PC Gaming Archives

AppWizard

March 17, 2026

The FBI is investigating malware hidden inside games hosted on Steam

The FBI is investigating a hacker responsible for releasing several video games with embedded malware on the Steam platform. The suspected games include BlockBlasters, Chemia, Dashverse/DashFPS, Lampy, Lunara, PirateFi, and Tokenova. These games were developed over the past two years and posed risks to gamers who downloaded them. This incident follows a similar event from the previous year when malware-laden games were also uploaded to Steam. Neither Valve nor the FBI has commented on the investigation.

AppWizard

March 17, 2026

Nvidia Wants to Slop-ify Your PC Games With Its New AI Upscaler

Nvidia has announced DLSS 5, which will enhance in-game lighting effects and employ artificial intelligence to analyze games' color palettes and motion vectors, resulting in more lifelike scenes. The technology is designed to support resolutions up to 4K and will be integrated into existing titles such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Early demonstrations, such as in Resident Evil Requiem and Starfield, show character models that may appear overly polished or exaggerated, raising concerns about the balance between realism and artistic integrity. DLSS 5 is expected to be released in the fall, as Nvidia continues to refine its model. Currently, DLSS 4.5 competes with AMD’s FSR Redstone and Intel’s XeSS, offering superior detail preservation.

AppWizard

March 16, 2026

Fanatical’s Spring Sale Has Kicked Off – Save on Resident Evil Requiem, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and More

Fanatical has launched its Spring Sale, featuring discounts on various PC games. Resident Evil Requiem is discounted by 18%, priced at .39, while the Resident Evil Remake Trilogy is available at a 65% discount for .49. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the 2025 Game of the Year winner, is marked down by 28% to .99. DOOM: The Dark Ages is offered at a 70% discount. Monster Hunter Wilds and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II have price drops exceeding 50%. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is priced at .74. Discounts are time-sensitive, and the Amazon Big Spring Sale will launch soon.

AppWizard

March 16, 2026

Cheaper Games Are Dominating Reviews And Sales On Steam

The 2026 PC and Console Gaming Report from Newzoo indicates that "sub-" game purchases on PC increased by 156 percent from 2022 to 2025. It projects that PC game sales will exceed console revenues by 2028, surpassing the combined revenues of Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X. This forecast excludes revenues from subscription services. The rise of "cheaper" games, defined as those priced below a certain threshold, is a key factor in this trend. In 2025, such titles represented 3.2 percent of the top sub- games and accounted for approximately 9 percent of total PC game revenue. Sub- games made up 32 percent of PC revenue, compared to 7 percent for PlayStation and 9 percent for Xbox. Ben Porter from Newzoo noted that the cyclical nature of console generations affects spending behaviors, while the PC gaming market shows more fluid growth.

AppWizard

March 14, 2026

Crimson Desert dev says not to worry about Denuvo, because the impressive PC preview builds they’ve shown already had the DRM and are “representative of the final consumer’s experience”

Crimson Desert will incorporate Denuvo anti-piracy technology, which has raised concerns about its impact on game performance among the PC gaming community. Pearl Abyss assured players that benchmark videos and performance specifications released before launch were generated using the same Denuvo implementation that will be in the final build. A benchmark video showed Crimson Desert running at ultra settings in native 4K resolution with a frame rate of "mainly" 60fps on a Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics card. Some players are wary of Denuvo due to past performance issues, and the presence of the "Denuvo anti-tamper" label on Steam may affect purchasing decisions. Additionally, measures have been taken to secure early-shipped physical copies to prevent spoilers, raising concerns about game preservation.

AppWizard

March 14, 2026

Microsoft to eliminate shader wait times in PC games

Microsoft has introduced enhancements to its Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) technology to address lengthy shader compilation times for PC gamers. The ASD technology generates a Pre-compiled Shader Database (PSDB) from a Shader Object State Database (SODB), allowing for faster game startups by eliminating the need for local compilation. Since integrating ASD into its software development kit (SDK), Microsoft has achieved an 85% reduction in launch times for the game Avowed. NVIDIA, Intel, and Qualcomm are also set to support ASD in their hardware. Additionally, Microsoft has updated its API to allow developers to upload pre-compiled shaders through the Xbox Partner Center, starting with the Xbox app on PC.

AppWizard

March 14, 2026

Africa’s monetisation debate: founders weigh in on mobile, PC, and the realities of game revenue

African founders view the continent's mobile gaming market as facing significant constraints, including challenges related to payments, purchasing power, and infrastructure, rather than being fundamentally broken. Industry leaders like Hugo Obi and Abdallah Elshabrawy highlight that while monetization is a global challenge, it is particularly exacerbated in Africa due to economic realities. Advertising, especially rewarded video ads, is currently the most reliable revenue model, though lower advertising rates necessitate a larger user base for sustainable revenue. Mobile gaming accounts for about 87% of African gamers and 90% of gaming revenue, emphasizing its reach despite higher spending in PC gaming. Founders stress the importance of targeting global audiences and adapting monetization strategies to the diverse payment ecosystems and cultural dynamics across the continent. A hybrid approach to monetization, combining mobile and PC gaming, is seen as a potential future direction for the industry.

AppWizard

March 14, 2026

Console and PC players trade hope and despair while they await Crimson Desert, as first PS5 Pro footage looks promising but Steam suddenly warns of Denuvo DRM

Crimson Desert is generating mixed reactions in the gaming community, particularly among PS5 and Xbox players who are cautious following the Cyberpunk 2077 launch. Recent console footage has showcased impressive visuals, and Digital Foundry has released a favorable analysis of the PS5 Pro version, highlighting three visual modes: Performance (upscaled 1080p at 60fps), Balanced (upscaled 1440p at 40fps), and Quality (native 4K at 30fps). However, PC gamers are concerned about the inclusion of Denuvo Anti-tamper technology, which has led to discontent on Steam and within the PC gaming subreddit due to its potential impact on performance. Despite these concerns, some industry experts have praised the game, with Richard Linneman calling it "one of the most impressive open-world experiences" and another reviewer describing it as an "overstuffed toybox" with entertainment value but lacking cohesion.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Dev at axed PlayStation game studio says Steam Machine could be why Sony is going back to console exclusives

Sony is shifting away from releasing PC ports and is reaffirming its commitment to console exclusives for single-player titles, including upcoming games like Ghost of Yōtei and Marvel’s Wolverine. This decision comes despite the success of Ghost of Tsushima on PC. Discussions suggest that the Steam Machine may influence this strategy, with Mike Ybarra and Peter Dalton highlighting Valve as a significant competitor rather than Xbox. Bluepoint Games, acquired by Sony in 2021, faced closure on March 2nd, following Sony's cancellation of a live-service God of War game. Sony's focus on exclusives is seen as a strategic advantage in competition with both Valve and Xbox, similar to Nintendo's success with its exclusive titles.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Roblox and Minecraft players are less likely to play traditional AAA video games

Newzoo's insights indicate a shift in gaming preferences, with Roblox and Minecraft players showing distinct engagement patterns compared to traditional AAA titles. Roblox's playtime has increased by about 50% year over year, driven by viral experiences. There is significant overlap between Roblox and Minecraft players with popular live service games like Fortnite (55% overlap with Roblox, 46% with Minecraft) and Grand Theft Auto V (28% with Roblox, 25% with Minecraft). However, Roblox players are less likely to engage with traditionally popular games, such as Monster Hunter Wilds, where they are only 0.4 times as likely to play compared to average gamers. Similarly, Minecraft players show disinterest in titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Assassin's Creed: Shadows. The demographic of these players is often younger, leading to a reluctance to invest in pricier AAA games. Newzoo's research suggests that these players may continue favoring free-to-play live-service titles and sandbox games as they mature, which could impact the market dynamics significantly. Additionally, it is projected that by 2028, PC gaming revenue will exceed that of consoles, marking a notable growth in the industry.