PC Gaming Archives

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct set for September 20

PC Gamer will host the PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct 2026 on September 20 at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET, as part of the Tokyo Game Show 2026. The 90-minute showcase will feature over 35 games, including Stronghold 4 from Firefly Studios and titles from Devolver Digital. The event will include exclusive trailers, breaking news, developer interviews, and world premieres. The live stream will be available on YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and Steam.

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

The Reasons Why PC Gamers Will Never Switch From Discord To Steam Chat

Discord is preferred by gamers for its cross-compatibility across various consoles, extensive chat functionalities, and indefinite chat history retention, unlike Steam Chat, which only saves conversations for two weeks. Discord supports voice, text, and video chat on both its app and web browser, while Steam Chat's mobile app lacks voice capabilities. Discord has become a platform for work, education, and socializing, and has received recent visual upgrades. Steam Chat is integrated into the Steam client, making it convenient for PC gamers, but lacks advanced features like video chat and cross-console connections, limiting its competitiveness against Discord. Users find Steam Chat basic compared to Discord's comprehensive features. Discord plans to implement ID verification for child safety, which users must navigate to access its extensive functionalities.

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

Fully Playable Scream Game Found in Steam Leak [2026]

A horror game based on the Scream film franchise was discovered in the Steam data leak that occurred from August 29 to 31, 2026. The game, an unfinished multiplayer prototype created by Fatshark, was found by a Twitter user named Roly Poly Reaper, who managed to run it on their computer and enable online multiplayer. The prototype included several unfinished builds, with one featuring operational networking code that allowed players to take on the roles of survivors evading a player-controlled Ghostface. The project appears to have been a pitch build, never fully greenlit for production, and was stored in Valve’s old Steam2 backend for approximately 15 years before the leak. Roly Poly Reaper used the Goldberg Steam emulator and Radmin VPN to run the game, circumventing the need for a live connection to Valve’s servers. Fatshark, known for cooperative shooters, had reportedly built the Scream prototype around 2011, coinciding with the release of Scream 4. The prototype's existence predates the popularization of the asymmetric horror genre by several years. The Steam2 leak itself involved approximately 12 to 13 terabytes of data, including various internal builds and beta versions from Valve and third-party developers. Valve has not publicly commented on the leak.

AppWizard

August 31, 2026

MuMu Player 6.0 vs LDPlayer 14 vs BlueStacks: Android Gap

Three Android emulators have emerged: MuMu Player 6.0, LDPlayer 14, and BlueStacks 5.22. - MuMu Player 6.0, released by NetEase on July 7, 2026, is the only mainstream emulator operating on Android 15. - LDPlayer 14 transitioned from beta to full release on June 25, 2026, utilizing Android 14 after previously using Android 9. - BlueStacks 5.22 operates on the Android 9 Pie framework, which it adopted in 2021. MuMu Player is designed for gacha and open-world mobile games, while LDPlayer focuses on lightweight design and multi-instance capabilities. BlueStacks caters to a broad audience with lower system requirements. MuMu Player 6.0 is free on Windows, while its macOS version requires a subscription after a trial. LDPlayer and BlueStacks use a freemium model with optional paid tiers for ad-free experiences. LDPlayer 14 requires 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11, while MuMu Player and BlueStacks support older Windows versions. All three emulators support multi-instance functionality, but LDPlayer has specific RAM recommendations for this feature. As of August 2026, there have been no significant reports of bans associated with any of the emulators.

AppWizard

August 30, 2026

Star Wars Zero Company’s permadeath makes it a better RPG than most RPGs, even though it’s not really an RPG

Star Wars Zero Company is a role-playing game that combines tactical gameplay with narrative depth, allowing players to explore a universe similar to Mass Effect 2. A key feature is its system of permanent character loss, where main characters can be lost if they fall in battle three times without medical attention, adding emotional weight to player decisions. The game emphasizes meaningful choices, enriching the narrative experience. Companion questlines, such as that of the clone trooper Trick, personalize the story and deepen player engagement. While the game successfully integrates permadeath into its mechanics, the narrative and tactical elements are somewhat distinct, with potential for greater integration in future developments.

AppWizard

August 30, 2026

DLSS 5: Modders Push Leaked Neural Rendering Into 10+ More PC Games

Modders have integrated Nvidia’s leaked DLSS 5 Neural Rendering library into over a dozen PC games, including Cyberpunk 2077 and GTA V, following its discovery in an early access build of NBA 2K27. The RenoDX Discord community reverse-engineered this feature and used tools like RenoDX and ReShade to apply the library to various games. Nvidia describes DLSS 5 as a significant architectural advancement in real-time neural rendering that enhances graphics with photorealistic lighting and materials. Modders have successfully applied the library to titles such as Control, Red Dead Redemption 2, and The Last of Us Part II Remastered. These modifications are unofficial and not sanctioned by Nvidia or the game publishers. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has defended the technology against criticism, emphasizing that it allows for artist oversight rather than being a generic AI filter. DLSS 5 is set to launch in fall 2026, with support confirmed from major industry players. All current comparisons and tests are based on the leaked build rather than official Nvidia code.

AppWizard

August 30, 2026

Modern gamers spoiled by Steam will never understand the joy of a MegaPak

The PC gaming industry is currently facing challenges such as developer layoffs and rising hardware prices due to demand from AI data centers, but there is an abundance of games available, often at lower prices than in the past when adjusted for inflation. The Megapak series, which ran from 1994 to 1998, is noted for its role in PC gaming history, particularly Megapak 5, which showcased the gaming landscape of the time. The series served as an entry point for many into role-playing games, but the fate of Megapak Corp is unclear after its final collection was released in 2001. The decline of the Megapak era coincided with the rise of budget titles and a shift towards vibrant packaging. There is a nostalgia for the simplicity of evaluating games individually, as modern algorithms and user reviews can overshadow unique game qualities.

AppWizard

August 28, 2026

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Remake doesn’t dare touch the “magical balance” of the original

Jean-Félix Monin and his team at Ubisoft are developing a remake of Heroes of Might and Magic 3, acknowledging the dedicated fanbase and the legacy of the original game. To ensure the remake resonates with both new and veteran players, they established a panel of insiders for design reviews. The core elements of the original game will remain intact, but the remake will transition to 3D graphics to provide a fresh experience. The Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Remake is set for release in 2027 and is seen as complementary to the early access title Olden Era, which also modernizes the franchise.

AppWizard

August 28, 2026

Gaming Has Never Been Better. So Why Does It Feel Like the Worst Time to Be a Gamer?

The gaming industry is experiencing a surge in high-profile releases, including Grand Theft Auto 6, Control Resonant, Ace Combat 8, and Modern Warfare 4. However, the cost of entry has increased significantly, with flagship consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X now priced at least 0 above their launch prices. Microsoft is reportedly losing 0 per console sold, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to see a price increase. A shortage of memory and storage, driven by AI demands, has made essential gaming hardware more expensive. Mobile gaming and PC gaming are also affected, with graphics card prices projected to rise by 20% to 30%. The term “RAMageddon” has emerged to describe the doubling of memory prices since late 2025. Major companies like Microsoft and Sony are facing disappointing hardware sales, with projections of an 11% decline in PC shipments by 2026. The traditional model of game ownership is shifting towards a rental-like system, with digital sales tying ownership to accounts and licenses. Concerns about game accessibility have grown, leading to the Stop Killing Games movement. Nintendo's introduction of Game-Key Cards for resale has raised questions about long-term access, while Sony plans to end production of physical game discs by 2028. The average cost of AAA games has risen, with new titles like Mario Kart World for the Switch 2 priced at . Cloud gaming and subscription services further complicate ownership, as game availability is contingent on licensing agreements.

AppWizard

August 25, 2026

A disturbing ’90s point-and-click horror game about waking up in a rundown asylum with no recollection of who you are is getting a glow up in 2026

In 1998, notable PC games included Half-Life, Unreal, StarCraft, Thief, and Baldur's Gate, while console games featured Nintendo 64's Ocarina of Time and Banjo-Kazooie, and PlayStation's Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil 2. Sanitarium, an isometric point-and-click adventure game, was released in April 1998, focusing on the story of Max, an amnesiac in a sanitarium. A new version, Sanitarium Enhanced, is set to be released by Ziggurat, featuring widescreen support, controller support, an extras gallery, a new hint mode, bug fixes, and optimizations for the Steam Deck, with availability on Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles in 2026.