, with a free demo available now. The pixel art for Lovish is created by Kap, known for his work on 1001 Spikes.

AppWizard

January 14, 2026

Hytale surges to the most-watched game on Twitch, attracting over 420,000 viewers with its long-awaited launch

Hytale has officially entered early access after a decade of development challenges. The game's announcement trailer from 2018 has received 62 million views. On launch day, Hytale became the most-watched game on Twitch with over 420,000 viewers. Players are encountering challenges with wildlife, particularly bears. Hytale has secured funding for two years of early access development, and expectations are high for over one million players on launch day. There has been a significant spike in global search interest for Hytale on Google Trends. Initial technical issues have arisen, and the development team is working on a hotfix to address bugs and account verification delays due to high demand.

AppWizard

January 13, 2026

Blue Prince, the best game of 2025 (don’t check our GOTY just trust me) is on sale on Steam for under $20 for the first time

PC gamers can purchase the acclaimed 2025 Game of the Year, Blue Prince, at a 34% discount during the Steam Detective Fest, bringing the price to .79 / £16.49. Blue Prince was recognized as the Best Designed game of 2025 by PC Gamer but finished as the runner-up to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The game features intricate puzzle design and a unique approach to puzzles and discovery, developed over eight years. Players have expressed frustrations with the game's random number generation (RNG), which is integral to its challenge. The Steam Detective Fest runs through January 19, offering various games on sale.

AppWizard

January 10, 2026

Deadlock dev teases the community over its favorite hero that was briefly tested and removed: ‘We made delicious stock out of his bones and meats’

Slork, a hero in the game Deadlock, was initially introduced during private testing and later rebranded as Fathom. He was part of a hero labs feature that allowed players to experiment with characters in development. However, as the game evolved, the hero labs mode was removed, and while four of the eight characters from that phase were integrated into the game's core roster, Fathom was not included and was subsequently removed. The announcement of Slork's removal was met with disbelief and humor, particularly after a developer jokingly mentioned making a stock from his bones and meats in response to community lament. This comment, along with a specific cooking instruction of "7 hours," underscored the character's demise and left fans mourning his loss.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

Schedule 1 developer TVGS is ‘an actual game studio’ now, with an office, desks, and a new guy named Rob: ‘By the end of the year, there will likely be 4 people working on Schedule 1’

Schedule 1, a lo-fi drug dealing simulator developed by Tyler, became a best-selling game on Steam in 2025. Tyler's Video Game Studio (TVGS) is expanding and plans to hire a 3D/technical artist, increasing the team to four members by year-end. A new patch for bug fixes and quality of life improvements is set to release next week, followed by another update in late February. Tyler aims to implement proper mod support and will confirm release dates only when confident in meeting them.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

Kingdom Come 2 Studio Cut This Feature Because It Was “Too Bizarre And Too Much Work”

Warhorse Studios revealed that an ambitious eating system for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which would allow the protagonist Henry to gain or lose weight based on food consumption, did not make the final cut. This feature would have influenced Henry's wardrobe choices and the sizes of non-playable characters (NPCs) in the game. Players could alter Henry's physique through his eating habits, affecting which clothing items fit him. However, the feature was deemed too complex and not enjoyable, leading to its exclusion. The game is currently available for purchase and has received a 9/10 rating from GameSpot, being praised for its complexity and player choice.